“Don’t Panic.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
My post about the troubles in WordPress Paradise received some questions on how to back up WordPress content. The quick answer is with great pain and panic attacks galore.
For those who would like a better answer, I thought I would start with the least likely choice and move quickly to the easiest option.
- You can access your JetPack Dashboard by looking at the top menu bar, finding the Home icon next to your site name, and selecting the Dashboard link.
- This will take you to your JetPack Dashboard.
- Search down the list of actions on the left side of the page, select JetPack, and then choose Back-up.
- If you have a business page, follow the instructions. If you do not have a business page, you will be offered the opportunity to upgrade at a cost. The upgrade will give you access to backup plugins.
Next, we’ll look at an easy yet painful way to back up your content only.
- In the Dashboard, select POSTS—ALL POSTS. This will take you to your Posts database, where every post on your site is listed.
- Select a post to back up. Select the 3 dots on the right of the title and select edit.
- The post will open in your browser in edit mode. Select the Title, scroll to the bottom of the post, and use CONTROL-A in Windows or COMMAND-A in Apple/Mac to highlight the entire page.
- Once you confirm the entire page is highlighted, use CONTROL-C for Windows or command -C for Apple/Mac.
- Open a document of your choice. I use Google Docs. Click in the blank document and type CONTROL-V for Windows or COMMAND – V for Apple/Mac.
- You have now saved your first post. Repeat 1-5 for all the posts in your library. Don’t worry; you can use all the shortcuts for copying and pasting or any other shortcuts you know. The object is to save each post to a document you can access outside of your WordPress website.
And now for the 1-minute solution that can take a lifetime.
- In the list of actions on the left side of your dashboard, select TOOLS – EXPORT.
- You have two options. A. Content and B. Media Library. A contains all your posts, and B contains all the pictures and files in the media library.
- CONTENT: You have two options: ALL or select the V on the right, and you have a selection: POSTS, PAGES, FEEDBACK.
- Under Posts, you can select what to export using different criteria. You can use all or part of the criteria, such as a date range, or if you have more than one user, you can download one or all users (Authors)
- Once you make your download selection, select the EXPORT CONTENT button.
- A download link will be sent to the email address you have linked to your WordPress Account.
- Go to your email and select DOWNLOAD.
- The file will automatically download to the download directory you have set up on your computer.
- Now, you can move the zip file to any backup directory you choose.
- To view your content, use a zip file manager. Windows and Apple/Mac include a zip file manager with the OS. Feel free to use a second-party zip file manager.
- Be aware that formatting is not encoded in the text of your content. If you restore the zip file to your WordPress Web page using the IMPORT function in TOOLS, your content will assume the original formatting.
Other Options for the Adventurous and Brave: Install a third-party backup app on your computer and set it up to back up your WordPress site or content. If you are not a computer Guru, don’t try this unless you know a computer Guru who can help.
Finally, it is wise to assess your personal risk limits with your content and choose an option that suits your skill level and confidence. It would be wise to study the subject first and get information from WordPress help and third-party information via your favorite search engine or ask an AI; they never lie or get confused. 🤥 I purposefully did not address other methods of backup and restore that require knowledge of the core software that runs WordPress like PHPmyadmin and MYSQL database. Some of you may be familiar with diving under WordPresses hood and if you are, you don’t need my advice.
Regardless of any actual or imagined threat to your content, it is wise to back it up regularly if you consider it essential and want to keep it forever. After repeated devastating losses, no fault of my own, I’ve developed a frantic system that keeps copies in three locations that are independent of each other. I even have a very large fireproof safe where I keep important documents and my null entropy device that can turn large areas into black holes. I only plan to use this device if Aliens from Niburu land and threaten to take away my inalienable rights. I cover the details of this device in other fictional SCIFI posts and stories, which I’ve backed up all over the internet. 👽📡 🛸
Hyperion Sky 
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