How I Actually Back Up My Blogger Blog (And Why You Should Too)
If you’ve ever assumed that Blogger is “safe by default” just because it’s a Google product, you’re not alone. I used to think the same way.
But after running Blogger sites for years, I’ve learned something important: stability does not equal ownership. Your content may live on Google’s servers, but that doesn’t mean you control it.
I’ve had moments where I logged in and thought, “What if this is the day everything’s gone?” Not because I did something wrong — but because platforms change, policies shift, and automated systems make mistakes.
That’s when it clicked for me. If I care about my writing, I need copies of it outside the platform.
Blogger is not self-hosted. You don’t own the server. You don’t control access. And if Google decides to limit or suspend an account, recovery options can be frustratingly limited.
So I built a simple but reliable backup system using two tools: Google Takeout for full-site backups, and IFTTT for real-time post archiving. Together, they cover almost every failure scenario I can think of.
Using Google Takeout for Full Blogger Backups
Most people think of Google Takeout as a one-time “download everything” button. That’s underselling it.
When configured properly, Takeout becomes a scheduled backup system that quietly works in the background. Every export includes your posts, comments, timestamps, and site structure — all packaged in a Blogger-compatible XML file.
That file matters more than you think.
If your account gets locked, if you want to migrate platforms, or if something breaks beyond repair, that XML file is your lifeline. I once lost a theme configuration and had to rebuild manually. It took days. That was the last time I skipped proper backups.
How I Set Up Scheduled Google Takeout Backups
- Go to Google Takeout
- Deselect everything and choose “Blogger” only
- Set export frequency to every 2 months for one year
- Choose where the files go (Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive)
- Confirm and let it run
Here’s the catch most people miss: the schedule expires after one year. When that happens, backups simply stop.
I learned that the hard way. Now I add a yearly calendar reminder called “Renew Blogger Backup.” It takes two minutes and saves a lot of regret.
As long as you keep that XML file updated, you can recover most of your blog — posts, comments, and all.
Real-Time Backups with IFTTT
Google Takeout runs every two months. That leaves a gap.
If something happens to a post during that window — flagged, unpublished, or removed — it may never make it into an export. I’ve had that happen. It’s not fun.
That’s where IFTTT comes in.
IFTTT works on a simple rule: “If this happens, then do that.” When connected to your Blogger RSS feed, it automatically saves each new post to another service the second it’s published.
I personally send mine to Google Docs, but Evernote and Notion work just as well.
My IFTTT Setup (Simple Version)
- Use your Blogger RSS feed as the trigger
- Trigger event: “New post published”
- Action: Save to Google Docs or Evernote
- Include title, content, and images
IFTTT doesn’t back up themes or settings. That’s not its job.
Think of it as a safety net for your writing. Even if a post disappears from Blogger, you still have the original content stored elsewhere.
Why I Use Both (And You Probably Should Too)
The biggest benefit isn’t technical. It’s psychological.
Once I stopped worrying about losing content, writing became easier. I could publish without that quiet anxiety in the back of my head.
Google Takeout is your disaster recovery plan. IFTTT is your daily logbook. They don’t replace each other — they complement each other.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Google Takeout | IFTTT |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Every 2 months | Instant |
| Scope | Entire site | Individual posts |
| Best for | Full recovery | Content safety |
| Limitations | Needs yearly renewal | No full restore |
Don’t Forget the Calendar Reminder
With hundreds of posts on my blog, backups aren’t optional anymore.
- Google Takeout every two months
- IFTTT on every publish
- One yearly calendar reminder
That’s it. No complicated scripts. No manual exports.
Once this is in place, you can focus on writing instead of worrying about worst-case scenarios.
Final Thought: Backups Are Boring — Until You Need Them
Google builds great tools, but they’re not immune to automated errors or policy enforcement.
If you want to keep blogging long-term on Blogger, setting up Takeout and IFTTT is one of the smartest things you can do.
It takes maybe ten minutes. And it might save years of work.
FAQ
Can I move my Blogger site using Google Takeout?
Yes. The XML file can be imported into Blogger or converted for WordPress using migration tools.
Does IFTTT save images too?
Yes, as long as the applet is configured to include embedded media.
Should I store backups locally?
If possible, yes. Cloud storage is convenient, but redundancy is always better.
How often should I check backups?
Once a year is usually enough — just make sure exports are still running.
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