Adding Credentials to the Jetpack Backup Plugin

Looking for instructions on adding credentials to the Jetpack plugin? See our article about Adding Credentials to Jetpack.

Jetpack Backup will start to back up your site as soon as you install the plugin, purchase a backup plan, and connect the site to the Jetpack Cloud. If your backups don’t start immediately, you can add SSH, SFTP, or FTP credentials to bypass other issues and create a backup right away. Credentials are also needed to restore your site from a previous backup.

Note: We are currently in a public beta with this plugin. We have tested it rigorously, but as it is a beta release, it is possible that you could encounter some issues while using it.

File Access Permissions

When creating credentials to use with Jetpack Backup, you need to set the correct access permissions. For Jetpack Backup, the credentials need full read and write access to the WordPress directory. This allows Jetpack Backup to back up your files (read access) and upload the helper script and restore files (write access). 

Note: The required settings could vary depending on your host, so please contact them to ensure you’re using the correct configuration.

Add Your Credentials

If you’re unsure about what credentials are, how they work, or why we need them, you can learn more about them in our SSH, SFTP, and FTP Credentials guide. 

To add your server credentials:

1. Go to https://cloud.jetpack.com.
2. In the top left corner, click Switch Site and select your site from the sidebar.
3. In the left sidebar, click Settings.
4. In the screen that opens, you’ll see the option to select from a list of popular hosting providers. Click on your hosting provider if listed. If you don’t know your hosting provider, it’s not listed here, or you have your server credentials, click I don’t know / my host is not listed here / I have my server credentials.

5. On the next screen, you’ll enter your credentials and click Test and save credentials. Once the site is connected, Jetpack will start your first backup.

Note: If your site is hosted at Pressable, we can automatically detect these credentials for you. In that case, you will see a message asking for your approval to grant Jetpack Backup permission to use the credentials to back up your site.

Entering Your Credentials

The information below explains what to enter into each field, based on the type of credentials you’re adding.

Adding FTP Credentials

To use FTP credentials, you’ll need the following information: 

• Credential type: This will be FTP
• Server address: This is often your site URL, but depending on your hosting provider it may be different. Note: If you’re using Cloudflare with your website, you will need to use the IP address of the server where your site is located.
• Port Number: This will be 21.
• WordPress installation path: This should point to the directory on your server where your WordPress installation is located.
• Server username: This username should have read and write access to your WordPress directory.
• Password: Try to make sure this password is secure and is different from other passwords you use. If you’re unsure about your password strength, read this article on Selecting a Strong Password.

If you are unsure about any of this information, contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Adding SFTP/SSH Credentials

Typically, SFTP setup coincides with SSH activation on your server. However, in the case of some hosts, it is possible to create a standalone SFTP account that is unrelated to SSH.

To use SFTP/SSH credentials, you’ll need the following information: 

• Credential type: This will be SFTP/SSH
• Server address: This is often your site URL, but depending on your hosting provider it may be different. Note: If you’re using Cloudflare with your website, you will need to use the IP address of the server where your site is located.
• Port Number: This is typically 22. Double-check with your hosting provider to ensure you have the right one.
• WordPress installation path: This should point to the directory on your server where your WordPress installation is located.
• Server username: This username should have read and write access to your WordPress directory.
• Password: Try to make sure this password is secure and is different from other passwords you use. If you’re unsure about your password strength, read this article on Selecting a Strong Password.

If you are unsure about any of this information, contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Adding SSH Credentials with Private Key

To use SSH, you’ll need to first generate a private/public key pair on your server. Once you’ve done that, copy the private key and add it to a text file somewhere on your computer. 

​​To use SFTP credentials, you’ll need the following information: 

• Credential type: This will be SFTP/SSH
• Server address: This is often your site URL, but depending on your hosting provider it may be different. Note: If you’re using Cloudflare with your website, you will need to use the IP address of the server where your site is located.
• Port Number: This will be 22 or 18765 for SSH. Double-check with your hosting provider to ensure you have the right one.
• WordPress installation path: This should point to the directory on your server where your WordPress installation is located.
• Server username: This username should have read and write access to your WordPress directory.
• SSH Private key: Make sure that it is unencrypted and using OpenSSH/RSA format. Encrypted private keys and/or keys in PuTTY format are not supported.

If you are unsure about any of this information, contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Need Help?

Still have questions? Feel free to contact support for more personalized assistance.