Partial UpdraftPlus Backup: How to Select Only Database or Specific Files

ByMaAnna Stephenson
Partial UpdraftPlus Backup: How to Select Only Database or Specific Files

See how to select what gets included in a manual backup when using UpdraftPlus because sometimes you just need a partial backup.

NOTE: Site tech changes all the time. If what you’re seeing in the plugin is different than what is shown here, be sure to look below the video for additional notes and updates.

A transcript is below the video.

Plugins that require database updates

Some plugins require that the database be updated after you update the plugin or make permalink or other changes on your site.

These plugins include Redirection, Yoast SEO, and others.

You’ll want to take a database backup prior to doing those updates.

Or, you may want to include everything but your big Uploads folder that contains all of your image in a backup so that it will run quicker prior to doing updates or making changes to your site.

Select Backup Inclusions

I’m on the Settings page for the free version of the UpdraftPlus backup plugin.

To take a manual backup, simply hit the Backup Now button.

You’ll see a pop up that will allow you to select what you want to include in the backup.

If that’s everything then you’ll want to leave all of the boxes checked.

Only include the database

But if you only want a database backup, then uncheck boxes for the files.

If you are using the paid version of this plugin, you may see more file choices than we have here. Uncheck them too.

Exclude files

Now, if you want to just exclude a few files, say like your large Uploads folder that also contains your images, then click the More ellipsis at the end of the files line.

Then you can uncheck the box for what you don’t want to include.

Careful with excluding the Uploads folder

Keep in mind that some plugins have folders in the wp-content > uploads folder. So, you may not just be excluding your images when you exclude that Uploads folder from the backup.

Finishing up

When you’re finished with all of your settings for this backup, click the Backup Now button.

Temporary settings

These settings are temporary and will only apply to this manual backup. They will not affect the settings for your automated backup.

But, the next time you do a manual backup, you may want to double check all of the settings, just in case it saved them from the last time you ran a manual backup, just to be sure.

See more tips

That’s all there is to selecting what to include or exclude in your manual UpdraftPlus backups.

Be sure to visit BlogAid.net for more helpful site tips.

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MaAnna is a geek who can still speak in plain English. She helps DIY site owners plus webmasters and designers create sites that are secure, perform well, and get noticed by search engines and readers.

11 Comments

    1. I’ve been able to run it on most all hosting account package sizes without issue, even on 10GB sites.

      UDP has lots of tutorials and such for how to tweak the settings, might want to have look. Perhaps your hosting package doesn’t have enough resources allocated, or there are other issues. Hard to say without seeing it. And it’s UDP’s job to help you troubleshoot

      1. Yes, I believe you’re right about the resources because my own site is rather large and right at the 10GB range but the site I was using it on is a new install and not large at all so it must be the allocated resources. I also found that I can’t use third-party migration plugins according to my hosting, so I’ll be on the hunt for another host Thank you for the insights.

        1. If you have multiple sites in 1 cPanel then they are all pulling on the same resources. So may not matter about their individual sizes.

          This is why you would want a shared reseller or VPS hosting so each site could be in its own cPanel with its own resources.

          None of my clients are on fully managed hosting and have no restrictions on what they can use. And because they are educated DIY site owners, they save $$$$$ but not needing a host to do things for them.

          1. Wow, thank you, great advice! I will certainly look into the reseller hosting for sure. What I have started out with was on a very tight budget and nothing like I was expecting (learned to read the fine print) it seems every week I am faced with another surprise, It has been a learning experience at best.

  4. I tend to back up my database with a separate plugin,
    With this plugin the backups are stored on my server. In my case these aren’t big and I don’t worry too much about storage space (yet). I also use ‘WP Sweep’ from time to time to remove dead entries from the database.

    1. Not sure why you would want to jump through the extra hoops of using a different plugin for database backups. And no way would I ever store a backup on the hosting. If the server gets attacked, you lose your site AND your backup

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