Title: Binary zip: error (code: -1) & wp_mail_failed Last modified: August 1, 2025 --- # Binary zip: error (code: -1) & wp_mail_failed * Resolved [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * (@guygentil) * [10 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/) * Hello, * We have a weekly database backup, that should be send through email; * Since a couple of weeks wwe are experiencing this error : binary Binary zip: error (code: -1) & we don’t receive anymore the backup. It is created and downloadable on the server. Can’t really tell if it was link to an update or work on other websites on the same server. * would not mind some pro hints 🙂 * In the updraft log, it seems there is a problem with sending email / admin email adress : * 6748.560 (5) An error occurred when sending a backup report email and/or backup file(s) via email (wp_mail_failed): Impossible d‘instancier la fonction mail. 6748.562 (5) Email: Mails were not sent successfully6748.562 (5) An error condition has occurred for the first time during this job6748.564 (5) Retain: beginning examination of existing backup sets; user setting: retain_files=2, retain_db= 56748.565 (5) Number of backup sets in history: 1; groups (db): 16748.566 (5) Examining (for databases) backup set with group_id=0, nonce=6e201c3f303c, datestamp =1753856892 (Jul 30 2025 06:28:12)6748.567 (5) This backup set is the backup set just made, so will not be deleted.6748.567 (5) Number of backup sets in history: 1; groups (files): 16748.568 (5) Examining (for files) backup set with nonce= 6e201c3f303c, datestamp=1753856892 (Jul 30 2025 06:28:12)6748.568 (5) This backup set remains non-empty (f=0/d=1); will retain in history6748.568 (5) Retain: saving new backup history (sets now: 1) and finishing retain operation6748.570 (5) Resume backup (6e201c3f303c, 5): finish run6748.571 (5) [Info] Lock option (updraft_lock_6e201c3f303c, wppausehypnose_options) released6748.573 (5) There were errors in the uploads, so the ‘resume’ event is remaining scheduled6748.574 (5) No email will/can be sent – the user has not configured an email address.6748.575 (5) La sauvegarde ne s’est pas terminée ; une relance de la procédure est prévue * WP 6.8.2 / Updraft 1.25.6 / PHP8.0.3 / DIVI 4.23.4 * let me know if you need more infos, * Best, * Guy Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) * Plugin Contributor [bcrodua](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcrodua/) * (@bcrodua) * [10 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18583061) * Hi Guy, * To help us work out the cause of your problem, can you please send us a copy of the full backup log? This can be found in the UpdraftPlus Existing Backups tab. The contents will be too long to post here directly, but you can use an online service such as Dropbox or Pastebin, and post the link here. * Regards, Bryle * Thread Starter [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * (@guygentil) * [10 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18584521) * Hi Bryle, * thanks for your quick feedback, * please find behind this link (avalable 1 month) the complete backup log of Jul 30, 2025 8:28 : [https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/9a8a3b54-07f3-44ee-aba8-83d53432b73b](https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/9a8a3b54-07f3-44ee-aba8-83d53432b73b) Let me know if you need anything else, * best, Guy * Plugin Contributor [bcrodua](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcrodua/) * (@bcrodua) * [10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18585665) * Hi Guy, * Thanks for sharing the log. * Log shows: * ```wp-block-code 8768.887 (7) [Warning] Votre site est peu visité et UpdraftPlus ne reçoit pas les ressources escomptées. Veuillez lire cette page : https://updraftplus.com/faqs/why-am-i-getting-warnings-about-my-site-not-having-enough-visitors/ ``` * The warning message indicates that your site may not be receiving enough regular visits, which can affect how scheduled backups run. UpdraftPlus relies on site activity to trigger scheduled tasks. * Please refer to this article for more information and suggested solutions: [Why am I getting warnings about my site not having enough visitors?](https://teamupdraft.com/documentation/updraftplus/topics/backing-up/troubleshooting/why-am-i-getting-warnings-about-my-site-not-having-enough-visitors/) * Let us know if you have any questions. * Thanks, Bryle * Thread Starter [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * (@guygentil) * [10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18592028) * Hello Bryle, Thanks for your feedback & the infos about scheduled tasks / wp Cron;It raises a couple questions :– If backup is run later when visit occurs; should it not be sent via email ? (“external storage” is admin gmail email) Are we facing “2 issues” ? – Same with manual backup set to send it to external storage(“ external storage” is admin gmail email) it triggers the error “Les options de stockage à distance suivantes sont configurées.Aucun emplacement de stockage à distance avec options valides n’a été trouvé.” => basicaly there is no “distant/ external storage set” (Is it because email is not considered a distant storage so the error is triggered ? The creation of the backup seems to be fine (not yet tested to rebuild the website with it though).problem seems to be with sending it (admin email) & download it from the WP admin (download try to start , then browser states “check internet connection” (download failed)I hope I am clear, I can provide more infos if needed, * Best, Guy * Plugin Support [vupdraft](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vupdraft/) * (@vupdraft) * [10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18594412) * Hi, * It sounds like you are trying to send your backup to Google Drive but via your gmail which you cannot do. * What you actually need to do is set up your google drive as your remote storage location, here is a tutorial for this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AyNWJ6EvuY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AyNWJ6EvuY) * It’s really quick and simple to do * For you low visitor numbers * I would recommend setting up a number of dummy visits to the site via an external cronjob. * These are automated tasks performed by the server. * You will need to set up an automated task to visit your site (please set the cron job to visit: [http://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php](http://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php) doing_wp_cron )every 1 – 2 minutes (This will also keep the rest of your WordPress scheduler running): * Your hosts may have a tool to set up a cronjob, or you can use an online  tool such as EasyCron * Plugin Contributor [bcrodua](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcrodua/) * (@bcrodua) * [10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18594529) * Hi [@guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * Email isn’t considered “remote storage” in UpdraftPlus, so that message is expected if you only select email — remote storage refers to services like Google Drive, Dropbox, S3, etc. * The `wp_mail_failed` error means your site isn’t able to send emails using the default PHP mail function. Setting up an SMTP plugin (e.g. WP Mail SMTP) usually fixes this so the backup email can be sent. * The download failure from WP admin is a separate issue, often caused by large files hitting server limits. You can either increase PHP execution time/memory limits or download the backup directly via FTP from `/wp-content/updraft/`. * Best Wishes, Bryle * Thread Starter [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * (@guygentil) * [9 months, 4 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18595878) * Hey , thanks to all the Updraft crew steping up 😉[@bcrodua](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcrodua/) => Got it for the email “not being a fully external storage”=> I’ll dig the wp mail error & server limitations[@vupdraft](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vupdraft/) => I might be wrong but backup has always been set up to use email (with a [@gmail](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gmail/). com address), but we might etry to switch if needed * Best, * Guy * Plugin Support [vupdraft](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vupdraft/) * (@vupdraft) * [9 months, 3 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18607362) * Hi, * How’s it going, do you still need assistance? * Thread Starter [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * (@guygentil) * [9 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18609993) * Hello , Was waiting for the weekly backup :pI used a SMTP service for emails, backup went smoothly & was received par admin.> we still see Binary zip: error( code: -1) as the last journal message> we still can’t download manual backup from the admin> server is a shared hosting, nothing in the logs & very few available configuration; did some testing & removed security plugin; no resultsSo from our side we consider this issue closed, as the main thing is working (and we sadly don’t really have more time to investigate) : receiving backup through email. Thanks for your time & support,Best, * Guy Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) The topic ‘Binary zip: error (code: -1) & wp_mail_failed’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/updraftplus/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=1686200) * [UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/updraftplus/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/updraftplus/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/updraftplus/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/updraftplus/reviews/) * 11 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [guygentil](https://wordpress.org/support/users/guygentil/) * Last activity: [9 months, 2 weeks ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/binary-zip-error-code-1-wp_mail_failed/#post-18609993) * Status: resolved