How to Download a Backup in cPanel Print

Regularly backing up your website ensures you can quickly restore your files, databases, and emails in the event of accidental deletion, failed software updates, or data loss.

cPanel offers two main ways to download backups:

• Full Backup: Archives your entire cPanel account (all web files, databases, email accounts, and configuration settings). Best for off-site archiving or migrating to a new server.

• Partial Backups: Allows you to selectively download specific components (e.g., just your website files or a specific MySQL database).

Option 1: Downloading a Full Account Backup

Note: Full account backups are generated as compressed .tar.gz files. They are designed for archiving or server restoration and cannot be restored through cPanel directly by users (requires server root access or hosting support).

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Scroll to the Files section and click Backups (or Backup Wizard).

3. Under Full Backup, click Download a Full Website Backup.

4. Set the Backup Destination to Home Directory.

5. (Optional) Enter your email address in the Email Notification field to receive an alert when the backup build finishes.

6. Click Generate Backup.

7. Once generated, return to the same screen, look under Backups Available for Download, and click the link to save the file to your computer.

Option 2: Downloading Partial Backups (Files or Databases)

If you need to backup individual site components that you can easily restore yourself:

1. Log in to cPanel and open Backups under the Files section.

2. Under Partial Backups, choose what you want to download:

   • Home Directory: Click Home Directory to download a compressed archive of all your website files (/public_html, mail folders, and files).

   • MySQL Databases: Click on the specific database name listed under Download a MySQL Database Backup to download the .sql.gz database dump.

   • Email Forwarders / Filters: Click on the domain name to download backup copies of your email rules.