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Back up before a big job

Make a backup, download it to your computer and check it before bulk changes, plugin updates, database clean-ups or a restore.

Updated 29 October 2026

A snapshot covers one change. A backup covers what a snapshot cannot: a lost server, a mistake you notice after the rollback window, or a big job that goes wrong. Make one before bulk changes, plugin updates, database clean-ups and anything near a restore. The backup is built on your server, but you keep it: it is downloaded to your computer.

What you need#

  • Backups & restore for your AI app to create and download a backup. The Developer and Full access presets include it. You can also create and download a backup yourself on PowerWP AI › Backups.
  • Room on the server: a backup needs free disk space, and the Dashboard's Environment checks warn when less than 1 GB is free.

Before you start#

Choose the type by the job:

The jobBackup type
Bulk changes to products or content, search and replace, database clean-upsDatabase
Plugin or theme updates, file editsFull
Anything near a restoreFull, and keep today's state in case you need it

Steps#

  1. Start the backup.
    • Example prompt

      This job touches a lot of products. Make a database backup first and tell me when it is ready.

    • Your AI app will use backup_create, then job_status until the backup is ready. The server builds it in small steps of about 20 seconds.
  2. Download it to your computer.
    • Example prompt

      Download that backup to my Documents folder and check the checksums.

    • An AI app that can run commands, such as Claude Code, uses backup_download_links and backup_confirm_downloaded. When every checksum matches, the server copy is deleted. An app that cannot save files, such as Claude on the web, gives you download links to click: save every file, check the checksums and select Mark as downloaded.
  3. Look at the list. Open PowerWP AI › Backups. The backup should show as ready and downloaded.
  4. Then start the job. Ask for a plan and a checkpoint first, as in Work safely on a live site.

Check the result#

  • On your computer you have a folder with a manifest.json, one or more db-0001.sql.gz files and, for a full backup, one or more files-0001.tar.gz files.
  • PowerWP AI › Backups shows the backup as downloaded.
  • A backup that is never downloaded is deleted from the server after 48 hours by default.
Careful

A backup includes wp-config.php, which holds your database password and keys. Keep the files as carefully as a password.

How to undo#

A backup changes nothing on your site, so there is nothing to roll back. To remove the server copy before it expires, use Delete from server on the Backups screen. To go back to a backup, use Restore from your computer. A restore replaces your database and files and cannot be rolled back from the change log, so make a fresh backup first if you may need today's state. See Backups and restore.

Backups and restoreCreate, download and restore backups.Work safely on a live siteThe routine for every change.What can't be undoneWhy a backup matters.
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