Restore WordPress Site to Previous Date: Step-by-Step Guide

Managing a successful WordPress website involves creating engaging content and refining your site’s design and features. But even with the best skills and expertise, you may come across some hiccups. Maybe a recent update caused unexpected issues, or a hacking attempt compromised the site’s security and integrity. What’s the solution?

Well, that’s when a professional WordPress development company would recommend restoring the site to a previous date. It will help you better deal with issues like plugin conflicts, malware infections, etc.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through two methods of restoring your WordPress site. So you can get your site back on track effectively, regardless of the issue. Let’s begin.

Why Restore a WordPress Website From a Backup?

WordPress websites can be vulnerable to various issues, from plugin conflicts to malware attacks. Restoring a WordPress site can become necessary due to various issues. Here are the reasons you might need to restore your site:

• Plugin Conflicts: Sometimes, new or updated plugins can conflict with other plugins or your theme, causing your site to break. Restoring to a previous state before the conflict occurred can resolve the issue.
• Theme Issues: Updating WordPress themes or installing a new one can sometimes lead to unexpected layout changes or functionality problems. Restoring from a backup allows you to revert to a working theme.
• Malware: A website infected with malware can have its files corrupted, code injected, or data stolen. Restoring from a clean backup helps eliminate the malware and restore your website to a secure state.
• Content Deletion: Accidentally deleting important content such as posts, pages, or media files can be a big loss. Restoring from a backup can recover the lost content.
• Database Corruption: Although it’s less frequent, database corruption can cause various problems within your site’s front-end or back-end. Restoring from a WordPress backup provides a clean database and resolves these issues.
• Migration Issues: During WordPress site migration, issues such as incomplete or corrupted data can occur. Restoring from a backup taken before the migration can help recover the site to its previous state.
• Accidental File Overwrites: Similar to content deletion, accidentally overwriting important website files can cause design and functionalities issues. Restoring from a backup ensures you have a copy of the original files to replace the overwritten ones.

In case of any of these issues, you may think to restore your WordPress site to a previous date. You can consult with our WordPress development experts to ensure the best restoration, or follow the next section.

How to Restore your WordPress Site to a Previous Date?

As mentioned in the previous section, there are several reasons to restore the WordPress website to a previous date. Thankfully, WordPress is regarded as the best CMS, and one of the reasons behind that is its flexibility. It offers two different ways to restore a website, i.e. manual backup and through a WordPress plugin.

Method 1: Restoring from a Manual Backup

This method requires some technical knowledge as you’ll be manually downloading and uploading website files and the database.

Step 1: Accessing Your Database

To restore your content, like posts, pages, comments, and user information, you’ll need to access and import a backup of your WordPress database. Here’s how:

• Locate your web hosting control panel (cPanel) and find phpMyAdmin, a key tool for WordPress database optimization.
• Log in to phpMyAdmin using your credentials.

Step 2: Selecting the Database

Once in phpMyAdmin, you’ll need to identify the database associated with your WordPress site. Follow these steps:

• Look for a list of databases on the left-hand side of the phpMyAdmin interface.
• The database name typically follows a format like wp_[your_site_name].

Step 3: Importing the Backup Database

Now that you’ve located the correct database, it’s time to import the backup file containing your website’s content. To do so:

• Click on the Import tab at the top of the phpMyAdmin interface.
• In the Choose File section, select the SQL file containing your backup database from your local computer.
• Click the Go button to initiate the import process. This will replace your current database content with the data from the backup.

Step 4: Downloading Your Website Files

Your website’s functionality and appearance are determined by its files. We’ll download these files to prepare for the restoration process. Here’s how:

• Use an FTP client like FileZilla or your cPanel, the built-in file manager, to connect to your web hosting space.
• Navigate to the WordPress file directory (usually the public_html or www folder).
• Download a compressed archive (e.g., ZIP file) of the entire directory structure to your local computer.

Step 5: Deleting Existing Files (Proceed with Caution!):

This step is crucial but irreversible. We’ll remove the current website files to make way for the restored version. Here’s how:

• Double-check that you have a full WordPress backup before proceeding.
• Using your FTP client or file manager, navigate to the directory containing your current WordPress files (refer to step 4).
• Select all files and folders within that directory and permanently delete them.

Step 6: Uploading the Backup Files

Now, we’ll upload the downloaded backup archive containing your website’s files. Here’s how:

• If you are still connected to your web hosting space via FTP or file manager, upload the compressed backup archive you downloaded in step 4.
• Extract the uploaded archive using your FTP client or file manager. This will replace your deleted files with the ones from the backup.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully restored your WordPress site’s database and files from a manual backup. Remember to thoroughly test your site after restoration to ensure everything functions as expected.

Method 2: Restoring from a Backup Plugin

If you’re not comfortable with manual backups, you can also install a WordPress plugin for streamlining the restoration process. There are several user-friendly backup plugins available. Choose the best WordPress plugin according to your requirements. Here’s a generalized guide (specific steps might vary depending on the plugin you use).

Step 1: Install a Backup Plugin

If you haven’t already, install and activate a WordPress backup plugin such as UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy, or WPvivid.

Step 2: Accessing the Backup Plugin:

Most backup plugins add their own menu options to your WordPress dashboard. Locate and access the plugin’s settings page. Here’s how:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to the plugin’s settings page. Common options include UpdraftPlus backups or VaultPress, depending on the plugin you use.

Step 3: Selecting a Backup Point

The plugin will likely display a list of your existing backups with dates and times. Choose the backup point representing the state you wish to restore your site to. Here’s how:

• Locate the section for existing backups within the plugin’s settings page.
• Select the desired backup date by clicking on it.

Step 4: Initiating the Restore Process:

Once you’ve chosen the backup point, instruct the plugin to restore your site. Here’s how:

• Find the Restore button or option associated with your selected backup.
• Clicking this will trigger the restoration process. The plugin will handle the technicalities of replacing your current files and database with the ones from the chosen backup.

Step 5: Monitoring the Restore Process

Depending on the size of your backup and your web hosting provider’s resources, the restoration might take some time. The plugin may display a progress indicator or message while performing the restoration. Avoid interrupting the process by closing your browser or navigating away from the page.

Step 6: Verifying the Restoration

After the restoration is complete, the plugin will typically notify you. It’s crucial to verify that your site functions as expected. Here’s how:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Browse your website’s front end.
• Check for any errors or missing elements.
• Ensure your posts, pages, and other content have been restored successfully.

Utilizing a backup plugin offers a convenient way to restore your WordPress site. Remember to check specific plugin’s documentation for detailed instructions, as the interface and steps might vary.

Having a functional backup strategy is vital for safeguarding your WordPress site. Choose the method that best suits your comfort level and technical expertise. Or you can consult with our WordPress development services to restore your site effectively. They can minimize website downtime by solving the issues quickly.

Best Practices for Restoring WordPress Site to Previous Date

Restoring your WordPress site to a previous date can feel like a high-stakes operation. Here are some best practices to ensure a smooth restoration process and minimize downtime:

• Always Have Backups: Regularly scheduled backups are your safety net. Utilize a reliable backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or leverage your web hosting provider’s backup solutions.
• Identify the Issue: Diagnose the problem that necessitates restoring to a previous state. This will help you choose the most suitable restoration method.
• Test Your Backup: If feasible, create a test restoration on a staging site to verify your backup’s functionality before touching your live site.
• Choose the Right Method: Select the restoration method that aligns with your comfort level. If you’re comfortable with technical aspects, a manual backup approach might be suitable. But, if you prefer a user-friendly interface, opt for a backup plugin.
• Thorough Testing: Test every aspect of your website meticulously. Ensure posts, pages, plugins, themes, and functionalities work as expected.
• Update Plugins and Themes: Outdated components can introduce vulnerabilities. Update WordPress themes and plugins to the latest stable versions after a successful restoration.
• Review Security Measures: Security breaches can be a reason for needing restoration. Take this opportunity to review and strengthen your website’s security to prevent future incidents.

By following these best practices, professional WordPress experts can approach site restoration with minimal downtime.

FAQs About Restoring WordPress Site to a Previous Date

Conclusion

Restoring your WordPress site to a previous date can help counter issues related to plugin conflicts, malware infections, accidental deletions, and more.

You can either opt for a manual backup or install a WordPress plugin to restore the site. Manual backup involves downloading the backup files and database and then uploading them to your server. Or you can use a popular backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or VaultPress to make the process a little simpler.

By regularly creating and maintaining backup you can ensure that no potential issue can affect your site. To leverage restoration and maintain your website, hire WordPress developers who follow the best practices.