How-to Backup a WordPress Website Using WP-CLI

Backing up a WordPress website using WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface) involves several steps. Here’s a general guide on how to do it:

1. Install WP-CLI

If you haven’t already installed WP-CLI, you’ll need to do so. You can find the installation instructions on the WP-CLI’s official website.

2. Access Your Server

You’ll need SSH access to your server. Once you’ve logged in, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.

3. Backup the Database

To backup your WordPress database, use the following WP-CLI command:

wp db export

This command will create a .sql file in your WordPress directory. This file contains all of your WordPress database information.

4. Backup WordPress Files

You also need to backup your WordPress files, including themes, plugins, and uploads. To do this, you can use a command like rsync or tar. For example:

tar -czvf yoursite_backup.tar.gz /path/to/your/wordpress/directory

This command will create a compressed archive of your WordPress directory.

5. Download the Backup

After creating the backup files on your server, you’ll need to download them to a safe location. You can use an FTP client or a command like scp for this purpose.

6. Automating the Process

Optionally, you can write a script to automate the backup process and schedule it to run regularly using a cron job.

Important Tips

• Test Your Backup: Always test your backups to ensure they work as expected.
• Secure Your Backup: Keep your backup files in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access.
• Regular Backups: Schedule regular backups to minimize the risk of data loss.

Remember, while WP-CLI is a powerful tool, you should be comfortable with command-line interfaces and have the necessary permissions on your hosting server to perform these actions.