How to Backup WordPress Safely Before Major Changes Print

How to Backup WordPress Safely Before Major Changes

1. Decide what “major change” means:

   1. Theme change

   2. Bulk plugin updates

   3. Migration

   4. WooCommerce changes

2. Take two backups (recommended):

   1. Files backup (ZIP your site files)

   2. Database export (SQL via phpMyAdmin)

3. Put your site into low-risk mode (optional):

   1. Schedule during low traffic.

   2. Disable heavy caching temporarily if you’re troubleshooting.

4. Perform updates in small batches:

   1. Update 1–3 plugins

   2. Test critical pages (homepage, checkout/forms, login)

   3. Repeat

5. Keep a rollback plan:

   1. If something breaks, you can restore files/DB from your backup.

6. Clear cache after major changes:

   1. Purge your LiteSpeed Cache cache (see the caching article below).