Making backups from cPanel

Create backups from cPanel

Why make backups?

Backups are essential to protect your website. They allow you to restore your site in case of:

• Accidental file deletion
• Attacks or malware
• Problems during updates
• Configuration errors
• Data loss

Types of backups in cPanel

cPanel offers several backup options:

• Full backup: Includes all files, databases, emails and configurations
• Partial backup: Only files, only databases, or only emails
• Automatic backups: Configured by hosting provider

Method 1: Manual full backup

1. Access cPanel

• Go to your cPanel panel
• Log in with your credentials

2. Go to Backups section

On the cPanel main page, look for the "Files" section and click on "Backup" or "Backups".

You can also search for it using the search box at the top of cPanel.

3. Create full backup

In the "Download a Full Account Backup" section:

• Choose backup destination:
  • Remote storage: To save on an external FTP server
  • Local storage: To download directly to your computer
• If you choose remote storage, complete FTP data
• Click "Generate Backup"

Note: Full backups can be very large and take several minutes to generate.

Method 2: Partial backup (Files)

To backup only your files:

1. In the "Backup" section, look for "Download a Home Directory Backup"
2. Click "Download"
3. A compressed file with all your files will be downloaded

Method 3: Partial backup (Databases)

To backup only your databases:

1. In the "Backup" section, look for "Download a MySQL Database Backup"
2. Select the database you want to backup
3. Click "Download"
4. A SQL file with the database backup will be downloaded

Method 4: Backup using phpMyAdmin

For specific databases:

1. In cPanel, search for "phpMyAdmin"
2. Select the database
3. Click the "Export" tab
4. Choose the method (quick or custom)
5. Click "Go"
6. The SQL file will be downloaded

Method 5: Backup using File Manager

To backup specific files:

1. In cPanel, open "File Manager"
2. Navigate to the folder you want to backup
3. Select files or folders
4. Click "Compress"
5. Choose the format (ZIP recommended)
6. Download the compressed file

Configure automatic backups

Some hosting providers configure automatic backups. To verify:

1. In cPanel, search for "Backup"
2. Check the "Available Backups" section
3. If there are automatic backups, you can download them from there

Note: Automatic backups are usually kept on the server for a limited time (7-30 days). Download them regularly.

Restore from backup

To restore a full backup:

1. In the "Backup" section, look for "Restore a Full Account Backup"
2. Upload the backup file
3. Select what to restore (files, databases, emails, etc.)
4. Click "Upload"

Warning: Restoring a full backup will overwrite current data. Make sure you have a recent backup before restoring.

Best practices for backups

• Make backups regularly: At least weekly, ideally daily
• Store backups in multiple places: Server, local computer, cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
• Verify backups: Make sure files downloaded correctly
• Document your backups: Note when you made each backup and what it includes
• Test restoration: Test restoring a backup in a test environment to verify it works
• Make backups before important changes: Before updating WordPress, plugins, or making major changes

Full backup structure

A full cPanel backup generally includes:

• Files: All files from public_html and other directories
• Databases: All MySQL databases
• Emails: All email accounts and messages
• Configurations: DNS configurations, subdomains, etc.

Common problems

Backup is too large and can't be downloaded

• Make partial backups (files and databases separately)
• Compress files before backing up
• Delete unnecessary files before backing up
• Use remote storage (FTP) instead of direct download

Backup fails

• Verify you have enough disk space
• Verify you have permissions to create backups
• Contact your hosting provider if the problem persists

Can't restore backup

• Verify the backup file is complete and not corrupted
• Verify the file format is compatible
• Verify you have permissions to restore

Additional tools

WordPress backup plugins:

• UpdraftPlus: Free and popular plugin for WordPress backups
• BackupBuddy: Premium plugin with more features
• Duplicator: For migrations and backups

Automatic backup scripts:

You can configure scripts that make backups automatically using cron jobs in cPanel.

Backup checklist

• ✅ Full account backup
• ✅ Website files backup
• ✅ All databases backup
• ✅ Important emails backup
• ✅ Backup saved in external location
• ✅ Backup verified (complete and not corrupted file)
• ✅ Backup date documented

Tips

• Automate when possible: Configure automatic backups if your hosting allows it
• Make incremental backups: In addition to full backups, backup recent changes
• Keep multiple versions: Don't overwrite old backups immediately
• Encrypt sensitive backups: If your backups contain sensitive information, encrypt them
• Test regularly: Verify you can restore your backups

Need help?

If you're having trouble making or restoring backups in cPanel, open a ticket from the billing.baires.host panel or contact us for support.

You can also reach us through our social media:

• Instagram: @baires_host
• Discord (active support): https://discord.gg/dzjauatAFN
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/baires.host