Restore a backup of your website

An update that breaks the website, a file deleted by mistake, a plugin that shows a blank page: restoring a backup takes you back to a version that worked. This guide explains how to do it from your Upkyo hosting and how to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Before you start

• Work out the date when your website was still working. The more precise you are, the fewer changes you lose.
• Note what has changed since that date (new posts, orders, contact messages): these will be lost if you restore the database.
• If you are unsure, create a backup of the current state first: you can always go back to it.

Restore a backup step by step

1. Log in to your client area at upkyo.com.
2. Open My services and click your hosting.
3. Click Backups.
4. Find the backup from the right date: it shows what it contains (files, databases, emails).
5. Click Restore and confirm.
6. Once the restore is finished, open your website in a private window and check that it displays correctly.

You can also create a backup manually before making changes, or download a backup to your computer.

What does a backup contain?

A website is made of two parts that you need to tell apart:

• The files: the website code, the theme, the plugins, the uploaded images and documents. On your hosting, they live in the httpdocs folder.
• The database: the text of pages and posts, user accounts, orders, settings. A WordPress site cannot work without it.

Each backup shows what it contains. For a WordPress site, restoring the files without the database (or the other way round) can create inconsistencies: if in doubt, restore both from the same date.

When should you restore a backup?

• After a WordPress, theme or plugin update that breaks the layout.
• After accidentally deleting files, pages or products.
• After a code change that causes a 500 error or a blank page.
• After a hack, once the security hole has been found, see WordPress site hacked: what should you do?.

Restoring is not always the best option. If the problem comes from a single plugin, disabling it is often enough and you lose no recent content.

Create a manual backup before making changes

Before a major update, a theme change or a PHP version change, create a backup manually from Backups. You then have a restore point that matches the exact state before your change.

It is the most useful habit before updating WordPress, see Update WordPress, plugins and themes, or changing the PHP version, see Change the PHP version.

Download a backup to your computer

Keeping a copy at home, in addition to those on your hosting, is good practice: several copies, in different places. Download the backup from Backups and store it in a folder or a cloud storage service that you control.

Common problems after a restore

• The latest orders or posts have disappeared: this is expected, the database has gone back to the chosen date. Write them down before restoring so you can add them again.
• The website still shows the old version: clear your browser cache and, if you use one, your caching plugin's cache.
• The problem came back after the restore: an automatic update may have reinstalled it. Disable the faulty plugin before running updates again.

Frequently asked questions

Does restoring a backup erase my recent changes?

Yes, everything added or changed after the backup date is replaced. Create a backup of the current state before restoring if you want to be able to go back.

Can I restore only the database or only the files?

Each backup shows what it contains: files, databases or emails. If you need a specific partial restore, open a ticket and a technician will guide you.

How long does a restore take?

It depends on the size of your website: a moment for a small site, longer for a site with many images or a large database. Avoid editing the website while it runs.

How do I recover deleted emails?

Emails follow a separate process: open a ticket with the Email and messaging department, see Recover deleted emails.

What if none of the backups is suitable?

Open a ticket from /submitticket.php or write to support@upkyo.com with the website concerned and the date you are looking for. Support answers 24/7.