Getting Started
Install SafeGuard and run your first WordPress backup in under 5 minutes.
System Requirements
SafeGuard requires PHP 7.4+ and WordPress 5.8+ at minimum. We strongly recommend PHP 8.1+ and WordPress 6.0+ for the best performance and security.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 5.8+ | 6.0+ |
| PHP | 7.4+ | 8.1+ |
| Memory limit | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Max execution time | 30 seconds | 120 seconds |
Required PHP Extensions
SafeGuard relies on the following PHP extensions. Most hosts have these enabled by default:
- zip — creating and extracting backup archives
- curl — communicating with remote storage providers
- json — REST API and configuration handling
- mbstring — multibyte string handling for database exports
You can verify these are installed by navigating to SafeGuard → Settings → System Info after activation, or by running:
wp safeguard statusInstallation
Download the plugin
Download the SafeGuard plugin ZIP from your account dashboard.
Upload the plugin
In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Upload the ZIP file and click Install Now.
Activate
Click Activate to enable SafeGuard on your site.
If you have WP-CLI access, install and activate in a single command:
wp plugin install /path/to/safeguard.zip --activateLicense Activation
Open SafeGuard Settings
Navigate to SafeGuard → Settings in your WordPress admin.
Enter your license key
Enter your license key in the format SG-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX (four groups of four alphanumeric characters separated by hyphens).
Activate
Click Activate License.
Activate your license from the command line:
wp safeguard license activate SG-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXYour license is now bound to this domain. You can manage activations from your account dashboard.
License Activation Troubleshooting
Your First Backup
Navigate to the Backups panel
Go to SafeGuard → Backups in your WordPress admin and click Run Backup Now.
Select a backup type
Choose the type of backup that fits your needs:
- Full — backs up your entire site including all files, the database, and
wp-contentuploads. Best for initial backups or before major updates. - Database only — backs up only the WordPress database. Fast and lightweight, ideal for frequent snapshots of content and settings.
- Files only — backs up themes, plugins, uploads, and WordPress core files without the database.
- Incremental — backs up only files that have changed since the last backup. After your first full backup, this is the fastest option for ongoing protection.
Choose storage and start
Choose your storage destination (you must have at least one storage provider configured), optionally add a label (e.g., "Pre-update backup"), and click Start Backup.
SafeGuard uses a high-performance export pipeline to complete backups fast. On a 2 GB database-heavy site, a full backup typically finishes in under 44 seconds.
Scheduling Automated Backups
Once you have completed your first manual backup, set up a schedule so backups run automatically:
Create a new schedule
Go to SafeGuard → Schedules and click Create Schedule.
Configure backup type and frequency
Choose a backup type — incremental is recommended for daily schedules. Select a frequency: Every 1 Hour, Every 2 Hours, Every 4 Hours, Every 8 Hours, Every 12 Hours, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
Set the preferred time
Pick a preferred time — choose a low-traffic period such as 02:00 or 03:00 server time.
Choose storage and retention
Select the storage provider to send backups to, and set a retention policy — how many backups to keep before old ones are automatically deleted.
Save
Click Save Schedule to activate automated backups.
Schedules are powered by Action Scheduler and will run reliably even on shared hosting without cron issues.
Verification Checklist
After setup, confirm everything is working:
- License shows Active under SafeGuard → Settings
- At least one storage provider is configured and passes the connection test
- A manual full backup completes successfully
- The backup appears in your storage provider (check via the provider's dashboard)
- A restore from the backup panel lists the correct components (files and/or database)
- An automated schedule is created for ongoing protection
Next Steps
Now that SafeGuard is installed and your first backup is complete, here are the recommended next steps:
- Configure a storage provider — set up S3, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another remote destination for offsite backups.
- Explore the CLI reference — manage backups, schedules, and settings directly from the command line with WP-CLI.
- Browse the REST API — integrate SafeGuard into your own tooling and workflows.