How to Backup and Restore a Website in cPanel

Securing your data through routine backups and knowing how to restore them is one of the most critical responsibilities for any website owner.

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the two main cPanel methods for backing up your website (files and databases) and, crucially, how to use those files to perform a full restoration.

Backing Up Your Website in cPanel

cPanel offers both Full (archival/migration) and Partial (restorable) backups. We will focus on the partial method, as these components can be restored directly through your cPanel interface.

Step 1: Access the Backup Tool

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Navigate to the FILES section and click on the Backup icon.

Step 2: Download Website Files (Home Directory)

This backup contains everything in your public_html directory: themes, plugins, images, scripts, and core CMS files (like WordPress, Joomla, etc.).

1. Under the Download a Home Directory Backup heading, click the Home Directory link.
2. Your browser will immediately start downloading a compressed .tar.gz file containing all your website files.

Step 3: Download MySQL Databases

This backup contains all the dynamic content of your site: posts, pages, user accounts, settings, and product data.

1. Scroll down to the Download a MySQL Database Backup heading.
2. Click on the link corresponding to the specific database name you need (e.g., quape_wp123).
3. A compressed .sql.gz file will begin downloading instantly.

Note: If you run multiple sites or applications, make sure you download all necessary databases. Your CMS (e.g., WordPress) configuration file will tell you which database it is using.

Restoring Your Website in cPanel

Restoring your website requires you to upload the exact component backups you created above: the Home Directory archive (for files) and the SQL archive (for the database).

Step 1: Access the Restoration Interface

1. From the cPanel home page, click on the Backup icon again.
2. Scroll down to the Restore a Home Directory Backup and Restore a MySQL Database Backup sections.

Step 2: Restore Website Files (Home Directory)

This step overwrites all existing files in your public_html with the contents of your backup archive.

1. Under Restore a Home Directory Backup, click the Choose File button.
2. Select the .tar.gz file you previously downloaded (this is your Home Directory file backup).
3. Click the Upload button.

The upload and extraction process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of your website. cPanel will display a confirmation message once the restoration is complete.

Step 3: Restore MySQL Database

This step is critical for retrieving your actual website content.

1. Under Restore a MySQL Database Backup, use the dropdown menu to select the correct database name (e.g., quape_wp123).
2. Click the Choose File button next to the selected database name.
3. Select the corresponding .sql.gz file you downloaded.
4. Click the Upload button.

Again, wait for the confirmation message. The database is typically restored much faster than the files.

Warning: When restoring a database, ensure you are restoring it into the correct, original database name. Restoring a database into the wrong location will break your website’s connection.

Step 4: Final Verification

After both files and the database have been restored:

1. Clear Browser Cache: Clear your web browser’s cache (or use an Incognito/Private window) to ensure you are viewing the newly restored version of your site.
2. Test Functionality: Check the front end (pages, images, contact forms) and the back end (log into your admin dashboard) to confirm that all content and functionality have been successfully restored to the state of the backup.

Alternative Method: Using the Backup Wizard (Full Restoration)

As mentioned in the previous guide, the Full Backup created by the Backup Wizard cannot be restored by you via the cPanel interface.

• A Full Backup is a single archival file designed for migration or for hosting provider restoration.
• If you need to restore your account using a Full Backup file, you must submit a ticket to your hosting provider (Quape) and provide the file. Your hosting provider has the elevated permissions required to extract and apply the full file system backup to your account.

Conclusion: Backup Frequency and Security

Knowing how to manually backup and restore is crucial, but automation is key for frequency. We strongly recommend setting a schedule for your manual off-site backups, especially after major site changes, updates, or before running significant plugin/theme upgrades.

For a powerful, reliable web hosting solution that simplifies cPanel management and ensures robust data protection, look no further than Quape. Our platform is designed for peak performance and peace of mind.

Ready to host your site on a secure and stable infrastructure? Explore Quape’s Managed WordPress and Dedicated Hosting Plans built with reliability and data integrity at the core.

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Achmad Farid

An SEO specialist with experience in hosting, domains, and servers. At his previous company, he provided organic traffic and keyword rankings, generating significant revenue.

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