Automating WordPress Backups to Google Drive: A Free & Easy Method

Preface

Losing your website data can be a nightmare. Imagine spending countless hours building your WordPress site, only to have it all disappear due to a server crash, hacking attempt, or even a simple mistake. That’s why regular backups are absolutely crucial. But who has time to manually back up their site every day? Luckily, there’s a free and easy way to automate your WordPress backups directly to Google Drive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring your website data is safe and sound without you having to lift a finger.

Why Automate WordPress Backups to Google Drive?

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly cover the “why.” Automating your WordPress backups to Google Drive offers several key benefits:

• Peace of Mind: Knowing your data is backed up automatically provides incredible peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing that even if something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your site to its previous state.
• Convenience: Manual backups are a chore. Automating the process means you don’t have to remember to do it, saving you valuable time and effort.
• Offsite Storage: Storing your backups on Google Drive provides offsite storage, protecting your data from server-specific issues. If your web hosting server crashes, your backups remain safe and accessible.
• Cost-Effective: Using free plugins and your existing Google Drive account makes this method incredibly cost-effective, especially for small businesses and personal websites.

Choosing the Right Backup Plugin

Several excellent WordPress plugins can automate your backups to Google Drive. For this tutorial, we’ll use a popular and reliable option: UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin

Info: While we’re focusing on UpdraftPlus, other great options exist, such as BackWPup and Duplicator. However, UpdraftPlus stands out for its ease of use and comprehensive features in the free version.

Installing and Configuring UpdraftPlus

1. Install the Plugin: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for “UpdraftPlus” and click Install Now, then Activate.

   Plugins > Add New > Search > Install > Activate
   

2. Access UpdraftPlus Settings: Once activated, find UpdraftPlus in your WordPress menu (Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups).

3. Configure Backup Schedule: Navigate to the Settings tab. Here, you can configure how often you want to back up your files and database. Choose a schedule that suits your needs. For most websites, a weekly backup of files and a daily backup of the database is a good starting point.

Hint: Consider your website’s update frequency when deciding on a backup schedule. If you frequently update your content, a more frequent backup schedule is recommended.

4. Connect to Google Drive:

   • Scroll down to the Choose your remote storage section and select Google Drive.
   • Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.
   • A popup will appear asking you to authorize UpdraftPlus to access your Google Drive account. Click the link in the popup.

5. Authorize UpdraftPlus: You’ll be redirected to Google to choose your account and grant UpdraftPlus the necessary permissions. Click Allow.

6. Complete Setup: After authorizing, you’ll be redirected back to your WordPress site. Click the Complete setup button.

Performing Your First Backup

Now that UpdraftPlus is configured, let’s run a manual backup to ensure everything is working correctly.

1. Go to the Backup / Restore tab in UpdraftPlus.
2. Click the Backup Now button.
3. A popup will appear with options for your backup. Ensure both “Include database in backup” and “Include files in backup” are checked.
4. Click Backup Now again.

UpdraftPlus will begin backing up your website. You can monitor the progress on the screen. Once the backup is complete, you’ll see the backup files listed in the Existing backups section.

Info: The whole point of backing up your wordpress website is for the purpose of recovering from a problem. Therefore you should once in a while check if your backup still works, just to be sure that when the disaster strikes you can relax!

Managing Your Backups in Google Drive

UpdraftPlus creates a dedicated folder in your Google Drive called “UpdraftPlus.” Inside this folder, you’ll find separate folders for your database backups and file backups.

It’s a good practice to periodically check your Google Drive to ensure your backups are being created and stored correctly. You can also manage your backups from within the UpdraftPlus plugin.

Restoring Your Website from a Backup

Hopefully, you’ll never need to restore your website from a backup, but it’s essential to know how to do it just in case.

1. Access UpdraftPlus: Go to Settings > UpdraftPlus Backups in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Locate Your Backup: In the Existing backups section, find the backup you want to restore.
3. Click Restore: Click the Restore button next to the backup.
4. Choose Components to Restore: Select the components you want to restore (database, plugins, themes, uploads, etc.). Unless you have a specific reason to exclude something, it’s generally best to restore everything.
5. Click Restore: Click the Restore button at the bottom of the page.
6. Follow the Prompts: UpdraftPlus will guide you through the restoration process. Be patient, as this can take some time depending on the size of your website.

Info: Before restoring a backup, it is always recommended to create a new backup of your current site as it stands before you make any changes!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While UpdraftPlus is generally reliable, you might encounter some issues during the setup or backup process. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:

• Authorization Issues: If you have trouble authorizing UpdraftPlus with Google Drive, ensure you’re logged into the correct Google account and that you’ve granted the plugin the necessary permissions. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your Google Drive account in UpdraftPlus settings.
• Backup Errors: If you encounter backup errors, check your server’s error logs for more information. Common causes include insufficient server resources or plugin conflicts. Try increasing your PHP memory limit or temporarily disabling other plugins to see if that resolves the issue. wpbeginner.com has a great resource on increasing the PHP memory limit.
• Slow Backups: Large websites can take a long time to back up. Consider using a faster web hosting provider or optimizing your website’s performance to improve backup speeds. You might find helpful tips on optimizing your website for SEO at our post: How to Optimize Your Website for SEO: A Quickstart Guide for WordPress

Conclusion

Automating your WordPress backups to Google Drive is a simple yet powerful way to protect your valuable website data. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your site is always backed up and ready to be restored in case of an emergency. So, take a few minutes to set up UpdraftPlus and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your website is safe and sound. Remember to check out our other helpful guides on Elementor, and Astra Pro to further enhance your website building journey!