Title: Left behind temp file?
Last modified: July 6, 2026

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# Left behind temp file?

 *  Resolved [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/)
 * (@rebop)
 * [1 day, 11 hours ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/)
 * Hi folks. Used and loved this plugin years ago and something stopped working 
   for me. Now trying again all seems as expected EXCEPT it leaves behind a temp
   file the same size as the backup after the backup has run. So in uploads/backwpup
   there is a temp folder and a backups folder and each have the same large .tar
   file.
 * Is this correct? Can I get the plugin to delete the temp file automatically?
 * Thanks!
 * ~Bob
    -  This topic was modified 1 day, 11 hours ago by [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/).

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Plugin Support [Saransh](https://wordpress.org/support/users/saranshwpm/)
 * (@saranshwpm)
 * [1 day, 1 hour ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18957949)
 * Hi [@rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/),
 * Thank you for reaching out!
 * No, that does not sound expected. Once the backup has completed successfully,
   the temporary backup file should normally be cleaned up automatically.
 * Could you please confirm:
    - Which BackWPup version are you using?
    - Does this happen after every backup run?
    - Is the backup stored locally only, or also sent to a remote destination?
    - Does the backup log show any warning or error near the end of the job?
 * If possible, please share the related backup log after removing any sensitive
   information. That should help us understand why the temp file is not being removed
   properly.
 * Best regards,
 *  Thread Starter [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/)
 * (@rebop)
 * [1 day, 1 hour ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18957970)
 * Thanks for the reply!
 * Here are my steps:
 * Run backup.
   Download fileView folders and temp remains – same size as backup!
 *     ```wp-block-code
       5.7.4Every timeStored on server only until downloaded[INFO] BackWPup 5.7.4; A project of WP Media[INFO] WordPress 6.9.4 on https://www.in4m8n.com/WPress/[INFO] Log Level: Normal[INFO] BackWPup job: Backup Now[INFO] Logfile is: backwpup_log_6c31f4_2026-07-06_16-29-23.html[INFO] Backup file is located at: /xxxxxx/public_html/WPress/wp-content/uploads/.../2026-07-06_16-29-23_CNJEHYAF03_DBDUMP-FILE-WPPLUGIN.tar[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 1. Try to backup database …[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Connected to database xxxxx_wrd1 on localhost[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Added database dump "xxxxx_wrd1.sql" with 6.22 MB to backup file list[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Database backup done![July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 1. Trying to make a list of folders to back up …[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Added "wp-config.php" to backup file list[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 6192 folders to backup.[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 1. Trying to generate a file with installed plugin names …[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Added plugin list file "xxxxx-xxxxx.com.pluginlist.2026-07-06.txt" with 3.48 KB to backup file list.[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 1. Trying to generate a manifest file …[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Added manifest.json file with 5.59 KB to backup file list.[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] 1. Trying to create backup archive …[July 6, 2026 4:29 pm] Compressing files as Tar. Please be patient, this may take a moment.[July 6, 2026 4:30 pm] After restart on folder: wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/includes/form-display/block-styles/[July 6, 2026 4:30 pm] Backup archive created.[July 6, 2026 4:30 pm] Archive size is 1.22 GB.[July 6, 2026 4:30 pm] 36226 Files with 1.19 GB in Archive.[July 6, 2026 4:30 pm] Job done in 57 seconds.
       ```
   
 * Now, after “touching” BackWPup, the temp from yesterday is now gone. But after
   backup yesterday I downloaded a Home Directory from CPanel and the TEMP file 
   is clearly there.
   I am going to run a new backup this moment and download the.
   tar to local computer….Run. Nothing new in temp, just the expected.Downloading….
   Temp file remains after closing dashboardftp://xxxxx@xxxxxx.com/public_html/WPress/
   wp-content/uploads/backwpup/5243e0/temp/2026-07-07_02-44-39_WRJEHYG403_DBDUMP-
   FILE-WPPLUGIN.tar
 * I do not know how yesterdays was deleted unless simply by touching the plugin
   today. I will watch this file.
 *  Thread Starter [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/)
 * (@rebop)
 * [1 day, 1 hour ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18957979)
 * This might be helpful. From a new error log!
 * [06-Jul-2026 19:33:00 UTC] PHP Warning: Undefined array key “type” in /xxxxx/
   xxxxx/public_html/xxxxxx/wp-content/plugins/backwpup/components/job-item.php 
   on line 37
 *  Thread Starter [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/)
 * (@rebop)
 * [16 hours, 50 minutes ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18958563)
 * OK, this IS odd. Just checked 8 hours later and the temp file is gone. I checked
   several times earlier and it was there, so cannot say specifically when it was
   removed.
 * I CAN say that since the last time I checked and it was there, I went into WP
   Admin to check settings on two OTHER plugins for a project I am doing. Did not
   touch BackWPup at all. Could simply going to WP Admin cause that file to clear?
 * And we know it can clear 🙂 Now how to make it clear immediately after downloading
   the backup to my local computer?
    -  This reply was modified 16 hours, 50 minutes ago by [rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/).
 *  Plugin Support [Saransh](https://wordpress.org/support/users/saranshwpm/)
 * (@saranshwpm)
 * [1 hour, 54 minutes ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18959076)
 * Hi [@rebop](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebop/),
 * Thank you for checking and for the detailed update.
 * Yes, that helps clarify what’s happening.
 * The temporary backup file is intended to be cleaned up automatically. It may 
   not always happen immediately after the backup finishes, but it should be removed
   during subsequent cleanup checks. That matches what you observed, where the file
   disappeared later without any manual action.
 * As long as the backup completes successfully and the temporary file is eventually
   removed, everything is working as expected.
 * Regarding the PHP warning (`Undefined array key "type"`), thank you for sharing
   that as well. It appears to be unrelated to the temporary file cleanup, but I’ll
   report it internally for the team to review.
 * Thanks again for taking the time to investigate and report your findings!
 * Best regards,

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Saransh](https://wordpress.org/support/users/saranshwpm/)
 * Last activity: [1 hour, 54 minutes ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/left-behind-temp-file/#post-18959076)
 * Status: resolved