Why Your UpdraftPlus Backup Shows Old Database Content

If you've discovered that your UpdraftPlus backup appears to contain an old database, even though the backup process completed successfully, you're not alone. This confusing situation can occur when the plugin backs up a cached version of your database rather than the live, current version.

Understanding the Problem

This issue typically manifests when you successfully restore a backup, only to find that database records (particularly in tables like wp_usermeta) are several months old, despite the backup being created recently. When you check your database directly through phpMyAdmin or another database manager, the data appears current and up-to-date.

Why This Happens

The most common cause is that UpdraftPlus is backing up a cached or persistent version of your database rather than the live database. This can occur due to:

• Database caching plugins or server-level caching that serves stale database content
• Persistent database connections that don't reflect recent changes
• Server configurations that optimize database performance through caching mechanisms

How to Troubleshoot and Fix

1. Verify the Backup Date

First, confirm the actual date of your backup. Check the backup timestamp in your UpdraftPlus backup list. Sometimes confusion arises between different date formats (e.g., January 11th vs June 11th).

2. Disable Database Caching

Temporarily disable any database caching plugins or object caching solutions during your backup process. Popular caching plugins like W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, or Redis object caching can sometimes serve outdated database content to UpdraftPlus.

3. Check for Persistent Database Connections

If your hosting environment uses persistent database connections, these can sometimes serve old data. Contact your hosting provider to inquire about persistent connections and whether they might be affecting your backups.

4. Test with a Manual Backup

Create a manual backup through UpdraftPlus after disabling all caching mechanisms. Then, download the database file and inspect its contents using a text editor or database tool to verify the data is current.

5. Review Server Configuration

Some server-level optimizations like OPcache or specific database caching configurations can interfere with backup processes. Your hosting provider can help identify if server-level caching is affecting your database backups.

Preventing Future Issues

To ensure your backups always capture the most current database state:

• Schedule backups during low-traffic periods when caching is less aggressive
• Consider temporarily disabling database caching during backup windows
• Regularly verify your backups by checking key tables like wp_usermeta or wp_posts for recent content

If you continue experiencing this issue after trying these steps, the 'UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin' team maintains detailed documentation that may provide additional context for your specific hosting environment.