Table of Contents
Introduction
Why a daily off-site backup matters
You can automate daily WordPress backups to Google Drive without paying a penny using WPvivid. It takes a few minutes and doesn’t need a developer, but there are a couple of gotchas you’ll want to avoid.
What the free WPvivid plugin covers
WPvivid offers a free version that backs up your files and database, restores them, and transfers your site.
Connecting WPvivid to Google Drive
Installing the plugin
Open your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins, then Add New. Search for WPvivid Backup, install it and activate it.
The plugin is free at WordPress.org, so you pay nothing to start.
Authorising your Google account
Open the plugin’s remote storage settings and choose Google Drive. Then follow these steps:
- Select Google Drive as your remote storage.
- Click the authentication button and sign in to your Google account.
- Approve the permissions request, which uses OAuth 2.0.
- Save the connection once WPvivid confirms it.
Some sources claim remote storage needs a premium plan. Other sources show the free version connecting to Google Drive, so check the storage options in your own dashboard.
Scheduling Daily Backups
Choosing what to back up
WPvivid lets you back up the whole site, only the files, or only the database. For a daily schedule, the database is the part that changes most.
- Database backup: posts, pages, comments and settings stored in MySQL.
- Files backup: themes, plugins and uploads.
- Full backup: both together.
In the plugin’s schedule tab, enable the schedule, set the frequency to daily, and tick Google Drive as the destination.
Setting retention so Drive does not fill up
Each backup takes space in your Google Drive. Set a retention limit so older copies are removed automatically.
Keeping a small number of recent backups, such as the last few days, caps storage use. Check the figure against your site size and your free Drive allowance.
Testing and Restoring Your Backup
Confirming the files reached Drive
Run a manual backup first, rather than waiting for the schedule. Send it to Google Drive, then open Drive and look for the backup folder WPvivid created.
- Check the files are there with a recent date.
- Confirm the file sizes look sensible for your site.
- Check again after the first scheduled run.
Restoring after a failure
Open the plugin’s backup and restore tab. Pick the backup you want from the list, or retrieve it from Google Drive if it is not shown.
Choose whether to restore files, the database, or both, then start the restore. A backup you have never restored is only a guess, so test it on a spare site if you can.
FAQ
Can WPvivid back up to Google Drive for free?
Sources conflict. One overview says the free version stores backups on the local server only, while others show it connecting to Google Drive. Check the remote storage options in your own dashboard.
How do I schedule daily backups in WPvivid?
Open the schedule tab, enable the schedule, set the frequency to daily, and choose Google Drive as the destination. Then set a retention limit.
Do I need to back up both files and the database?
Yes, a full backup covers both, so a restore brings back your whole site.
Conclusion
A daily off-site backup costs nothing but a short setup. Connect WPvivid to Google Drive, schedule it, and cap retention.
Then run one test restore.
