1. De-install the wordpress.org version, if you have it
If you’ve got UpdraftPlus (free) installed from wordpress.org, then you should first de-install it. (You will install a replacement for it in step 2).
How to tell if you’ve got the wordpress.org version: go to the “Premium/Extensions” tab on your UpdraftPlus settings page. It will tell you there. If you have no “Premium/Extensions” tab, then that also means you’ve got the wordpress.org version.
To de-install:
a) go to your dashboard, then to “Plugins” and “Installed Plugins”, find UpdraftPlus, and click “de-activate”.
b) Then do it again, but this time click “delete”. (Don’t worry about losing your settings – they will not be lost).
2. Download and install UpdraftPlus from UpdraftPlus.Com
You will need to download the UpdraftPlus plugin to your computer, by following this link (do not open it – but save it on your computer).
N.B. If you have security software installed which puts up scary warnings for every download, and want some re-assurance, then check out the page for updraftplus.com at Google Safe Browsing, here.
Also, if you are an Apple Mac user, then watch out for your Mac automatically unpacking the zip file. This is not desirable with WordPress plugins. To prevent this, go into Safari’s “Preferences” and un-check the option “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading”.
When you have downloaded it, log in to your WordPress website, go to the plugins installer, and upload the file.
…and then click the “Upload Plugin” button near the title at the top of the page…
N.B. If your web hosting is configured with a small maximum upload limit, and WordPress says that the plugin could not be uploaded because it was too big, then you can first install this plugin, which extends WordPress’s plugin uploader with the ability to handle files above the configured PHP upload limit. Alternatively, you can install it manually instead: i.e., 1) Unzip the zip file on your computer 2) Use FTP to transfer the resulting directory “updraftplus” into wp-content/plugins (so that it becomes wp-content/plugins/updraftplus).
After installing, a) activate the plugin, then b) go to the “UpdraftPlus Backups” settings page, and to to the “Premium/Extensions” tab.
Not seeing any UpdraftPlus Backups settings page in the Settings menu like in the screenshot below? If you’re using WordPress Multisite, then check in your Network dashboard. Not seeing any Addons tab in your UpdraftPlus Backups settings page? Then you’ve got the free version of UpdraftPlus from wordpress.org installed – go back to step 1 and de-install it!
3. Enter your UpdraftPlus.Com details
Now you need to connect to your UpdraftPlus.Com account. If you have already done this (e.g. this was not your first purchase), then instead follow the link to refresh your connection.
On the “Premium / Extensions” settings tab, enter your UpdraftPlus.Com details – the email address you used to purchase, and your password. Then tap on ‘Connect’.
4. Claim your add-on on this site
After connecting or refreshing, you should be able to scroll down to your add-on, and follow the link to activate it on this site (or, if you bought UpdraftPlus Premium, ignore the individual add-ons and claim from the “All Add-ons” box at the top of the list).
If you have any problems, then please visit our support site.
5. Follow the link to refresh your version of UpdraftPlus
After step 4, you should now see a message telling you that an update is available for UpdraftPlus. Follow the link to get it – and then you’re done.
Don’t forget to then go to the UpdraftPlus settings page to set your backups up! (It’s in Settings -> UpdraftPlus Backups in your WordPress dashboard, or in your Network Admin panel if you have a WPMU install).