Regular backups and updates keep your Joomla website secure and functioning. In this guide, we cover backup strategies and safe update procedures.

Why Backups Are Essential

  • Disaster recovery: Restore after failures
  • Update safety: Roll back if problems occur
  • Migration: Move to new hosting
  • Testing: Create staging copies
  • Peace of mind: Always have a safety net

What to Backup

Database

Contains all content:

  • Articles and categories
  • Users and settings
  • Menus and modules
  • Extension configurations

Files

Important directories:

  • /administrator (admin files)
  • /components (components)
  • /modules (modules)
  • /plugins (plugins)
  • /templates (templates)
  • /images (media files)
  • /media (additional media)
  • configuration.php

Backup Methods

Method 1: Akeeba Backup

Most popular Joomla backup solution:

Installation:

  1. Download from akeebabackup.com
  2. Install via Extension Manager
  3. Access via Components > Akeeba Backup

Creating Backup:

  1. Click Backup Now
  2. Add description
  3. Wait for completion
  4. Download backup file

Features:

  • Full site backup
  • One-click restoration
  • Cloud storage support
  • Scheduled backups (Pro)

Method 2: Hosting Backup

Via DirectAdmin:

  1. Go to Account Backup
  2. Select backup options
  3. Create backup
  4. Download or store remotely

Method 3: Manual Backup

Database:

  1. Access phpMyAdmin
  2. Select Joomla database
  3. Click Export
  4. Choose SQL format
  5. Download

Files:

  1. Connect via FTP
  2. Download entire Joomla folder
  3. Or use file manager ZIP

Backup Schedule

Type Frequency Retention
Database Daily 7 days
Full backup Weekly 4 weeks
Before updates Always Until verified

Restoring Backups

Via Akeeba

Kickstart Restoration:

  1. Upload backup and kickstart.php
  2. Access kickstart.php in browser
  3. Follow restoration wizard
  4. Delete kickstart files after

Manual Restoration

Database:

  1. Create empty database
  2. Import SQL via phpMyAdmin
  3. Update configuration.php

Files:

  1. Upload files via FTP
  2. Set permissions correctly
  3. Verify configuration.php

Update Process

Before Updating

  1. Create full backup
  2. Check extension compatibility
  3. Review changelogs
  4. Plan maintenance window

Joomla Core Updates

Via Update Component:

  1. Go to System > Update > Joomla
  2. Check for updates
  3. Click Install the Update
  4. Wait for completion

Pre-Update Check:

  1. Go to System > Update > Joomla
  2. Click Pre-Update Check
  3. Review compatibility report
  4. Fix issues before updating

Extension Updates

  1. Go to System > Update > Extensions
  2. Click Find Updates
  3. Select extensions to update
  4. Click Update

Safe Update Procedure

Step 1: Prepare

  • Create full backup
  • Note current versions
  • Review release notes
  • Schedule downtime if needed

Step 2: Update

  • Put site in maintenance mode (optional)
  • Update extensions first
  • Then update Joomla core
  • Check for errors

Step 3: Verify

  • Test frontend thoroughly
  • Check admin functions
  • Verify forms work
  • Test all functionality

Step 4: Monitor

  • Watch for errors in logs
  • Monitor site performance
  • Be ready to restore
  • Keep backup until confident

Troubleshooting Updates

Update Fails

  1. Check PHP version
  2. Increase memory limit
  3. Try manual update
  4. Check file permissions

Site Broken After Update

  1. Restore from backup
  2. Identify problem:
    • Extension conflict
    • PHP compatibility
    • Missing files
  3. Fix issue before retry

Extension Conflicts

  1. Disable extension via database
  2. Update extension or find alternative
  3. Contact extension developer

Update Best Practices

Do

  • Always backup first
  • Test in staging if possible
  • Update regularly
  • Read release notes
  • Keep extensions updated

Avoid

  • Updating on Friday afternoon
  • Skipping backups
  • Ignoring security updates
  • Using outdated extensions
  • Delaying major updates too long

Automated Backups

Akeeba Backup Pro

Schedule automatic backups:

  1. Configure schedule
  2. Set storage location
  3. Configure retention
  4. Enable notifications

Hosting Backups

Many hosts offer:

  • Daily automatic backups
  • Retention settings
  • One-click restore

Backup Storage

Local Storage

  • Quick access
  • Limited space
  • Single point of failure

Cloud Storage

Akeeba supports:

  • Amazon S3
  • Google Cloud
  • Dropbox
  • OneDrive
  • FTP/SFTP

3-2-1 Rule

  • 3 copies of data
  • 2 different storage types
  • 1 off-site location

Need Help?

We are here for you! If you run into any issues or have questions, our support team is happy to help you personally. Send us a message through the ticket system - we usually respond within a few hours and are happy to assist you.