Duplicator For WordPress - Quick Start

For Duplicator Lite & Pro*

Quick Start Videos

Quick Overview Video (2:30)
Full Standard Migration (24:00)
Quick Overwrite Migration (6:00)

Create Backups

Back up Site (create package)

Click "Duplicator/Pro" ❯ "Packages" ❯ "Create New"
Enter a package name
Check "Default" storage endpoint ❯ click "Next"
Let the scanner run and click "Build"

The package files are now ready for installation. By default all files in your WordPress root directory will be archived as well as a copy of your Database. You have the option to filter directories, files and database tables when creating the package.

Watch Step-By-Step Video

Back up to the Cloud ^{Pro Only}

The following describes how to back up to Dropbox. The procedures for S3, Google Drive, and OneDrive are very similiar.

1. Link Dropbox to Duplicator Pro

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ "Storage" ❯ "Add New"
Enter storage name ❯ select "Dropbox" type
Click "Connect to Dropbox" ❯ click "Authorize Dropbox"
Click "Allow" & close authorization tab
Click "Finalize Setup" on the storage screen

A successful connection to Dropbox status will now show. This is a one time process.

2. Create Instant Package

Now build and upload a package to your Dropbox account.

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ "Packages" ❯ "Create New"
Enter a package name
Check "DropBox" storage endpoint ❯ click "Next"
Let the scanner run and click "Build"

At this point the package files will be automatically uploaded to Dropbox. You can then use the files to Install a Site. This process can also easily be replicated with Google Drive

Back up with a Schedule ^{Pro Only}

1. Create Template

A template is a reusable package configuration that can be used in instant or scheduled package creation

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ Tools ❯ "Templates" ❯ "Add New"
Enter a template name & specifications ❯ click "Save"

2. Create Schedule

A schedule generates a package at a given frequency for easy automation

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ "Schedules" ❯ "Add New"
Enter schedule name, template, storage location(s) and frequency ❯ click "Save"

3. Test Schedule

To verify proper schedule operation

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ "Schedules" ❯ "Run Now" on the desired schedule
Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ "Packages" ❯ menu to view running package build
Wait for the package to complete building

4. Database Only (Optional)

Schedule a backup of only the Database

Click "Duplicator Pro" ❯ Tools ❯ "Templates" ❯ edit template assigned to schedule
Open "Archive Section" ❯ check the 'Enable File Filter' checkbox
On the right side look for a link that says "[root path]" and click it
This will be the root path of your site excluding all files
Click "Save Template" and follow Step 3 above to validate.

Install/Migrate

Classic Site Install

The following describes how to restore a site in the same or new location using a Duplicator package (installer/archive). It's assumed you've created a package as described in the "Back up Site" section above and plan to install all files and the database contained in the package. * Items in green apply only to Duplicator Pro users.

Follow Along Step-By-Step (starting @ 8:00 of 24:57)

1. Download package files to local computer

After creating a package download the installer and archive files from any one of the locations below to your local computer:

Default: Click on the "Installer" and "Archive" buttons from the main packages screen to download.
Dropbox*: Go to dropbox.com or use Dropbox client on your PC/MAC.
Google Drive*: Go to drive.google.com or use Google client on your PC/MAC.
Amazon S3*: Go to your Amazon AWS account
FTP: This option is the least common and should only be used if your having issues with the "Default" option.
FTP ❯ website root directory ❯ open "wp-snapshots" folder ❯ find matching [hash-code]_installer.php with [hash-code]_archive.zip and download.
Note: With the FTP option you will need to rename the installer file from [hash-code]_installer.php to just "installer.php". The hash-code is simply a random series of number and letters to provide security on the file so it can't be downloaded by a random user.

2. Upload package files to target location

Place the installer.php and archive.zip files in a directory where you would like to install/duplicate the WordPress site.

Hosted Site
Local Computer

ON A HOSTED SITE

INSTALLING IN AN EMPTY DIRECTORY (LITE AND PRO)
Use FTP or cPanel to upload both the archive.zip and installer.php to your host provider. Place the files in a new empty directory under your host's webroot where they are accessible from a valid url such as http://your-domain/installer.php or http://your-domain/your-wp-directory/installer.php. On some hosts the root directory will be a something like public_html -or- www. If you're not sure what your root directory is then contact your hosting provider.

Important: Since the archive contains site customizations as well as core WordPress, WordPress shouldn't be in the directory beforehand. The only files in the directory should be the installer.php and archive before you run the installer.

OVERWRITING EXISTING SITE (PRO ONLY)
Duplicator Pro is capable of much faster installs when it's used to overwrite an existing site and reuses that site's database.

Use FTP or cPanel to upload both the archive.zip and installer.php to your host provider (place the installer.php and archive.php in the directory containing the existing site). The installer should be accessible from a valid url such as http://{existing-site-domain}/installer.php or http://{existing site-domain}/{your-wp-directory}/installer.php. On some hosts the root directory will be a something like public_html -or- www. If you're not sure what your root directory is then contact your hosting provider.

If you haven't chosen a hosting provider yet please see host recommendations.

ON YOUR OWN COMPUTER (localhost)

Be sure you have PHP, Apache & MySQL installed on your local computer with software such as XAMPP, Instant WordPress or MAMP for MAC. Place the package.zip and installer.php into any empty directory under your webroot or where they can be served up by your local webserver then continue with Step 3 below.

3. Browse to installer.php and install

Open a web browser (i.e Chrome, Firefox, IE) and browse to the 'installer.php' file such as:
http(s)://your-domain/installer.php or http(s)://your-domain/your-wp-directory/installer.php.
On Step 1 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 2 ❯ Enter database setup info ❯ test connection ❯ click next
The vast majority of sitations require the 'server' field to be set to 'localhost'.
If installing in an empty directory: On database setup enter information for an existing empty database with no tables and a user with full rights to that database. You can easily " Create A New Database and User" or contact your host to have them set those up for you. If you're not sure what information to use, just contact your host.
If overwriting an existing site (Pro only): When prompted to reuse database credentials on step 2, click Accept. This causes the database information from your existing site to be used in the install. Important: The database will be cleared so make sure you no longer need its data. If you need to preserve the old database then create a new one instead as explained here.
The Action "Connect and Remove All Data" will delete all tables to the database you connect to. Be sure you're 100% of the sure of credentials used when choosing this action. For Duplicator Pro users consider using the "Connect and Back up any Existing Data" action if you're new to this process. This will back up all the existing tables with a new prefix.
On Step 3 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 4 ❯ Login remove installer files
Your site has been migrated

Drag & Drop Site Overwrite ^{Pro Only}

In addition to the "Classic" site installs, Duplicator Pro includes Drag and Drop site overwrite installs. This is a handy feature for those who want to overwrite an existing WordPress site without the need for FTP or manual database creation. Simply "Drag" an archive from your PC desktop to the destination site's WordPress admin to overwrite the site.

See Drag and Drop Installs with Duplicator Pro for step-by-step instructions.

Database Install

The following details how to back up only the database from "Site A" and deploy it to "Site B". Please note these steps will only move the database, so if your files are not in sync with the Database you will have issues. Please use the approach with caution and be sure that your files are not out of sync with the database.

1. Create New DB Only Package

Goto Duplicator ❯ Packages ❯ click "Create New" button
On Step 1 Setup ❯ Archive ❯ check "Archive Only the Database"
Build package then download installer and archive files

2. Transfer installer and archive to target location

Login to target location via FTP, cPanel or your host's control panel tools
Transfer installer and archive to target location
Open web browser and browse to http://yoursite.com/installer.php

3. Run Installer

Installer should have 'Database Only Mode' in upper right corner.
On Step 1 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 2 ❯ Enter database setup info ❯ test connection ❯ click next

For the database setup enter in information on an empty database. You can easily create a new one or simply contact your hosting provider to have them set it up for you and have them give you the setup info. Some hosting providers have specific instructions for connecting to their databases, so be sure ask them what to use.

On Step 3 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 4 ❯ Login remove installer files
Only the database will be updated

Database & File Synchronization:
How do I know if my files and database are in sync? There is no real clear answer to this question however there are some general rules you can consider. Typically the file system is only updated when you do the following actions:

Add a new image/video/file to a page/post or media content
Install a new plugin or theme
Update a plugin setting that writes to files like the .htaccess file (i.e. security plugins)

So if any of these actions have been performed then its likely that WordPress wrote to both your file-system and database. For example say you both have "Site A" and "Site B" where "Site B" is a mirror copy of "Site A". You then install a new plugin on "Site A" and create a Database only archive and try to move it over to "Site B" using the "Database Only Install" option.

In this scenario the files on "Site B" are not in sync with the database created on "Site A", because "Site B" does not have the plugin files. So if you try to install the "Site A" database onto "Site B" you may run into issues because "Site B" did not get the plugin files that "Site A" just installed. In many cases you can simply install the plugin on "Site B" and things will be in working order. However if you do allot of changes on "Site A" then it is recommend to go ahead and also update those files onto "Site B".

Two-Part Install

The following procedure was developed for use tightly restricted hosts that prevent a zip archive from getting created. Note that this operation is valid for both Duplicator and Duplicator Pro but is usually not needed in Pro due to its support of the "DupArchive" format. DupArchive was specifically designed to get around limitations imposed by hosts related to zip.

PART 1: Manually copy WordPress files

These steps show how to manually copy from source site to destination.

cPanel (Faster)

Login to the source site's cPanel, click "File Manager" and enter the site's directory^*
Select all files, right click, select "Compress", choose zip and set name to mysite.zip.
Download mysite.zip to your local computer
Upload mysite.zip to the new location^*
Extract mysite.zip and remove the mysite.zip file

FTP

Login to an FTP Client
Copy the files from the source site to your computer^*
Copy files from your computer up to the destination site^*

*Website directories will likely be public_html, or public_html/sitename. If unsure about where site files are located talk to your host support.

PART 2: Copy the database with Duplicator

After you have all the files uploaded correctly to your new location you will then run all these steps to copy over the database.

1. Create New DB Only Package

Goto Duplicator ❯ Packages ❯ click "Create New" button
On Step 1 Setup ❯ Archive ❯ check "Archive Only the Database"
Build package then download installer and archive files

2. Transfer installer and archive to target location

Login to target location via FTP, cPanel or your host's control panel tools.
Transfer installer and archive to target location
If a wp-config.php file exists in this location remove or rename it.
Open web browser and browse to http://yoursite.com/installer.php

3. Run Installer

Installer should have 'Database Only Mode' in upper right corner.
On Step 1 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 2 ❯ Enter database setup info ❯ test connection ❯ click next

On Step 3 ❯ Click the next button
On Step 4 ❯ Login remove installer files
Only the database will be updated

After all steps are complete your site should be fully migrated. These two parts together allow you to move your WordPress site in a two stage process.

Also see:
Recommended hosting providers for Duplicator?

EXTRA RESOURCES:

* Feature only available in Duplicator Pro