### [Using Lite Connect Entry Backups in WPForms Lite](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-use-lite-connect-for-wpforms/) **Published:** November 25, 2023 **Author:** Umair Majeed **Excerpt:** Learn how to back up and restore your form entries using Lite Connect. **Content:** Would you like to know how to back up your WPForms form entries and restore them later? WPForms does not store entries without a paid license, but you can back them up remotely using Lite Connect for WPForms. This tutorial will show you how to back up and restore your form entries using Lite Connect for WPForms. - [What Is Lite Connect?](#aioseo-what-is-lite-connect-5) - [Installing and Using WPForms Lite](#install-wpforms-lite) - [Enabling Form Entry Backups](#backup-with-lite-connect) - [Checking How Many Entries Are Saved](#checking-entries) - [Disabling Backups](#disable-backups) - [Restoring Form Entries](#restore-entries) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) --- ## What Is Lite Connect? Lite Connect is a free feature built into WPForms Lite that backs up every form submission to WPForms servers automatically. Since WPForms Lite doesn’t save entries to your WordPress database, Lite Connect gives you a place to store them safely off your site. If you ever upgrade to a paid WPForms license, all the entries Lite Connect has backed up will be restored to your WordPress dashboard as regular form entries. This means you won’t lose any submission history when you upgrade, even if you’ve been on Lite for months or years. Your entries are stored privately on WPForms servers, and our team cannot view them. They stay backed up until you upgrade or until the 1-year retention window ends. **Note:** Lite Connect only backs up entries submitted after you enable it, so previous submissions can’t be recovered. Backed up entries also expire after 1 year. ## Installing and Using WPForms Lite You will need WPForms Lite installed and enabled on your WordPress site to enable entry backups. You can install WPForms Lite [from the WordPress plugins directory](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpforms-lite/). If you are unfamiliar with installing WordPress plugins, [this guide on WPBeginner will show you how.](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/step-by-step-guide-to-install-a-wordpress-plugin-for-beginners/) Also, check out our article on [creating forms with WPForms](https://wpforms.com/docs/creating-first-form) if you’re not up to speed. ## Enabling Form Entry Backups Once you’ve installed WPForms Lite, go to **WPForms » Settings » General**. ![WPForms Lite settings](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wpforms-lite-settings.png)Here, you will find an option labeled **Enable Entry Backups** under Lite Connect. To enable entry backups, toggle the **Enable Entry Backups** setting to the on position. ![](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/wpforms-lite-connect-toggle-1024x558.png)Alternatively, you can enable form entry backups from the WordPress dashboard. To do this, toggle the **Enable Form Entry Backups** setting to the on position. ![Enable entry backups from the Dashboard.](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/lite-connect-toggle-in-dashboard.png)A dialog will appear with more details about Form Entry Backups. Click the button labeled **Enable Entry Backups** when you are ready to proceed. ![](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/lite-connect-enable-backups-dialog-952x1024.png)Once your site is connected, a dialog will open with a confirmation. You can click **Close** to dismiss this dialog and continue. ![Entry backups enabled popup](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-backups-enabled-popup.png)You can confirm that entry backups are enabled by going to **WPForms » Settings » General**. ![WPForms Lite settings](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wpforms-lite-settings.png)If entry backups are enabled, you’ll see the **Enable Entry Backups** option toggled to the on position. ![Entry backups enabled in WPForms settings](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-enabled-in-settings.png)## Checking How Many Entries Are Saved You can check the number of saved entries from the WordPress dashboard once Lite Connect is enabled. ![Saved entries in the dashboard](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-entries-in-dashboard.png)You can also check for the number of saved entries from **WPForms » All Forms**. ![Total entries backed up in all forms page](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-entries-backed-up-in-all-forms.png)## Disabling Backups If you want to disable entry backups, click the **Enable Entry Backups** toggle in **WPForms » Settings** so that the setting is in the off position**.** ![Lite Connect toggle in WPForms settings](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-enabled-in-settings.png)Once you’ve clicked this toggle, a confirmation dialog will open. Just click on the **Disable Entry Backups** button to proceed. ![Disable Lite Connect confirmation dialog.](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/disable-lite-connect-confirmation.png)**Note:** If you disable Lite Connect, you won’t be able to restore form entries upon [upgrading to a paid license](https://wpforms.com/docs/upgrade-wpforms-lite-paid-license/). You can enable entry backups again at any time, should you require. ## Restoring Form Entries If you want to restore form entries later, you must [upgrade from WPForms Lite to a paid license](https://wpforms.com/docs/upgrade-wpforms-lite-paid-license/). For more information on WPForms licenses, see our [page detailing the various license levels available](https://wpforms.com/pricing/). Once you’ve [installed WPForms](https://wpforms.com/docs/install-wpforms-plugin/) and [activated your WPForms license](https://wpforms.com/docs/verify-wpforms-license/), you will see a notice about restoring your saved entries at the top of the Forms Overview page in **WPForms » All Forms**. ![Notification to restore entries saved with Lite Connect.](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-restore-entries-notice-1.png)If you click on **Restore Entries Now**, WPForms will restore your saved entries for you in the background. ![Entry restoration in progress.](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/lite-connect-restoration-in-progress-1.png)Once the process is complete, you will receive a notification detailing how many entries have been imported. ![Entry restoration complete.](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/entry-restore-success-message.png)Need help installing WPForms Pro and restoring your entries? Let one of our WPForms Trusted Advisors do it for you. Learn more information about our [Quick Start Services](https://wpforms.com/quick-start-service/). ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve covered some of the most common questions concerning Lite Connect for WPForms. #### How do I fix form entry backup issues? If you’re seeing the error *“Your form entries can’t be backed up because WPForms can’t connect to the backup server”*, this is typically caused by your hosting server blocking external connections or REST API calls. For step-by-step instructions on resolving this, see our guide on [fixing the form entries backup error](https://wpforms.com/docs/error-form-entries-cant-form-entries-cant-be-backed-up/). If the issue persists after following those steps, please reach out to our support team for further assistance. #### Can I restore entries for a form that has been deleted? If you delete a form on your site whose entries are backed up using Lite Connect, you won’t be able to restore entries for that specific form. This is because the entries need to be associated with a form. Since the form is deleted, the form ID associated with the entries will be invalid. #### How long do my backed up entries last? Each entry backed up through Lite Connect is stored for 1 year. After that, the entry expires and can’t be restored, even if you upgrade to a paid license later. To make sure your earliest backed up entries are restored to your WordPress dashboard, upgrade to a paid license before they reach the 1-year mark. That’s it! You now know how to securely back up form entries using Lite Connect for WPForms. Next, would you like to know how to use form entries in WPForms? Check out our [complete guide to form entries](https://wpforms.com/docs/complete-guide-to-form-entries/) to learn more. **Categories:** Entries, Entry Management ---