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How to Exclude Files and Folders from Your Duplicator Backups

13 threads Sep 10, 2025 Plugin → Duplicator

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Managing the size and content of your WordPress backups is crucial for efficient storage and faster migration times. A common challenge users face is preventing unnecessary files, like cache folders or system files, from bloating their Duplicator packages. This guide explains the built-in methods for excluding content and how to use them effectively.

Why Exclude Files from a Backup?

There are several compelling reasons to fine-tune what gets included in your backup archive:

  • Reduce Package Size: Excluding large, non-essential folders (e.g., cache directories from plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket) can dramatically shrink your backup file.
  • Remove Unnecessary Files: System files like .DS_Store (created on macOS) have no purpose on a web server and can clutter your live site.
  • Handle Complex Structures: For sites where WordPress is installed in a subdirectory, you may need to exclude other top-level folders that are not part of the WordPress installation.
  • Improve Backup Speed: Scanning and archiving fewer files results in a faster backup creation process.

How to Exclude Files and Folders

Duplicator Lite includes a powerful filtering system within the package creation process. Here's how to use it:

  1. Navigate to Duplicator > Packages > Create New.
  2. On Step 1: Setup, find the File Filters section and check the Enable File Filters option.
  3. A text area will appear. Here, you can enter the full paths to the files or directories you wish to exclude from the archive.
  4. Enter one path per line. You can use absolute paths or paths relative to your WordPress root directory.
  5. Proceed with building the rest of your package as usual.

Common Exclusion Examples:

  • Cache Folders: /wp-content/cache/
  • macOS System Files: .DS_Store
  • Error Logs: /error_log
  • Non-WordPress Folders: If your site root contains folders like /other_project/ or /data/, you can exclude them here.

Addressing Common Challenges

Q: Is there a way to exclude files by default, like .DS_Store?
A: As seen in the sample threads, the Duplicator team has considered adding default exclusions for common files like .DS_Store based on user feedback. While this may be implemented in future versions, the current method requires manually adding them to the filter list.

Q: Manually entering many folders is cumbersome. Are there other options?
A: The manual filter list is the primary method provided in the free version for exclusion. For users with highly complex directory structures, managing exclusions can be a manual process. Some users have requested more advanced filtering options, which the Duplicator team may consider for future development.

Q: Can I change where backups are stored to avoid core WordPress directories?
A: Based on user feedback, the ability to define a custom storage path for backups (e.g., for Bedrock WordPress installations) is a planned feature for the future but is not currently available in the free version.

Conclusion

Using the file filters feature in Duplicator is the key to creating lean, efficient backups tailored to your specific site structure. By excluding transient cache data and unnecessary system files, you can save significant storage space and reduce transfer times during migration. For the latest information on feature development, it is recommended to check the official Duplicator changelog.

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