To recover one plugin’s files, download an Instant backup, extract it, and upload the plugin folder to your website using SFTP.

This guide applies to Pressidium Managed WordPress Hosting. It restores the plugin’s files only. Settings and other plugin data stored in the database remain unchanged.

Before you begin

Make sure you have:

  • An Instant backup containing the plugin version you want to recover.

  • Access to the website in the Pressidium Dashboard.

  • An SFTP client and an SFTP user for the environment you want to update.

If you need an SFTP user, follow Manage SFTP users.

If you need to restore both the website files and database, follow Restore an Instant backup. That guide also covers restoring to Staging.

1. Back up the current website

Create an Instant backup of the environment you are about to change.

If you just triggered a backup operation, wait for the Dashboard notification confirming that it is complete. Confirm the backup appears in the Backups list before continuing.

This gives you a recent restore point if you need to reverse the changes.

2. Download the backup containing the plugin

In the Pressidium Dashboard, select your website and the correct environment, then open Backups.

  1. Set the filter to Show: Instant.

  2. Find the backup containing the plugin version you want.

  3. Expand the entry to check its timestamp and plugin details.

  4. Follow Download your Instant backup files to request the archive.

Choose the earlier backup you want to recover files from, rather than the safety backup from step 1.

3. Extract the plugin folder

Extract the .tar.gz archive on your computer.

Locate the plugin folder inside the extracted website files:

wp-content/plugins/{plugin}/

Replace {plugin} with the plugin’s folder name. This can differ from the name displayed in WordPress.

The archive includes website files and the WordPress database. The database dump is wp-content/mysqldb-dump.sql.gz. For this procedure, use only the plugin folder and leave the database dump unchanged.

4. Upload the plugin files using SFTP

  1. Connect to your website using SFTP.

  2. Confirm you are connected to the intended Production or Staging environment.

  3. Open wp-content/plugins/ on the website.

  4. Upload the plugin folder from the extracted backup to the matching location, replacing the existing files when prompted.

  5. Wait for the transfer to finish and check your SFTP client for failed transfers.

Limit the upload to the selected plugin folder. Leave other plugins, themes, WordPress core files, and the database dump unchanged.

5. Verify the plugin and website

After the upload finishes:

  1. Open the website in the environment you updated and confirm it loads.

  2. Go to Plugins in WordPress admin and confirm the plugin displays the expected version.

  3. Test the plugin’s main features, including any forms or checkout steps it provides.

  4. Clear the website cache if older content still appears.

If the plugin still fails, check that all files transferred successfully and record any error messages. If the restored files and current database are out of step, use a whole-site Files and Database restore as described in the next section. Do not copy the folder again over SFTP.

If you need the plugin’s previous settings or data

Copying the plugin folder does not restore settings, content, or tables stored in the database.

To restore the website files and database together, follow Restore an Instant backup and select Files and Database.

Before a Dashboard Instant restore starts, Pressidium automatically creates an Instant backup of the destination website. For the manual SFTP procedure in this guide, create your own restore point as described in step 1.

If the Instant backup is no longer available

Instant backups are retained for 15 days. Full backups are stored off-site and retained for 30 days.

If the restore point you need has expired, or you need files excluded from Instant backups, review Backups management.

To restore a website from a Full backup, submit a restore request from Backups. Pressidium processes the request before the restore runs. Follow Request an offsite backup restore for the steps.

Need help?

If you are unsure which recovery method to use, or the plugin still fails after the upload, open a Support request.

Include:

  • The website and environment.

  • The backup timestamp.

  • The plugin name and folder name.

  • Any error messages and the checks you have completed.

Where to go next