It is a vital skill for any website owner, developer, or digital marketer to be able to restore a WordPress site. The ability to restore a WordPress site is what would keep you if your website got hacked, crashed after an update, a server failure happened, or you mistakenly deleted files of importance. Your restoration skills would be what save you from a significant loss of time, money, and your online reputation.
Here we have a detailed guide on multiple tried and true methods that you can use to bring back a WordPress site. It ranges from the use of plugins to a manual recovery with cPanel and FTP. This guide is beginner-friendly and also includes advanced recovery techniques.
What Does It Mean to Restore a WordPress Site?
Performing a restore on a WordPress site is basically going back to a previous version of the website that was functioning properly by utilizing a backup of the files and the database. A successful restore involves:
- WordPress core files
- Themes and plugins
- Media uploads
- Database (posts, pages, users, settings)
A full restore ensures your site functions exactly as it did at the time the backup was created.
Common Reasons Why WordPress Sites Need Restoration
Knowing the reasons for a WordPress site’s failure can help you avoid those problems later on.
Most Common Causes:
- Failed plugin or theme update
- Malware or hacking attacks
- Server crashes or hosting issues
- Accidental deletion of files or database tables
- Compatibility issues after WordPress core updates
Things to Do Before Restoring a WordPress Website
Before the restoration process, you should consider taking these measures:
Pre-Restoration Checklist
- Identify the exact problem (error message, white screen, hacked site)
- Check if you have automatic or manual backups
- Download a copy of the current site (even if broken)
- Disable caching and security plugins if possible
- Inform visitors if downtime is expected
How to Restore a WordPress Site Using a Backup Plugin (Easiest Method)
This is the recommended method for beginners.
Popular Backup Plugins:
- UpdraftPlus
- BackupBuddy
- All-in-One WP Migration
- Jetpack Backup
Example: Restoring with UpdraftPlus
- Log in to WordPress Dashboard
- Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups
- Click Restore
- Select what to restore (plugins, themes, uploads, database)
- Confirm and wait for completion
- Test your website thoroughly
📌 Pro Tip: Always restore both files and the database for full recovery.
How to Restore a WordPress Site from Hosting Backup
Most hosting providers offer daily or weekly backups.
Common Hosting Panels:
- cPanel
- Plesk
- Custom dashboards (SiteGround, Bluehost, WP Engine)
Steps:
- Log in to your hosting account
- Navigate to Backups or Backup Manager
- Select a restore point
- Choose full site or partial restore
- Confirm restoration
Restoring from hosting backups may overwrite current changes.
How to Restore WordPress Site Manually (FTP & Database)
This method is ideal for advanced users or when plugins are unavailable.
What You Need:
- Backup ZIP file
- FTP client (FileZilla)
- Database backup (.sql)
- Hosting credentials
Step 1: Restore WordPress Files via FTP
- Connect using FTP
- Delete corrupted files (except wp-config.php)
- Upload backup files to public_html
Step 2: Restore WordPress Database
- Access phpMyAdmin
- Select your database
- Drop existing tables
- Import .sql backup file
- Confirm successful import
Step 3: Update wp-config.php (If Needed)
Ensure correct:
- Database name
- Username
- Password
- Host
How to Restore WordPress Site Without Backup
It is true that the process of recovery becomes more difficult if there is no backup, but it is still feasible.
Possible Recovery Options:
- Ask your hosting provider for server-level backups
- Use Google cache or Wayback Machine to recover content
- Scan and clean site using security plugins
- Reinstall WordPress core files
- Rebuild content manually
Important: This method rarely restores the site fully—always maintain backups.
How to Restore a Hacked WordPress Site
A hacked site requires restoration + cleanup.
Steps:
- Take the site offline
- Restore from a clean backup
- Change all passwords (WordPress, hosting, FTP, database)
- Scan for malware
- Remove unauthorized admin users
- Update WordPress, plugins, and themes
- Install a firewall/security plugin
Best Security Plugins (Prevention Is Key)
| Plugin | Best For |
|---|---|
| UpdraftPlus | Beginners |
| BackupBuddy | Full site migration |
| BlogVault | Real-time backups |
| Jetpack | Managed WordPress sites |
| WPVivid | Free manual backups |
Best Practices to Avoid Future WordPress Data Loss
- Schedule automatic daily backups
- Store backups offsite (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3)
- Use strong passwords and 2FA
- Test updates on staging sites
- Monitor uptime and security logs
