The plugin never deletes a locked backup automatically, and nobody deletes it by hand by accident either. That way, for example, the backup from before a big update stays until you unlock it.
Step 1: Lock the backup
Open the Backup page. In the Backups list, click More … in the row of the backup, then Lock backup. The lists on the Overview and Restore pages have the entry too.
- Restore leads to the page where you restore the backup.
- Check backup checks whether the backup is readable and complete.
- Lock backup locks the backup immediately, without a confirmation dialog.
- Download only appears for a backup that is stored at a local target.
- Log opens the log of the backup.
- Delete backup deletes the backup after a confirmation prompt.
A backup can be locked if it is complete at at least one target. For a failed or aborted backup, the entry is missing.
Step 2: Recognise the padlock
After locking, a padlock appears in front of the date of the backup. If you point the mouse pointer at it, a tooltip appears. It also appears on tapping and when you reach the padlock with the keyboard.
- Locked: this backup is never deleted automatically and is not counted for “Max. backups”. It can only be deleted by hand after “Unlock backup”.
What the lock does
- Never deleted automatically. After every good backup, the plugin deletes the oldest backups that go beyond Max. backups. It leaves a locked backup where it is.
- Not counted. Besides the locked backups, as many unlocked ones stay as Max. backups says. The target can then hold more backups than this number.
- Cannot be deleted by hand. This applies in the browser and on the command line. For a locked backup, the confirmation prompt before deletion offers no Delete.
- Protected when a target is removed. A target that holds locked backups cannot be removed together with its backups.
- This backup is locked. Unlock it first; then it can be deleted.
- Cancel closes the confirmation prompt. There is no Delete button here.
Unlocking the backup
The lock stays until you lift it: the same way you locked. In the row of the backup, click More …, then Unlock backup.
- Unlock backup is in the menu of a locked backup in the place of Lock backup.
The padlock disappears. The backup counts for Max. backups again and can be deleted.
After unlocking, the backup may go
If the backup is among the oldest of its plan, the plugin deletes it after the next good backup of this plan if it goes beyond Max. backups. The newest good backup never goes.
If something does not work
| Message | What you can do |
|---|---|
| This backup is locked. Unlock it first; then it can be deleted. | Choose Unlock backup and delete the backup afterwards. |
| … locked backups are stored at this target. Unlock them first to remove the target together with its backups; otherwise the backups stay where they are. | The notice is in the confirmation prompt when you remove a target. Unlock the backups at this target. Or remove the target and leave its backups where they are. |
Good to know
- The lock applies to the backup at all its targets.
- A locked backup keeps taking its space at the target. The plugin never deletes because space is running low.
- You can check, download and restore a locked backup like any other.
See also
- Define how many backups are kept
- Delete a backup
- Remove a target
- The “Backup” page
- Create and manage backups with WP-CLI
On the command line
WP-CLI not set up yet? How to install WP-CLI.
Locking and unlocking also work with WP-CLI. You name a backup by its job name; backup list shows it at the start of every line. The line of a locked backup ends with locked.
# Show backups with job names; locked ones carry “locked” wp cloneworx-backup backup list # Lock a backup wp cloneworx-backup backup lock <Job> # Unlock the backup wp cloneworx-backup backup unlock <Job>