Title: Generate a new database backup
Author: WordPress VIP Documentation
Published: August 31, 2023
Last modified: December 4, 2025

---

 1. [Databases](https://docs.wpvip.com/databases/)
 2. [Database Backups](https://docs.wpvip.com/databases/backups/)
 3. Generate a new database backup

#  Generate a new database backup

In addition to the automated database backups that are generated for WordPress environments,
a new backup can be created on demand. Some [limitations are in place to the frequency and total number of backup files](https://docs.wpvip.com/databases/backups/limitations/)
that can be created within a window of time.

 * VIP Dashboard
 * VIP-CLI

Generate a new backup of an environment’s database in [the application view of the VIP Dashboard](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-dashboard/application-view/):

 1. Select an environment from the environment dropdown located at the upper left of
    the VIP Dashboard.
 2. Select “**Database**” from the sidebar navigation at the left of the screen.
 3. Select **“Database Backups”** from the submenu.
 4. Select the button labeled “**Backup Now**” located above the list of available 
    backups.
 5. In the “Are you sure you want to trigger a new backup?” modal, select “**Confirm**“.
 6. When it is ready, the generated on-demand database backup will be added to the 
    top of the list of available backups. Backup files for larger databases will take
    a longer time to prepare.

VIP-CLI command: `[vip backup db](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-cli/commands/backup/db/)`

Generate a new backup of an environment’s database with the `vip backup db` command.

For example:

    ```wp-block-preformatted
    vip @example-app.productionbackupdb
    ```

## Generate and download a new backup

VIP-CLI command: `[vip export sql](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-cli/commands/export/sql/)--
generate-backup`

To generate and download a new backup of an environment’s database, pass the `--
generate-backup` option with the `vip export sql` command.

For example:

    ```wp-block-preformatted
    vip @example-app.production export sql --generate-backup
    ```

Last updated: December 04, 2025