To take a backup of your PrestaShop files and database, you can follow these steps:
Backup Files:
- Connect to your web server using an FTP client or accessing the file manager provided by your hosting provider.
- Navigate to the directory where your PrestaShop installation is located. This is typically the root directory or a subdirectory, depending on how you have set up your store.
- Select all the files and folders in your PrestaShop installation and download them to your local computer. This process may take some time, especially if you have a large number of files or a slow internet connection.
- Once the files are downloaded, compress them into a ZIP or TAR archive to save space and make it easier to manage. You can use compression software like 7-Zip or WinRAR to create the archive.
Backup Database:
- Access your hosting account’s control panel, such as cPanel or Plesk.
- Look for the “Databases” or “Database Management” section and open the tool that allows you to manage your databases (often phpMyAdmin).
- In the database management tool, locate your PrestaShop database. It is usually named something like “prestashop” or “ps_shopname” (where “shopname” is your actual shop’s name).
- Select the PrestaShop database and choose the “Export” option. This will allow you to export the database as an SQL file.
- Make sure to select the “Quick” or “Fast” export method and choose the appropriate format (usually SQL). Leave other settings at their default values.
- Click the “Go” or “Export” button to start the export process. This will generate a SQL file containing your PrestaShop database structure and data.
- Download the exported SQL file to your local computer.
By following these steps, you will have a backup of both your PrestaShop files and database. It’s essential to regularly perform backups to ensure you have a copy of your store’s data and files in case of any issues or emergencies. Store these backups in a secure location, preferably on multiple devices or cloud storage, for added redundancy.
