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How to save backups to your FTP server

BackWPup allows you to store your backups on any remote FTP server. This provides an essential layer of security by keeping your backup files separate from your WordPress installation. The only technical requirement is that the FTP functions for PHP must be enabled on your web server.

Step 1: Accessing FTP Storage Settings

To configure a new FTP destination for your backup job:

  1. Locate the desired job in the Next Scheduled Backups section.

  2. Click on the Storage option within that job card.

  3. In the Storage Settings sidebar that appears, select FTP to open the configuration panel.

Step 2: Server and Login Configuration

Enter the credentials provided by your hosting provider in the Server and Login section:

  • FTP Server & Port: Enter your server’s host address and the port (default is usually 21).

  • Username & Password: Provide your FTP account credentials.

  • Timeout: Set the connection timeout in seconds (default is 90).

  • SSL Connection: Check Use explicit SSL-FTP connection for enhanced security (requires OpenSSL support in PHP).

  • Passive Mode: It is recommended to keep Use FTP passive mode enabled to ensure the connection works through most firewalls. If you want to learn more about passive FTP, we recommend reading this article.

Step 3: Backup Retention Settings

Under the Backup Settings section, define how files are managed on your remote server:

  • Folder to store files in: Specify the directory path on your FTP server where backups should be saved.

  • Max backups to retain: Enter the number of files you wish to keep.

    • When this limit is reached, the oldest backup will be automatically deleted to save space.

    • To keep all backups indefinitely, set this value to 0.

Step 4: Finalize and Test

Once all details are entered, click the Save & Test connection button at the bottom. This ensures your credentials are correct and that BackWPup can successfully communicate with your FTP server before the next scheduled run.

You should see the backup on the FTP server
You should now see the backup on the FTP server

 

Troubleshooting: “Cannot open FTP file for download” (SSL Verification)

If you have enabled an SSL FTP connection and encounter the error “Cannot open FTP file for download” when trying to retrieve your backup, it may be due to an SSL certificate verification failure on your server.

How to Fix SSL Download Issues

In cases where the secure connection blocks the download, you can bypass the SSL certificate verification by using the backwpup_disable_ftp_server_ssl filter.

Option 1: Use the Helper Plugin The easiest way to apply this fix is to install the dedicated helper plugin:

Option 2: Manual Filter (Code Snippet) If you prefer adding code to your theme’s functions.php, you can use the following filter:

add_filter( 'backwpup_disable_ftp_server_ssl', '__return_true' );

⚠️ WARNING: Using this filter disables SSL security for the FTP transfer. This should only be used as a temporary measure to troubleshoot or complete a critical download. It is highly recommended to remove the filter or deactivate the helper plugin once your download is finished to maintain the security of your data.