# 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.

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 job | Backup type |
|---|---|
| Bulk changes to products or content, search and replace, database clean-ups | Database |
| Plugin or theme updates, file edits | Full |
| Anything near a restore | Full, and keep today's state in case you need it |

## Steps

:::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](/docs/guides/safe-workflow/).
:::

## 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.

> [!WARNING] 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](/docs/safety/backups/).

:::cards
- [Backups and restore](/docs/safety/backups/) — Create, download and restore backups.
- [Work safely on a live site](/docs/guides/safe-workflow/) — The routine for every change.
- [What can't be undone](/docs/safety/limits/) — Why a backup matters.
:::

Source: https://powerwp.ai/docs/guides/back-up-first/