Net-Migrate

FAQ

Is this plugin really free?

Yes. Create backups of any size, download backups of any size, and restore sites of any size — all free, with no account, no registration, and no time limit.

Where are backups stored?

Backups are stored in wp-content/net-migrate-backups/ on your server. This directory is protected from direct web access. You can download backups from the admin interface for off-site storage.

How large can my site be for the free version?

You can back up, download, and restore a site of any size for free. Net-Migrate Pro processes and restores in chunks that stay within server limits on any shared host — no risk of a failed restore leaving your site unavailable.

Can I restore a backup from a different site or domain?

Yes. Net-Migrate automatically detects when the backup was created on a different domain, prompts you to confirm URL replacement, and performs a safe search-and-replace across your entire database — including serialized data and JSON-encoded values. This makes cross-domain migration straightforward.

Will restoring a backup overwrite my current backups?

No. The backup directory is excluded from restore operations. Your backup library is preserved throughout.

What happens if a restore fails?

Net-Migrate automatically cleans up temporary files if a restore fails. Your original site files remain intact until a restore completes successfully — the plugin writes to a temporary location first.

What is the integrity checksum?

Every backup includes a SHA-256 checksum stored alongside the backup file. Before a restore begins, Net-Migrate verifies the backup file against this checksum. If the file is incomplete or has been corrupted in transit, the restore is cancelled before any changes are made to your site.

Are my backups safe from direct web access?

Yes. The backup directory includes .htaccess protection and index.php files to prevent directory listing and direct file access on both Apache and Nginx servers.

What is excluded from backups?

Individual files larger than 100MB are automatically excluded from backups to prevent timeouts on resource-limited hosting. Excluded files are logged. The backup directory itself is also excluded to prevent recursive backup archives.

What does uninstalling the plugin remove?

Temporary files, session files, and logs are removed on uninstall. Your backup files in wp-content/net-migrate-backups/ are deliberately preserved to prevent accidental data loss. Delete that folder manually if you no longer need the backups.

Is Net-Migrate compatible with my hosting provider?

Net-Migrate works on any hosting environment that meets the requirements (WordPress 6.1+, PHP 8.0+, ZipArchive extension). It has been tested on shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated servers. The only common limitation is PHP execution time on very large sites — consult your host if backups time out.

How is Net-Migrate Pro different from the free version?

Net-Migrate Pro uses chunked processing to restore large sites reliably on any shared host, adds the ability to import backup files from external sources (for cross-site migration), and delivers automatic updates directly to your WordPress dashboard. Pro licenses are available at netrep.uk/net-migrate.