Why a course site needs a more careful restore
WordPress keeps your site in two places. The WordPress backup documentation describes the files (WordPress core, plugins, themes, media uploads and other code) and a separate database holding every post, comment and link plus other data generated on the site. LMS, membership and store plugins keep enrollments, orders, progress and member accounts in that database.
That is the trap. If a plugin update breaks your site at 2 pm and you restore last night's full backup, the code is fixed but every purchase, signup and lesson completion since the backup is gone from WordPress, even though your payment processor may still show the charge. The safest restore is the smallest one that fixes the problem.
What SiteGround backs up and for how long
SiteGround's backup article (updated 13 May 2026) says automatic daily backups are created for all sites and stored on servers separate from the hosting server. Shared plans keep up to 30 daily copies and cloud plans up to 7. A site may have no daily backup in its first 6 hours. Taking a manual backup pushes the next automatic daily backup 24 hours later.
| Plan | Daily copies kept | Free on-demand backups | With Premium Backup add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| StartUp | Up to 30 | None | 5 manual slots, up to 37 daily, hourly for the last 48 hours |
| GrowBig | Up to 30 | 5 | 10 manual slots, up to 37 daily, hourly for the last 48 hours |
| GoGeek | Up to 30 | 5 | 10 manual slots, up to 37 daily, hourly for the last 48 hours |
| Cloud | Up to 7 | Article says 5 for GrowBig and higher; confirm for Cloud | 10 manual slots, up to 14 daily, hourly for the last 48 hours |
The four restore options in Site Tools
- Restore all files and databases: replaces the current site with the chosen backup. SiteGround says there is no preview before restoring.
- Restore files: pick files or folders and restore them to their original location, which requires ticking a box confirming the current files will be replaced, or to a separate .RESTORES folder in your home directory so you can compare first.
- Restore databases: choose a backup date, then select which databases to restore.
- Restore emails: select specific email accounts to restore.
- After any restore, flush your site caches so the change is visible.
- Backups can be downloaded as a single .tar.gz archive; the download link expires after 24 hours.
Decision table: files only or database?
| What went wrong | Restore | What you keep | What you lose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plugin or theme update broke pages or white-screened the site | Files only (that plugin or theme folder) | All orders, enrollments and progress | Nothing, if the update made no database changes |
| Edited functions.php or a template and broke it | Files only (that file) | Everything in the database | Nothing beyond the bad edit |
| Deleted uploads or course media files | Files only (uploads folder or files) | Everything in the database | Nothing |
| Plugin migration corrupted settings or tables | Database, after exporting new records | Files | Orders, enrollments and accounts created after the backup, until you re-enter them |
| Accidentally deleted lessons, courses or users in WordPress | Database, after exporting new records | Files | Database changes since the backup |
| Lost an email account or messages | Emails only | Site files and database | Nothing on the site |
Pre-restore checklist for a live course site
- Write down the exact time of the backup you plan to restore and the current time; everything between them is at risk in a database restore.
- Take an on-demand backup of the current, broken state first (GrowBig and above include 5), so you can undo the restore.
- Export orders, new members and enrollments created since the backup time from your LMS, membership or store plugin, and list payments from your payment processor dashboard for the same window.
- Pause new sales during the restore with a maintenance notice so no order lands mid-restore.
- Prefer restoring files to a separate folder first and compare before overwriting.
- After a database restore, re-create the missing enrollments and accounts from your export, then email affected students.
- Download a copy if you are about to delete or move the site; SiteGround says deleting a site removes access to its backups.
Limits worth knowing before you need them
SiteGround lists several limits in its backup article. Suspended or offline sites get no new backups and existing copies are gradually deleted. Premium hourly backups may be delayed for databases over 10 GB, more than 50 databases or database users, or very high inode or disk usage. Website Builder sites do not use Site Tools and follow a different restore process.
The WordPress documentation recommends keeping several recent backups in different locations and occasionally making manual backups to confirm automation works. For a course business that means one off-host copy you control, refreshed before every significant plugin update.
Questions before you decide
Can I restore only files on SiteGround?
Yes. Site Tools lets you restore selected files to their original location or to a separate folder, leaving the database and its orders and enrollments untouched.
How far back can I restore on SiteGround?
SiteGround keeps up to 30 daily backup copies on shared plans and up to 7 on cloud plans, according to its backup article updated 13 May 2026.
Will a database restore remove recent orders?
Yes. Orders, enrollments and accounts stored in the WordPress database after the backup time are rolled back, so export them before restoring.
Does SiteGround StartUp include on-demand backups?
Not for free. SiteGround lists 5 free on-demand backup slots for GrowBig and higher plans; StartUp gets manual backup slots only with the paid Premium Backup add-on.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- SiteGround KB: How to use the Backup service in Site Tools Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: Restoring specific site data Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- WordPress Advanced Administration: Backups Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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