How to back up your WooCommerce database

By backing up your WooCommerce database, you are safeguarding critical store data. This includes product specifics, order details, customer information, and store configurations.

Think of those backups as recovery points in case of any breach or system failure. They’ll help you restore your operations and maintain business continuity.

That said, there are two approaches to backing up a WooCommerce database. You could either export the data manually or automate the entire procedure.

Manual backups involve hands-on file management using tools like phpMyAdmin. You get to visualise your database structure and decide which components to save.

Automatic backups, on the other hand, are non-technical and consistent. You could set them up through a WordPress plugin or managed hosting service. Once you’re done, the backups proceed to run by themselves at regular intervals.

This guide covers both manual and automatic backups in detail. It breaks down all their methods, requirements, pros and cons. So, read on to learn what, where, when, and how to back up your WooCommerce database.

Manual WooCommerce database backups can be created through database management tools such as phpMyAdmin, which are commonly available through hosting control panels such as cPanel or Plesk. You can export the entire WordPress database or select specific tables when you have a clear understanding of where your store data is stored.

However, the tables containing WooCommerce data depend on your store configuration. In particular, High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) uses dedicated WooCommerce tables for orders instead of relying solely on the traditional wp_posts and wp_postmeta tables. HPOS has been stable since WooCommerce 8.2 and is enabled by default for new installations.

Manual exports can be useful for one-off backups or before making significant database changes, but they are not a substitute for a regular automated backup strategy. A manual backup can easily be forgotten, and restoring an incomplete selection of tables could leave a store with missing or inconsistent data.

Requirements for manual WooCommerce backups

To back up your WooCommerce database manually, you’ll need the following:

• A server management platform such as cPanel or Plesk.
• Access credentials including the database name, username, and password. These are located in the WordPress configuration file, wp-config.php
• A database management tool like phpMyAdmin.
• Sufficient storage space on your computer. For added security and redundancy, consider copying to cloud storage solutions.

• Log into your hosting provider’s admin area and open their control panel. Most of them prefer to use the cPanel.
• Within the cPanel, proceed to the ‘Databases’ section. You might find it under ‘Database Tools’ or a similar category.

• Look for the ‘phpMyAdmin’ icon and click on it. The system will open the phpMyAdmin interface in a new tab or window.

• On the phpMyAdmin interface, you’ll see a list of databases on the left side of the screen.

• If you have one database for your website, it will probably be named after your domain or username.
• This formula doesn’t apply to everyone, though. If your database was set up using your host’s WordPress installer, it might have a custom prefix other than wp_. They sometimes randomise names for security purposes.
• If you’re unsure about which database to choose, consult your hosting documentation or ask your WordPress host for help.

Click on your chosen database to display its tables. WooCommerce stores data across the WordPress database, and the exact tables involved depend on the type of data and whether your store uses High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS).

For example, product data continues to use WordPress tables such as wp_posts and wp_postmeta. However, orders are different when HPOS is enabled. WooCommerce stores order data in dedicated tables, including:

• wp_wc_orders
• wp_wc_order_addresses
• wp_wc_order_operational_data
• wp_wc_orders_meta

The wp_ prefix is only an example; your site’s database prefix may be different.

For a complete store backup, it is generally safer to export the entire WordPress database rather than attempting to identify and select only the WooCommerce-related tables. This also captures data added by WooCommerce extensions and other plugins that your store may depend on.

• Go to the ‘Export’ tab in phpMyAdmin.

• By default, all tables in the selected database are highlighted for export. So, for a complete backup, you might want to keep the option unchanged.
• If you understand your entire database structure, you can unselect the ‘Select all’ default option. The system will then leave you to confirm your selections.

• Under the same ‘Export’ tab, proceed to the ‘Format’ and ‘Output’ sections. They provide options for defining your WooCommerce database backup format.
• You can pick ‘SQL’ to get a text-based file compatible with future database restorations.

• Click the ‘Go’ button at the bottom of the export setup.

• phpMyAdmin will start creating the database backup file. This might take some time depending on the size of your database.

• Once phpMyAdmin completes the export, a download prompt will appear.
• Go ahead and save the ‘.sql’ file to your computer.

• Save the downloaded backup file in a safe location on your computer. For added security, consider storing a copy on a separate external drive or cloud storage service.

Automatic WooCommere backups provide convenience and consistency without the need for manual intervention. They are ideal for stores with frequent transactions, regular updates, or large databases.

Unlike manual backups, automated systems can capture database changes accurately and in real time. You can schedule the backups to run weekly, daily, or hourly based on your disaster recovery plan.

The storage process itself is often incremental, meaning it only captures changes made since the last backup. This allows for more efficient usage of space and bandwidth.

Automated backups are also known to scale seamlessly as your business grows. You can, for instance, bump up your bandwidth according to changes in demand. Some providers offer additional features to enhance your backup strategy. Examples include data encryption tools and integration with cloud storage services, etc.

When choosing a plugin, make sure it is compatible with your WordPress and WooCommerce versions to prevent conflicts.

HPOS compatibility: If your store uses WooCommerce High-Performance Order Storage, make sure your backup solution supports the HPOS database structure and includes its dedicated order tables. HPOS stores orders in dedicated WooCommerce tables rather than relying exclusively on wp_posts and wp_postmeta.

Also, check for these storage options for your database backups in the plugin:

• Cloud storage options – like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3 – are the most popular because of their reliability and scalability. They however come at an extra cost based on the size and frequency of your backups.
• You could otherwise build yourself a self-managed remote server. It offers more control over your backups but requires advanced technical knowledge.
• Some WordPress plugins additionally allow you to store backups on the same server as your website. This practice is not recommended, though – due to the risk it poses if the server fails.

To find the best provider for your WooCommerce database backups, you should evaluate your options based on the following:

• The frequency of automatic backups.
• Data storage locations.
• The number of backed-up copies.
• The backup retention period.
• The level of technical support provided.
• The backup management features
• Security audit history.

Unfortunately, there is no standard procedure for configuring automatic WooCommerce database backups. Each service provider has its own control panel and backup management system.

Nevertheless, here are general guidelines for setting up both plugin-based and managed backups:

For starters, determine where your WooCommerce database backups will be stored. If opting for a cloud storage service, register an account and purchase sufficient space for your backup copies.

• Go to the ‘Plugins’ section in your WordPress admin panel.
• Click ‘Add New’.

• Search for a WordPress backup plugin
• Install the plugin and activate it.

• Access the plugin’s Settings page within your WordPress dashboard. Most plugins have embedded the option into their main menu.

• Decide how frequently the plugin should perform WooCommerce database backups. Daily backups are ideal for growing stores, but you may adjust the frequency based on your site’s transaction volume.

• Define which elements of your site to back up. Most plugins allow you to choose specific databases and files. So, make sure that you include your WooCommerce database in the backup.

• Link the plugin to your selected backup destination. You can do so by providing the necessary credentials or authorisation tokens.

• Choose the number of backup copies to keep and for how long. Going overboard might increase your storage costs, while capping it too low could leave you without a recent restore point.

• Log into your hosting control panel, where you get all the tools and features for managing your WordPress site and server.

• Proceed to the backup settings area of the control panel.
• The location of the backup settings varies by hosting provider. But, it’s typically under sections labeled ‘Site Management’, ‘Backups’, or ‘Server Management’.

• Check the settings to confirm the hosting service is actively backing up your WooCommerce database. Some providers run automatic backups by default. Others may need manual activation.
• You should also seek information on the site components included in the backups. Your managed WordPress hosting provider may choose to back up the entire WooCommerce store.
• Remember to review even the backup storage location. You wouldn’t want your database copies held on a local server. They should, instead, go to a secure offsite data center. It might also help to distribute copies across different locations for redundancy.

If your hosting plan allows customization of backup settings, consider:

• Adjusting the backup schedule based on your site’s transaction volume and frequency. You can set them to run daily, weekly, or monthly.
• Defining the backup retention period and the number of copies.

Don’t wait until disaster strikes to confirm the reliability of your hosting provider’s backup strategy. You can run tests every now and then to check if your WooCommerce database backups are complete and functional.

Start by cloning your WooCommerce site into a staging environment. You may then restore past backups on it while monitoring the store’s front-end and back-end.

Now that you’ve understood how to back up your WooCommerce database, the next step is finding a suitable solution to facilitate it all. Take your time when auditing web hosts, WordPress backup plugins, or cloud storage providers.

More specifically, aim for a setup that supports both manual and automatic backups. That way, you get to enjoy the consistency of automated processes and the flexibility of manual WooCommerce backups.