Yes. You Can Backup Your Webflow Site Before Deleting

Webflow has become one of the most popular website-building platforms for designers and developers who want to create custom websites without coding. As your projects evolve, you might find yourself needing to delete a Webflow site—perhaps it's a test project, a site that's been migrated elsewhere, or simply one that's no longer needed. Before proceeding with deletion, however, it's crucial to understand your backup options, as Webflow site deletion is permanent and irreversible.

The good news is that yes, you can indeed back up your Webflow site before deleting it, though Webflow's approach to backups differs from what you might expect. Rather than offering a traditional one-click "backup" button that creates a downloadable archive of your entire site, Webflow provides several methods that, when used together, can effectively preserve all aspects of your site. This guide explores these backup options in detail, helping you ensure nothing important is lost when you delete a Webflow project.

Understanding Webflow's Backup Philosophy

Webflow's approach to site backups is integrated into its platform architecture rather than existing as a standalone feature. Instead of a traditional backup system that creates compressed archives of your entire site, Webflow offers a combination of site duplication, code export, and content export features that together provide comprehensive backup capabilities. This distributed approach to backups reflects Webflow's design philosophy, which separates structure, style, and content while maintaining their relationships.

This backup methodology can initially seem less straightforward than the one-click backup systems found in platforms like WordPress, but it offers significant advantages in terms of flexibility and specificity. By separating site structure from content, Webflow allows you to back up exactly what you need—whether that's a functional copy of your entire site within the Webflow ecosystem, the static code for deployment elsewhere, or just the dynamic content that powers your site. Understanding this philosophy is essential for effectively backing up your Webflow projects before deletion.

Direct Backup Options in Webflow

Site Duplication: The Most Comprehensive Backup Method

Site duplication is Webflow's primary and most comprehensive backup method, essentially creating an exact clone of your entire project within the Webflow platform. This duplicated site includes all pages, layouts, styles, interactions, CMS collections, and content, effectively preserving your site in its entirety as a functional copy. For most users looking to back up before deletion, site duplication should be the first method considered.

The duplication process creates a separate project in your Webflow dashboard that functions identically to the original site. This new project can be used as a reference, a starting point for a new site, or simply kept as an archived backup of the deleted site. Importantly, the duplicated site maintains all the dynamic functionality of the original, including CMS collections and interactions, making it the closest thing to a traditional "full backup" in the Webflow ecosystem.

To duplicate your Webflow site:

1. Log in to your Webflow account and go to your Dashboard
2. Find the site you want to back up
3. Click the three dots menu (···) next to the site name
4. Select "Duplicate" from the dropdown menu
5. Name your duplicated site (consider including "Backup" and the date in the name)
6. Click "Duplicate Site" to complete the process

While site duplication is extremely comprehensive, it does have some limitations to consider. Duplicated sites count toward your site limit based on your Webflow plan, which could be a consideration for users on plans with restricted site allowances. Additionally, since the backup exists within the Webflow platform rather than as a downloadable file, it doesn't provide offline backup security or portability to other platforms.

Exporting Site Code: For Offline Backups

For users who want a downloadable backup that can be stored outside the Webflow platform, code export provides an option to save the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that make up your site. This export creates a ZIP file containing all the necessary files to represent your site's design and structure, essentially capturing a static version of your site at the time of export.

Code export is particularly valuable for those who want offline backup security, need to maintain archives for compliance purposes, or might want to migrate the design to a different platform in the future. While not as functionally complete as site duplication (notably missing dynamic CMS functionality), code export provides tangible backup files that can be stored in multiple locations for added security.

To export your Webflow site's code:

1. Open your site in the Webflow Designer
2. Click on the "⚙️" (Settings) icon in the left sidebar
3. Navigate to the "Export" tab
4. Click "Prepare ZIP File"
5. Once prepared, click "Download ZIP File"
6. Save the ZIP file to your preferred storage location

It's important to note that code export has significant limitations as a complete backup solution. Most notably, it doesn't include CMS content, meaning your dynamic content like blog posts, product listings, or any custom collections won't be included in the export. Additionally, the exported code represents a static version of your site; the dynamic functionality powered by Webflow's CMS and interactions systems won't work without the Webflow platform. Code export is also only available on paid Webflow plans, not on the free starter plan.

Backing Up CMS Content

CSV Export: Preserving Your Dynamic Content

For sites that rely heavily on Webflow's CMS features, backing up your content separately is crucial—especially since the code export doesn't include CMS data. Webflow allows you to export each CMS collection as a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file, which preserves all your structured content in a universally compatible format that can be viewed in spreadsheet applications or imported into other systems.

Exporting your CMS content is particularly important for content-rich sites like blogs, portfolios, or e-commerce stores where the dynamic content represents significant value. These CSV exports capture all fields and entries in your collections, including text, numbers, references to other collections, and links to assets. While the exports don't include the actual image or file assets (which must be downloaded separately), they do preserve the structured data that powers your dynamic pages.

To export your CMS content:

1. Open your site in the Webflow Designer
2. Navigate to the CMS panel in the left sidebar
3. Select the Collection you want to back up
4. Click the "Export" icon in the top-right of the collection panel
5. Choose "CSV" as the export format
6. Download and save the CSV file
7. Repeat this process for each Collection in your site

While the CSV export is valuable for preserving content, it's important to understand its relationship to the overall site backup strategy. CSV exports contain only the raw content data, disconnected from the design and structure of your site. To fully restore a site from these exports, you would need to first rebuild the site structure (via site duplication or code import) and then import the CSV data back into appropriately configured collections. This makes CSV export best used as one component of a comprehensive backup strategy rather than a standalone solution.

Alternatives and Additional Considerations

Version History and Autosave: Not True Backup Solutions

Webflow automatically maintains a version history of your site as you work, saving snapshots that you can revert to if needed. While this feature is extremely valuable during the design and development process, it's important to understand that it doesn't function as a backup solution for site deletion scenarios. Version history exists within a project and is lost when that project is deleted.

The version history feature serves a different purpose than backups—it's designed to allow you to undo changes or revert to previous design states within an active project. It functions as a safety net during the design process, not as an archival system for preserving sites you plan to delete. Once a site is deleted from your dashboard, its version history is deleted along with it, making it inaccessible for restoration purposes.

To access version history (for reference, not as a deletion backup):

1. Open your project in the Webflow Designer
2. Click the "⚙️" (Settings) icon in the left sidebar
3. Go to the "Backups" tab
4. View the list of autosaves and manual save points
5. Click on any version to restore to that point

Similarly, Webflow's autosave feature, which continuously saves your work as you design, is a workflow enhancement rather than a backup mechanism. Like version history, autosave operates within the context of an active project and cannot be accessed after project deletion.

Third-Party Backup Services: Limited Options

Unlike content management systems like WordPress that have robust ecosystems of backup plugins and services, Webflow currently has limited third-party backup solutions specifically designed for the platform. This reflects both Webflow's relatively younger ecosystem and its architecture, which already includes built-in duplication and export capabilities.

Most Webflow users find that the combination of site duplication, code export, and CMS content export provides sufficient backup capabilities without needing third-party solutions. However, for those with specialized backup requirements—such as automated scheduled backups or integration with specific storage systems—custom solutions might need to be developed using Webflow's API or through manual processes.

For users requiring the most robust backup strategy, combining Webflow's native backup methods with general cloud storage best practices is typically the most effective approach. This might include:

• Regular site duplication (perhaps monthly or quarterly)
• Code exports stored in multiple locations (local and cloud storage)
• CMS exports saved after significant content updates
• Organized file naming conventions to track backup versions
• Documentation of site settings and configurations

This comprehensive approach, while more manual than an automated third-party solution, provides thorough protection against data loss during site deletion.

How to Back Up Before Deletion: A Complete Workflow

When you've decided to delete a Webflow site and need to ensure nothing important is lost, following a comprehensive backup workflow will provide maximum protection. This multi-step process combines the various backup methods to preserve all aspects of your site—from design and structure to content and assets.

The ideal backup workflow begins with site duplication, which creates a functional copy of your entire site within the Webflow platform. This duplicated site serves as your primary backup, preserving all aspects of the original site in a working state. Even if you plan to export code and content as well, starting with duplication provides an insurance policy that allows you to easily recover if other backup methods prove incomplete.

After creating a duplicate, export your site's code to create a downloadable backup of your site's structure, design, and static assets. While this backup won't include dynamic CMS functionality, it preserves the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that define your site's appearance and behavior. Store this ZIP file somewhere secure, ideally in multiple locations including cloud storage for maximum safety.

Next, export all CMS collections individually as CSV files to preserve your dynamic content. For sites with numerous collections, this can be time-consuming but is essential for preserving content that represents significant value. Remember that these exports contain only the structured data, not the actual media files referenced in the collections.

For a truly comprehensive backup, separately download any crucial media assets from your site. While this isn't necessary if you've duplicated the site (as the duplicate retains all assets), having separate copies of key images, videos, and documents provides additional security, especially for irreplaceable content.

Finally, document important settings and configurations that might not be obvious from the backups alone. This could include:

• Custom domain settings
• Integration details (for connected services)
• Hosting plan information
• Team member access and permissions
• Any special considerations for the site

With all these backup components secured, you can proceed with site deletion knowing that you have preserved everything of value from your Webflow project. Remember that deletion is permanent, so verify your backups are complete and accessible before taking this final step.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I delete a Webflow site?

When you delete a Webflow site, it is permanently removed from your Webflow dashboard and cannot be restored through normal means. The deletion process removes all aspects of the site, including design, structure, content, assets, and settings. The live published site (if applicable) will be taken down, and any custom domain connections will be severed.

This permanence makes pre-deletion backup crucial, as Webflow does not maintain archives of deleted sites that can be restored upon request. Unlike some platforms that might offer a "trash" or "recently deleted" section where sites can be recovered for a limited time, Webflow deletion is immediate and final. The resources associated with the deleted site (such as the site slot in your plan) become available for new projects after deletion.

Can I restore a deleted Webflow site?

No, Webflow does not provide a way to restore a deleted site directly. Once you confirm deletion, the site and all its associated data are permanently removed from the Webflow platform with no built-in recovery option. This is why creating backups before deletion is so important—they serve as your only recovery path if you later need access to the deleted site's design or content.

If you've created a site duplicate before deletion, you can effectively "restore" by using that duplicate as your starting point, essentially picking up where the deleted site left off with all design elements and content intact. If you've exported code and CMS content, you can partially rebuild the site by importing these elements, though this process is more involved and may not preserve all aspects of the original site's functionality.

Does Webflow automatically back up my site?

Webflow does automatically save your work as you design and build your site, maintaining a version history that allows you to revert to previous states of your project. However, these autosaves and version history are not true backups in the context of site deletion, as they exist within the project itself and are deleted along with the project when it's removed from your dashboard.

The automatic saving feature is designed to protect against loss during the active design process—preventing loss from browser crashes, accidental changes, or design decisions you later reconsider. It functions as a workflow safety net rather than an archival backup system. For pre-deletion backup purposes, you need to manually create site duplicates and exports as described earlier in this guide.

Is site duplication the same as a traditional backup?

Site duplication in Webflow serves as a functional backup within the platform but differs from traditional backups in several important ways. Traditional backup systems typically create compressed, portable archives of all site data that can be stored externally and used to restore the site on the same or different platforms. Webflow's site duplication, by contrast, creates a working copy that remains within the Webflow ecosystem.

The key difference is that duplicated sites aren't exportable or portable outside of Webflow in their functional state. While a duplicated site preserves all aspects of the original—including design, content, and functionality—it exists as another Webflow project rather than as a backup file you can download and store elsewhere. This means your "backup" is still dependent on your Webflow account and the Webflow platform itself.

For many users, site duplication provides sufficient backup protection, especially when combined with code and content exports for additional security. However, users with strict backup requirements—such as those needing air-gapped backups or platform-independent archives—should recognize the limitations of duplication as a backup method and ensure they also export code and content.

What Webflow plan do I need to export site code?

Code export functionality is available on all paid Webflow Site plans, starting from the Basic plan and above. It is not available on the free Starter plan or with Account plans alone (without an associated Site plan). This means that if you want to create code exports as part of your backup strategy, you'll need to have at least a Basic Site plan active for the site you wish to back up.

The code export feature generates a ZIP file containing the HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and assets that make up your site. This export represents a static version of your site and doesn't include dynamic CMS content or Webflow-specific functionality like the Editor or CMS API access. For users on the free Starter plan wanting to back up before deletion, site duplication remains available, though code export is not.

Conclusion

Backing up your Webflow site before deletion is not only possible but essential for preserving your work and protecting against permanent data loss. While Webflow doesn't offer a traditional one-click backup button, the combination of site duplication, code export, and CMS content export provides a comprehensive backup solution that addresses different aspects of your site.

For most users, site duplication offers the most straightforward and complete backup method, creating a functional copy of your entire site within the Webflow platform. This approach preserves all aspects of your site, including design, structure, content, and functionality. Complementing duplication with code export (for offline backup of your site's structure) and CMS content export (for preserving your dynamic content) creates a robust backup strategy that protects against various loss scenarios.

Remember these key takeaways for effective Webflow backups:

• Always back up before deletion—Webflow site deletion is permanent and irreversible
• Site duplication is the most comprehensive backup method within the Webflow ecosystem
• Code export creates portable backups but doesn't include CMS content
• Export CMS collections individually as CSV files to preserve your dynamic content
• Document important settings and configurations that might not be captured in backups
• Verify your backups are complete and accessible before proceeding with deletion

By following these practices, you can ensure that your valuable Webflow work remains preserved even after site deletion, giving you the freedom to manage your projects with confidence. Whether you're cleaning up test sites, archiving completed projects, or simply reorganizing your Webflow dashboard, proper backup procedures provide peace of mind and protect the time and creativity you've invested in your Webflow sites.