Start with the step at which Beam stopped. A connection failure, upload interruption, server activation error, and preview problem require different checks.

Test Connection fails

  • Confirm the protocol, host, port, username, and password.

  • Use Browse to verify the selected remote path and make sure it is the live webroot for the project domain.

  • If the Helper is missing or outdated, use Install Beam Helper or Update Helper in Project Setup, then run Test Connection again.

  • For certificate or DNS errors, open the public website in a browser and verify the domain first.

The upload stops or can be resumed

Use Resume after an interrupted connection. If Beam reports missing chunks, retry so the missing parts can be transferred. When another operation holds the project lock, wait for it to finish before resuming.

If retries repeat, reduce Parallel Chunks or Chunk Size one step at a time. Large increases can make shared hosting less reliable.

Server, disk, or extraction errors

  • Server 500 or I/O error: check Helper logs, free disk space, and webroot ownership or permissions.

  • Extract failed: publish a new archive and make sure the export does not contain unsafe paths or symbolic links.

  • Preflight failed: confirm that the export contains a valid index.html or index.php.

  • Backup stalled: check disk space and try the compressed backup mode when the uncompressed archive is too large.

The server needs PHP 7.4 or later with ZIP support for the current Helper workflow.

The website preview is blank or outdated

Open the public URL in a browser first. Use Local screenshot mode, request a new preview, and increase the post-load delay for lazy-loaded images. Cloud screenshot mode can be blocked by bot protection.

Prepare a support request

Use Beam’s report or diagnostics export when available. Include the Beam version, macOS version, project name, publishing step, complete error message, transfer protocol, and relevant Helper log lines. Never send a server password or other login credential.

Email the report to support@stackswork.com. For the normal setup sequence, see Getting started with Beam.