How do I back up my Joomla site?

What a backup must contain

A Joomla site is its files (Joomla, extensions, images, template overrides) and its database (almost all content and settings). A backup needs both, and it is only useful if you can restore it.

With Akeeba Backup (free)

1. Install Akeeba Backup from the Joomla Extensions Directory.
2. Run the Configuration Wizard once, then click Backup Now.
3. Download the .jpa file (the guide recommends SFTP/FTP for big files) and keep it off the server.
4. Schedule backups in Akeeba (or with Joomla's task scheduler) so they happen without you.

Other ways

• Hosting backups: cPanel and most hosts offer full and database backups. Useful, but check you can restore just your site.
• By hand: export the database in phpMyAdmin and zip the files.

Good to know

• Keep several backups (for example 7 daily and 4 weekly), and old ones off the server so they don't fill your space.
• Test a restore on a copy now and then: a backup you never restored is only a hope.