--- title: "Total Upkeep – WordPress Backups & Automatic Updates" description: "The Total Upkeep plugin allows you to create and schedule backups of your WordPress site. Giving you peace of mind as you maintain and update your website. With the plugin, you can securely restore..." url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/total-upkeep/ date: 2020-09-28 modified: 2026-03-11 author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor" categories: ["WordPress Plugins"] type: post lang: en --- # Total Upkeep – WordPress Backups & Automatic Updates ![Total Upkeep - WordPress Backups & Automatic Updates - Hero Image ](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Article-Hero-Total-Upkeep-WordPress-Backups-Automatic-Updates-1024x538.png) The Total Upkeep plugin allows you to create and schedule backups of your WordPress site. Giving you peace of mind as you maintain and update your website. With the plugin, you can securely restore and move your WordPress site with ease. The Total Upkeep backup plugin is free but it has a [premium extension](https://www.boldgrid.com/wordpress-backup-plugin/) that provides more features for backing up WordPress. Continue reading to learn how to: - [Install the Total Upkeep Backup Plugin](#Install-Total-Upkeep) - [Total Upkeep Tools](#Total-UpKeep-Tools) - [Create a WordPress Backup with Total UpKeep](#Create-a-WordPress-Backup) - [Restore a WordPress Backup with Total UpKeep](#restore) - [Schedule a WordPress Backup with Total Upkeep](#Schedule-a-WordPress-Backup) - [Keep WordPress Updated with Automatic Updates](#Automatic-Updates) - [Transfer a WordPress Site with Total Upkeep](#Transfer-a-WordPress-Site) ## Install the Total Upkeep Backup Plugin The Total Upkeep plugin is a great utility that can help provide a quick, secure, and simple way to make a backup of your WordPress site. Before you begin, you must first install and activate the plugin:  1. [Log into your WordPress Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/). 2. Navigate to **Plugins **>** Add New**. 3. Search for Total Upkeep in the search bar. 4. Click **Install Now** then **Activate**. 5. The plugin will install and be added to the left menu. ## Total Upkeep Tools The Total Upkeep backup plugin actually does more than create and maintain your WordPress backups. Below are additional tools provided by Total Upkeep that will help you manage your website.  - **Local & Remote** shows basic info on your local machine, web server, and remote storage settings. - **Cron Log** shows the status of any scheduled [cron jobs](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/how-to-run-a-cron-job/). - **History** lists any errors recorded by the Total Upkeep tool. - **Total Upkeep History** shows a running history of the changes to your WordPress files. - **Recently Modified Files** searches for files changed within the specified amount of minutes. ![total upkeep tools homepage](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-tools-1-1024x540.png) ![total upkeep cron log](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-cron-log-1024x260.png) ![total upkeep logs](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-logs-1024x285.png) ![total upkeep history](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-history-1024x352.png) ![total upkeep mod files](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-modified-files-1024x287.png) ## Create a WordPress Backup with Total UpKeep Before making any major changes to your website, or even to protect your business from a possible hack, creating a backup is an important first step. Follow the instructions below to create a backup of your WordPress site using Total Upkeep. 1. [Log into your WordPress Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/). 2. Select **Backup Archive** option under *Total Upkeep*. 3. Select **Backup Site Now**. 4. Set your preferred backup before pressing Backup Site Now. Full Backup is the default option. 5. Select Custom Backup to specify files or database tables. 6. Select the files you want to backup then click on Backup Site Now. Leaving the backup section will not stop your backup. ![backup wordpress total upkeep](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boldgrid-backup-archive-backup-now-1.png) ![choose backup type total upkeep](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boldgrid-backup-archive-backup-now-2-full.png) ![custom backup file selection](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boldgrid-backup-archive-backup-now-3-custom-files.png) ![custom backup database selection](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boldgrid-backup-archive-backup-now-4-custom-db.png) ## Restore a WordPress Backup with Total UpKeep Backups that you have created can be restored from a file or using a link. ### Restore From File After making a backup, you can easily select or upload it and then restore it in your Dashboard. 1. [Login to the WordPress Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/). 2. Click **Total Upkeep** in the main menu. 3. If you don’t need to upload a file continue to the next step. But, if you want to add a backup to your dashboard, click the **Upload Backup** button at the top of the page. Then click **Choose File**, **Select** the file, then click **Upload**. 4. Click the **Backups** tab. You should then see all of your backups listed.![Accessing the Backups tab of the Total Upkeep Plugin](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Selection_1702.png) 5. Click the **View details** button next to the backup you want to restore.![Viewing WordPress Backup Details in Total Upkeep](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Selection_1703.png) 6. Click the **Restore** button in the *Download & Restore* section.![Restore a WordPress Backup with Total Upkeep](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Selection_1704.png) 7. A message will pop up asking you to confirm that you want to perform a restoration. Click the **OK** button and your site will be restored. You are finished when you see a message stating “*Total Upkeep – Restoration complete The selected archive file has been successfully restored.*” ### Restore With a Link If you want to restore a website using a backup link, the steps are covered in the section of this guide on [Migrating a WordPress site with Total Upkeep](#Transfer-a-WordPress-Site). ## Schedule a WordPress Backup with Total Upkeep Total Upkeep also allows you to schedule backups. This streamlines your workflow, giving you extra time to focus on other aspects of your website. To schedule a backup: 1. [Log into your WordPress Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/). 2. Navigate to **Total Upkeep** > **Settings**.  3. In the *Backup Schedule *section, set the backup day(s) and time.  4. Next, navigate to *Backup Storage*. If you are using the free version of Total Upkeep, then you will only be able to select** Web Server in Backup Storage**. The premium plugin allows you to use offsite services like Amazon S3. We use the **Web Server** option for the Backup Storage location.  5. Click **Configure **(or **Update** if it has been previously configured) next to your storage option. A pop-up window will appear that contains a field where the directory containing the backup file can be set.Select **Retention** to set the number of backups to store. The default number is set to 5. Click the** Directory **field to change the backup location. Click** Save changes**.  6. Once you’ve saved your changes, you will see the Backup Storage page again. Scroll down and select what you want to backup under *Files and Folders*** **and *Database*.If you select **Custom Backup** for *Files and Folders,* you will need to select what you want to include or exclude. All files are included by two settings (separated by a comma): **WPCORE**, **/wp-content**. If you leave out the core installation files, then simply remove *WPCORE*.If you select **Custom Backup** for the *Database*, then you will need to select the tables you want to be included in the backup. Simply click on the checkboxes to remove a specific table. 7. When you are finished with the settings, click on** Save Changes.** ![set schedule for backups](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-backup-schedule-1-1024x627.png) ![configure what will be backed up](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-schedule-backup-2.png) ![Set the rentention number](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-backup-schedule-3.png) ![configure files and folders for the backup](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-choose-files-folders-db-1024x667.png) You can also set up to receive notifications via email. These options can be found in the **Settings** > **Notifications**. A notification will be sent when a backup or restoration is completed, or if there is a failed site check.  Once on the notifications screen, you simply need to provide an email address then check the appropriate options. If you make changes to the *Notifications* section, make sure to click** Save Changes** after you’re done with your changes. ![set notification setting](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-backup-schedule-notfications-1024x503.png) ## Keep WordPress Updated with Automatic Updates Enable automatic updates to keep your WordPress core files, plugins, and themes updated. 1. [Log into your WordPress Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/). 2. Navigate to **Total Upkeep** > **Settings**.  3. Select **Auto Updates & Rollback** form the plugin submenu. 4. Specify auto-update settings for **plugins**, **themes**, **auto-backup** before such updates, and **auto-rollback** if something goes wrong during manual updates.![Total Upkeep Automatic WordPress Updates Settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Total-Upkeep-Automatic-WordPress-Updates.png)Select the **?** for more info on each option. 5. **Save Changes** at the bottom. ## Migrating a WordPress Site with Total Upkeep If needed, you can also use Total Upkeep to migrate your WordPress website. Follow the instructions below for a stress-free migration.  The instructions below assume Total Upkeep is installed on both the source and target WordPress websites.  1. On the source website (the site you want to transfer from), navigate to **Total Upkeep** > **Backup Archives**.  2. Select **View details **beside the backup that you want to use. If you have no backups, select **Backup Site Now** before continuing. 3. Next, select **Get Download**, then **Copy Link**. 4. On the target (the site you want to move to), select **Destination** under the *Transfers *section. 5. Paste the copied URL into the field labeled *Download URL address,* then click **Upload**. This will start the migration. 6. You’ll be alerted once the migration is complete. ![total upkeep download link](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-archives-download-link-1024x606.png) ![adding total transfer download link](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/total-upkeep-transfers-destination-1024x304.png) Learn more tips and tricks about [WordPress backups](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/wordpress-backups/) to protect your website from risks!