Creating and restoring backups in cPanel

cPanel gives you two backup tools: a full account backup for migration or disaster recovery, and the Backup Wizard plus Backup interface for smaller, targeted restores such as a single database or your home directory. This guide covers how to create both types and how to restore them, using the standard Jupiter interface.

Full account backup versus partial backup

A full backup packages your entire cPanel account: the home directory, all databases, email accounts, forwarders, filters, and DNS zone records. It is stored as a compressed archive and is meant for moving to another server or keeping offsite copies. You cannot restore a full backup from inside the same cPanel account, only your host can load it server side.

Partial backups cover one component at a time: the home directory, a MySQL database, or email forwarders and filters. These you can both download and restore yourself directly in cPanel.

Create a full account backup

1. Open cPanel and go to the Files section, then click Backup.
2. Under Full Backup, click Download a Full Account Backup.
3. For Backup Destination, choose Home Directory to keep the archive on the server, or select a remote FTP or SCP destination if you have one.
4. Enter an email address if you want a notification when the backup finishes, then click Generate Backup.
5. Wait for the process to complete. Large accounts can take several minutes. When done, the archive appears in your home directory with a name like backup-MM.DD.YYYY_HH-MM-SS_user.tar.gz. Download it and store it somewhere safe.

Create a partial backup

Use these for quick, self service restores. In the Backup interface, under Partial Backups:

1. Click Home Directory to download a compressed copy of your files.
2. Under Download a MySQL Database Backup, click the database name to save a .sql.gz dump.
3. Use the Email Forwarders and Email Filters links to back up those configurations.

The Backup Wizard, also in the Files section, walks you through the same choices with a simpler step by step screen if you prefer guided prompts.

Restore a partial backup yourself

1. Open cPanel, go to Files, and click Backup (or Backup Wizard and choose Restore).
2. To restore files, under Restore a Home Directory Backup click Choose File, select your .tar.gz archive, and click Upload.
3. To restore a database, under Restore a MySQL Database, upload the matching .sql.gz file. This overwrites the existing database with the same name, so confirm you want that.
4. Restore email forwarders and filters the same way using their upload fields.

Full account archives are different. Because they rewrite account level settings, they must be restored by your provider. If you need a full restore, open a ticket through our support page and supply the archive filename and the date you want recovered.

Good backup habits

Keep at least one copy off the server, since a backup that lives only on the same account offers no protection if the account itself is lost. Test a restore occasionally so you know the archive is valid. Before any major change, a plugin update, a theme switch, or a PHP version bump, take a fresh partial backup first. For automated, scheduled off server backups, ask us about the retention options on your plan.

For deeper technical detail on backup formats and options, see the official cPanel documentation. You can also browse more walkthroughs in our cPanel and technical guides, or review how backups fit into a resilient SEO hosting setup.