Daily backups protect your website and mailboxes, but an extra copy before every important change remains essential. This guide shows how to download and restore a cPanel backup.
What is backed up
Hosting plans include daily account backups. They cover website files and databases. A restore is performed on the server: open a ticket with the date you need, keeping in mind that it replaces the current state of the account. That is why keeping a current local copy alongside is useful.
Creating a full backup
In cPanel, open Backup (or Backup Wizard), then Download a Full Account Backup. The archive contains the files and databases of the account. Generation can take several minutes depending on the volume: wait for the download to finish before closing the tab. Then keep the archive off the server.
Backing up a single MySQL database
For a quick copy, open phpMyAdmin, select the database and use Export in SQL format. The cPanel backup interface also lets you download MySQL databases and mail files separately.
Restoring a backup
For a full restore, use the restore option with the archive you generated earlier: the operation replaces the files and databases of the account. To restore a single database, import the SQL file in phpMyAdmin after creating an empty database and checking its prefix. In both cases, tell the support team if the website is in production and run the operation outside peak hours.
Building a reliable routine
- Download a backup before every CMS, theme or extension update.
- Keep a copy on a medium other than the server.
- Check from time to time that an archive restores correctly.
- Note the date of each copy so you can find the right state quickly.
Going further
For scheduled backups and finer restores on a hosting account or a server, the JetBackup and Backuply licences add dedicated features. On a VPS, backups are prepared differently, with scripts and external storage.
