Start the 30-Day Max Preview in QC Backup Manager

QC Backup Manager includes a one-time 30-Day Max Preview for eligible installations. The preview does not begin when you install QCBM, open the administrator, or view a Max-only feature. It begins only when an administrator deliberately chooses Start 30-Day Max Preview.

Use the preview when you are ready to test Max features. Once started, the 30-day period runs continuously and cannot be restarted after it expires.

Before You Start

Open Components > QC Backup Manager > Status and review the Current Entitlement card. Make sure the site is the installation you intend to evaluate and that QCBM is not already receiving Max or All Access entitlement.

The preview control is permission-sensitive. The administrator must have QCBM settings-management permission to start it.

Start the Preview

  1. Open Status.
  2. Find the Max Preview notice.
  3. Click Start 30-Day Max Preview.
  4. Read the confirmation message carefully. It states that the preview begins immediately, runs for 30 consecutive days, and cannot be restarted after it expires.
  5. Confirm the action.
  6. After QCBM refreshes entitlement, verify that the Effective tier shows Max and that the preview end time is displayed.

What Changes During the Preview

While the preview is active, QCBM temporarily exposes the complete Max feature set available to that installation. This is useful for evaluating higher-tier workflows such as File Valet and QCBM Receiver without entering a license key or payment card.

The preview changes feature access; it does not erase or replace your underlying subscription tier. QCBM continues to track the normal base tier separately from the temporary effective Max tier.

Understand the 30-Day Clock

The preview is a continuous 30-day period. Closing Joomla, disabling a scheduled task, or simply not using QCBM does not pause the clock. The Status area shows the preview end time while the preview is active.

When the preview ends, QCBM returns to the feature access provided by the installation's normal entitlement. For example, a Basic installation returns to Basic and a Pro installation returns to Pro unless a different paid entitlement has become active.

If You Do Not See the Start Button

The preview button may be absent because the installation already has Max or All Access, the one-time preview was previously used, or the current administrator does not have permission to manage QCBM settings. Read the Status message and Current Entitlement card before changing anything else.

If QCBM reports an entitlement-validation problem, resolve that separately. Reinstalling the extension does not reset or create another preview period.

Verify the Result

After starting the preview, confirm all three of the following on Status: the Effective tier is Max, the preview end time is present, and there is no unresolved entitlement-validation warning. If those values do not agree, capture the exact Status message before troubleshooting.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCBM feature? Visit the QC Backup Manager Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.