Overview
cPanel allows you to create backups of the entire account, selected files or folders. You can also restore the backup if something goes wrong.
Important information
⚠️ Always make a backup before making major changes to the site.
⚠️ Full backup requires access to Home Directory.
Step 1: Log in to cPanel
If your hosting service supports cPanel, you can log in directly from the landing page in the client area.
This is how you do it:
Find your hosting service under the list of active products/services
Click on the button "Log in to cPanel"
You are now automatically logged into cPanel without having to enter your username or password again
Step 2: Open Backup Tool
Go to the Files section and click on Backup Wizard:
Step 3: Create a full backup
Click on Back Up:
Choose Full Backup
⚠️ Complete backups cannot be restored via cPanel. They are only intended for when you move your account to another server or to store a copy of the files.
Select storage location (e.g. Home Directory or Download to Computer)
Choose whether you want to get email notification when the backup is complete
If you do not wish to receive email notification, you can check the Do not send email notification of backup completion checkbox
3. Click on Generate Backup
When the backup is complete, it will appear under Backups available for download:
You can click on the backup to download it to your local computer.
Step 4: Create a partial backup
After choosing Back up, choose whether you want to make a backup of your Home Directory or Databases and download it to your local computer.
Click on Home Directory to download a copy of the Home Folder to your local computer.
Step 5: Recover a partial backup
The backup wizard also allows you to restore partial backups.
⚠️ It is only possible to restore partial backups in cPanel. Complete backups cannot be restored in cPanel.
In the Backup Wizard, find the Restore section and click on Restore:
Choose the type of backup you want to restore (Home Directory or Databases).
4. Select the backup file on your local computer to be uploaded
5. Click on Upload
The backup file will then be uploaded, and the Wizard will restore the copy.
Upon successful recovery, you will see the corresponding notification:
Summary
You have now learned how to create and restore backups in cPanel. By using the Backup Wizard tool, you can ensure that your website and files can always be restored if needed.