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Time Capsule
Updated over 2 weeks ago

With the MainWP Time Capsule Extension, you can control the WP Time Capsule Plugin settings on all your child sites directly from your MainWP Dashboard. This includes giving you the ability to create your child site backups and even restore your child sites to a point back in time directly from your Dashboard.

All changes to your Child sites are backed up automatically as they happen. Any change on your website will trigger a backup in real-time. Since only the changes are backed up, the total space used for storing your backups is reduced to a minimum. The system allows you to store your backups in remote locations such as:

  • Dropbox

  • Amazon S3

  • Google Drive

Important Notes:

For additional help with the WP Time Capsule plugin options, please consult the official WP Time Capsule plugin documentation.

Install and Set the MainWP Time Capsule Extension

Installation of the MainWP Time Capsule Extension requires two important steps:

  • Installing the Extension itself on your MainWP Dashboard site

  • Installing the WP Time Capsule plugin on Child Sites

Installing the Extension

The MainWP Time Capsule Extension needs to be installed only on your MainWP Dashboard site. You can install it as any other MainWP Extension.

Installing the Plugin

For the proper use of the MainWP Time Capsule Extension, you need to install the WP Time Capsule Plugin on your child sites.

Install from MainWP Dashboard

  1. Login to your MainWP Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Plugins > Install page

  3. In the Search field, enter the plugin name (WP Time Capsule)

  4. Press enter on your keyboard

  5. After the search results appear, locate the plugin

  6. Select the Install this Plugin option

  7. In the Installation Options box, make sure that the Activate after installation option is selected.

  8. Click the Button to complete the installation.

  9. Once the Installation is complete, Sync your MainWP Dashboard.

For additional help with installing WordPress plugins from the MainWP Dashboard, please review this help document.

Install directly on Child Site

  1. Login to your child site

  2. Go to the WP > Plugins > Add New page

  3. In the Search field, enter the plugin name (WP Time Capsule)

  4. After the search results appear, locate the plugin

  5. Click the Install button

  6. Click the Activate button

For additional help with installing WordPress plugins, please review this help document.

Important Notes:

After installing the WP Time Capsule plugin, it is required to Synchronize your sites so your MainWP Dashboard becomes aware that the plugin has been installed and activated.

Get Started with the Time Capsule

After the successful installation of the MainWP Time Capsule Extension on your dashboard and the WP Time Capsule plugin on your child site, you are ready to connect your wptimecapsule.com account. To do that,

  1. Login to your MainWP Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Time Capsule > General settings page

  3. Enter your wptimecapsule.com Username and Password and click the Login button

Once that is done, you are ready to set your favorite Cloud Storage for keeping your backup files. This process has to be done directly on your child site. To do it,

  1. Go to your child site

  2. Go to the WP Admin > WP Time Capsule > Settings > General page

  3. Locate the Cloud Storage Account option and set your preferences.

Now, everything is ready, and the First Initial backup will start.

Backup Your Child Sites

The Time Capsule system will allow you to backup your sites on demand and to set automated backups.

Manual Backup

To manually backup all your sites,

  1. Login to your MainWP Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Time Capsule > Backup page

  3. Click the Backup Now button

To manually backup a single site,

  1. Go to your MainWP Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Sites page

  3. Locate the site you want to backup

  4. Click the Edit link in the Title column

  5. Go to the Time Capsule > Backup tab

  6. Click the Backup Now button

Schedule Backups

To schedule backups,

  1. Login to your MainWP Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Time Capsule > Backup page

  3. Locate the Backup Schedule & Timezone option

  4. Set your preferences

Restore a Site To a Restore Point

To restore your child site to a restore point,

  1. Login to your Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Sites page

  3. Locate the site that you want to restore and click the Edit action link

  4. Go to the Time Capsule > Backups tab

  5. Locate the Restore Point that you want to restore your site to and click on it

  6. Choose your restore preferences and click the Restore The Site to This Point button

You will be redirected to a new screen where further instructions will be provided.

Create Staging Site With the Time Capsule

The Time Capsule system provides the ability to create staging sites. To create a staging site,

  1. Login to your Dashboard

  2. Go to the MainWP > Sites page

  3. Locate the site that you want to stage and click the Edit action link

  4. Go to the Time Capsule > Staging tab

  5. Locate the Staging Path option and set your preferred path

  6. Click the Start Staging button

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