> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tipo.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tipo.io/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/troubleshooting/backups.md).

# Backup problems

Fix a backup that will not start, failed, was skipped or finished with warnings.

Use this page when a backup does not start, does not finish cleanly, or does not run when you expect it to.

## Messages when you start a backup

You start a manual backup from **Home** with **Back up now**. If it cannot start, a red banner appears on Home.

### "Could not start the backup. Try again."

This is a general message. The most common causes are:

* **Your store is over your plan.** Look for the **Backups and restores are paused** banner on Home. See [Plan and billing problems](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/troubleshooting/billing.md).
* **Every data type is turned off.** Open **Settings** and check that at least one row in **What we back up** is switched on. See [Choose what to back up](/backup-and-restore-tipo/settings/settings/what-we-back-up.md).
* **A temporary network problem.** Wait a minute and select **Back up now** again.

If it keeps happening with a plan that has room and at least one data type on, [contact support](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/contact-support.md).

### "A backup is already in progress for this store."

Only one backup runs at a time. Wait for the running backup to finish. Home shows its progress under **Backing up your store**. You do not need to keep the page open.

### "A restore is in progress for this store. Wait until it finishes before starting a backup."

The app does not take a backup while a restore is writing to your store, because the backup would capture a half-restored store. Wait for the restore to finish, then try again. You can follow it in [Restore history and details](/backup-and-restore-tipo/restore/restore/restore-history.md).

## A backup ended badly

### "The backup finished with an error."

The backup ended with the status **Failed**. A required part of it could not be saved.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Open **Home**, then open the **Store data** card and select **Restore from a backup** to see the list. Find the backup with the **Failed** badge.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select **Back up now** to try again. Many failures are temporary, for example when Shopify is slow or limits requests.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
If it fails again, [contact support](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/contact-support.md). Tell us the date and time of the failed backup.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Your earlier backups are not affected by a failed one. If the **A backup fails** email is on in **Settings**, you also receive an email with the reason. After three failed backups in a row, we stop sending more failure emails until one backup succeeds. See [Not getting emails](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/troubleshooting/emails.md).

### Status "Completed with warnings"

The backup finished and can be restored and downloaded, but some items could not be saved or were skipped. To see which:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Open the **Backups** list from **Home** > **Store data** > **Restore from a backup**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the number in the **Changes/Deletions Items** column for that backup.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Look for the warning that reads "{count} item(s) were skipped in {resource}".
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Run **Back up now** again to try once more. If the same resource is skipped again and again, [contact support](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/contact-support.md).

### A scheduled backup shows as skipped

A scheduled backup is skipped when the previous backup is still running at the scheduled time. The next scheduled run goes ahead as normal. If this happens often, choose a less frequent schedule or a quieter time in **Settings** > **Backup schedule**. See [Backup schedule](/backup-and-restore-tipo/settings/settings/backup-schedule.md).

If a restore is running at the scheduled time, the backup is not skipped. It waits and retries shortly afterwards.

## No backup at the scheduled time

Check these in order:

1. **Is the schedule set?** On Home, the protection card says "No backup is scheduled yet" when there is no schedule. Set one in **Settings** > **Backup schedule**.
2. **Which time zone is it using?** The **Time zone** option is either your store's time zone or UTC. A backup set for 2:00 AM in UTC runs at a different local time.
3. **Is your plan pace slower than your setting?** If you moved to a plan with a slower fastest pace, the app keeps your saved setting but runs at the plan's pace. See [Compare plans](/backup-and-restore-tipo/plans-and-billing/plans/compare-plans.md).
4. **Is your store over its plan?** Scheduled backups do not run until you are back within your plan. They resume on their own. You get a plan limit email once.
5. **Was a restore running?** The backup waits for it.

## I cannot choose "Every 6 hours"

Options faster than your plan allows are shown in the **Frequency** list but cannot be selected.

| Plan    | Fastest schedule |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| Free    | Every day        |
| Starter | Every day        |
| Growth  | Every 12 hours   |
| Pro     | Every 6 hours    |

To back up more often, change your plan. See [Change or cancel your plan](/backup-and-restore-tipo/plans-and-billing/plans/change-your-plan.md).

## Next steps

* [Back up now](/backup-and-restore-tipo/backups/backups/back-up-now.md)
* [Backup schedule](/backup-and-restore-tipo/settings/settings/backup-schedule.md)
* [View your backups](/backup-and-restore-tipo/backups/backups/view-your-backups.md)
* [Contact support](/backup-and-restore-tipo/help/contact-support.md)