From ea2a69fe68914bb6bd0756fd58addc90db72c0d4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Peter Steinberger Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2026 17:21:05 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] docs(backup): correct malformed config recovery guidance (#159259) Replace the retired partial-state archive advice with a verified config-only export. Explain that workspace exclusion preserves ownership discovery and that config-only exports omit include dependencies. Direct users to take a full backup after repairing the config. The ownership-discovery change in 4d48e9c1e02 intentionally retired partial state archives. Validated against current source, CLI help, retained CLI evidence, independent docs sanity review, and git diff --check. No runtime or test changes. Co-authored-by: Peter Steinberger --- docs/install/backups.md | 16 ++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/install/backups.md b/docs/install/backups.md index b770a168093a..d0c072ad9b9e 100644 --- a/docs/install/backups.md +++ b/docs/install/backups.md @@ -69,10 +69,18 @@ workspaces remain ordinary workspace files. [Backup CLI](/cli/backup) documents every flag, owner-declared regenerable resources, volatile files, and verification details. -If the configuration is malformed, `--no-include-workspace` can still produce a -partial recovery archive for state, config, and credentials. Its skipped -diagnostics identify agent and plugin ownership that could not be resolved; -repair the configuration before relying on an archive as complete. +If the configuration is malformed, state archive creation fails because agent +and plugin ownership cannot be resolved. `--no-include-workspace` only excludes +workspace files; it does not bypass ownership discovery. Before repairing the +configuration, save the active config file: + +```bash +openclaw backup create --only-config --output ~/Backups/openclaw --verify +``` + +This saves only the active JSON config file, without parsing it or including +its `$include` dependencies. Repair the configuration, then rerun the full +archive command above to protect state, credentials, agents, and workspaces. Archives are full copies: each run re-uploads everything. They are the right tool before an update, reset, uninstall, or machine move, and a reasonable