How do I restore a backup from Total Upkeep when I can’t access WordPress dashboard?

Hi R,

Thanks for reaching out and thanks for using Total Upkeep backups and migrations plugin for WordPress!

In order to determine the best way to restore your backup we need to inspect the critical error message that it’s producing. We may be able to help you correct the error and regain access to your dashboard.

If you have a full backup (database + files) you can also create a fresh install of WordPress at your domain and then use the Total Upkeep backup to restore your content and database.

Could you please attach your URL here in the forum so that we can inspect your error message and give you our best suggestions on how to proceed?

You’re most certainly welcome! Please let us know if there is anything else that we can answer for you.

Thank you,

My apologies I did not realize the URL was now attached, thank you for that! Okay what you need to do here to is enable the WP Debug Log to figure out which plugin is preventing you from accessing your “wp-admin“.

Once you know the answer to that you can disable that plugin using FTP or Via the WordPress CLI.

Total Upkeep also has a CLI option that can be used to restore a backup from the command line.

I hope this helps. Please reach back out if there’s anything else that we can answer for you.

Hi Rda,

In order to enable debugging you need to log into the server provided by your web hosting provider and edit the wp-config.php file using File Manager, SSH, or your FTP client. Near the bottom of the file you’ll see this line of code:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

To enable debugging you need to replace that line of code with these three lines and save:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

When an error is thrown in WordPress, it will write to a file titled debug.log. This file is located in your /wp-content/ directory and it should reveal the plugin that’s causing your error message.

The WordPress CLI is the command-line interface for WordPress. It allows you to update plugins, configure multi-site installations and much more, without using a web browser. The CLI makes it possible to deactivate a plugin, or restore a backup without having to login to the back-end of your site which is very helpful when you have an issue preventing you from doing so.

It’s quite possible that deactivating the faulty plugin revealed by WP_DEBUG will allow you to regain access to your WordPress site. If this is the case, you can perform your backup from the WordPress Dashboard like normal and there’s no need to use the CLI. It’s simply an alternative that may come in handy when other means of access are compromised.

I hope I’ve answered everything for you R. Please let us know if you have any other questions.