How to actually restore a backup (before you ever need to)

How to actually restore a backup (before you ever need to)

A backup you've never tested isn't really a backup. Do a calm practice run so the real emergency is boring.

1. Make sure your backup plugin stored a copy somewhere off your site, like your cloud drive or your own computer.
2. Open the plugin's Backups list. You should see entries with dates.
3. Find the "Restore" button next to a recent backup. Don't click it casually on a live site, just confirm it's there.
4. Read what the plugin says it will replace: files, database, or both.
5. Note where your newest backup lives, so in a panic you know exactly where to look.

Knowing this in advance turns a disaster into a five-minute fix.

In plain words: rehearse the rescue once while calm, so the real one doesn't catch you guessing.