Creating Backups

Staq backs up every production and staging website automatically and stores the backups in AWS S3. Take a manual backup before a risky change, such as plugin updates. These steps create one and check that it finished.

Open Backups

1. Open the website.
2. Click Files, then Backups.

Choose a complete or selective backup

1. Click Create Backup.
2. Choose Complete Website Backup to back up the database, plugins, content, and themes.
3. Or choose Select Type of Backup to back up only some parts.

Pick the parts

This step is only for Select Type of Backup.

1. Check Include database to back up the database. It completes straight away.
2. Under Website files, check Content, Plugins, or Themes. File backups are queued on the server. For example, check only Plugins to back up the plugins folder.
3. With the database checked, Scope can back up All tables, or include or exclude selected tables.

Add a note and choose how long to keep it

1. Type a short note in Notes (optional), such as why you took the backup.
2. Check Auto-delete after 14 days to remove the backup after 14 days. Leave it unchecked to keep it until you delete it. A kept backup uses billable storage.
3. Click Create Backup. The dialog closes and a message confirms the backup started. A progress card lists each part until it finishes. You can leave the page while it runs.

Check the backup

1. Each row is one day. The badges show which date the Database, Content, Plugins, and Themes restore from.
2. Click the eye icon (View Details) on a row.
3. Each backup shows its time, size, and whether it was Automated or manual. A kept manual backup shows Permanent.

FAQ

How often does Staq back up automatically?

The database and files are backed up about once a day. After the first full file backup, later file backups save only what changed. With respect to plugins, themes and content, if the system detects that no additional files have been added or amended, it will not run a backup. But it will always run a database backup, regardless, each day.

Why does a badge show an earlier date?

Nothing changed in that part that day, so there was no new backup. That part restores from the earlier date shown on the badge.

Do manual backups cost extra?

They can. Manual backups may use extra storage and incur charges. Check Auto-delete after 14 days if you only need the backup for a short time. All automated backups are kept for 14 days and are free.

How do I restore or download a backup?

See Restoring a backup and How to download your backup files.

Need some help?

Open a support ticket if Create Backup stays disabled, or a backup does not appear.