Having trouble with Backup build process that running slowly using Duplicator Pro? This guide provides practical solutions to troubleshoot and resolve the issues effectively.

To begin with, make sure you are using the latest version of Duplicator Pro. Please check the changelog and system requirements.

Common Reasons for a Slow Build

There are several factors that can contribute to slow build times. Below are some common causes and ways to address them:

Reason One: Unnecessary Files

1. Exclude backups created by other backup plugins, as well as large log files or other data that are not needed for a successful restore.
2. During the scan report step, review any large file warnings.

3. Identify whether these files are essential for your backup. If not, return to the backup creation screen and add the full path of these unnecessary files to the ignored file list.

Reason Two: Large Databases

1. If your database exceeds 20MB, consider enabling the mysqldump option available in the Settings area.
2. Ensure your database is properly optimized by using a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean up unnecessary data and enhance performance.

Reason Three: System Zip

1. The zip routine built into the operating system is often faster than using PHP.
2. Navigate to the Settings » General page and ensure that the “Archive Engine” is set to Shell Exec instead of ZipArchive.

3. Using Shell Exec typically results in much faster builds. However, some budget hosting providers may not support it. If your host does not support shell_exec, you can request them to enable it for PHP or consider switching to a recommended host that offers this feature.

Note: Regularly maintaining your database, excluding non-essential files, and optimizing server configurations can significantly enhance build times and reduce resource usage

Reason Four: Slow Server

1. If you’ve applied the above optimizations and still experience slow builds, the issue might be with your hosting environment. Budget hosts often experience server overloads, leading to performance issues.
2. Contact your hosting provider to investigate the slowdown or request a server migration.
3. If you manage your own server or VPS, consider increasing the PHP memory_limit for improved performance.

By checking either of these reasons, you can ensure a faster and reliable backup builds, and allowing your backups to run seamlessly without interruptions.

Check out for more:
 What can I do for issues with migrating a large site?
 Recommended hosting providers for Duplicator?