What it is
The backup puts your database, media, themes and plugins into a single file. It can run by itself every day, week or month and go to an FTP, FTPS or SFTP server of yours, keeping the latest ones (5 by default). When restoring, you choose everything or just one part: database, plugins, themes or media. And, if you want, it makes a copy before every plugin or theme update, with an "Undo this update" button.
How to use it
- Open Backup & Migration → Automatic tab.
- In "Keep off the site", choose the type (SFTP is recommended), fill in server, username, password and folder, and click "Test connection". The test saves and deletes a small file and shows the real error if something fails.
- In "Automatic backup", turn it on, pick how often and the time, and save. Click "Back up now" to see the first one reach the server.
- To restore, use "Restore" in the Backups tab and choose what to bring back. A backup that is only on the server shows up in "Backups on the off-site server", with a "Bring to this site" button.
Common problems
The connection test says the password was refused.
Check the username and password in the server panel. SFTP usually uses port 22; FTP, port 21.
"Folder without permission" in the test.
The server user cannot write in that folder. Choose another folder or ask whoever runs the server for write permission.
The automatic backup did not run on time.
The WordPress scheduler depends on visits to the site. On a site with few visits, or with the scheduler turned off (DISABLE_WP_CRON), schedule the server cron with the line shown on the screen.
Where do I see whether the last one worked?
In the Automatic tab and in Site Health. If it fails, the reason shows up in both places, and you can get an email.
The download stopped halfway.
Download it again: it resumes where it stopped.
Restore says the file is incomplete.
The file was cut during download or upload. Download it again from the original site.
If something goes wrong
Before restoring, the plugin checks the whole file. If something goes wrong, your current site isn't wiped before the check finishes.
Didn't find the answer? Ask in the WordPress.org support forum.