If the full Backup tool feels a bit technical, cPanel’s Backup Wizard is the friendlier, guided alternative. It walks you through both backing up and restoring in simple steps, making it ideal if you want protection without fuss. Here’s how to use it.
Opening the Backup Wizard
In cPanel, under the Files section, click Backup Wizard. You’re greeted with two clear choices: Backup or Restore. The wizard guides you from there.
Creating a backup
- Click Backup.
- Choose what to back up: a Full Backup (everything, for moving servers or safekeeping), or a Partial Backup of just your Home Directory (files), Databases, or Email Forwarders & Filters.
- For a partial backup, click the type you want and download the resulting file.
Partial backups are the practical choice for day-to-day protection because — unlike full account backups — you can restore them yourself through this same wizard.
Restoring a backup
- Click Restore.
- Choose what you’re restoring: Home Directory, Databases, or Email Forwarders & Filters.
- Upload the backup file you previously downloaded.
- Confirm, and the wizard puts it back in place.
For a complete recovery, restore both your home directory and your databases from backups taken at the same time.
A smart habit before risky changes
The Backup Wizard shines as a safety net before something risky. About to update a critical plugin, edit the database, or make a big change? Take a quick partial backup of your database and home directory first. If the change goes wrong, restore in a couple of clicks. This turns risky operations into safe, reversible ones.
Store backups off the server
As with any backup, download the files off the server to your own computer or cloud storage. A backup sitting on the same server it’s meant to protect offers limited safety if the server itself has a serious problem. Download, then delete the on-server copy to keep your disk usage in check.
Full backups and restores
Full account backups capture everything including email accounts and settings, but they’re restored from the server side rather than through the wizard. If you need a full account restored — say, moving from another host or recovering a whole account — that’s something we handle for you. Just send us the backup file or open a ticket.
The best backup is an automatic one
Manual backups only help if you remember to take them. For genuine peace of mind, ask us about setting up automated, scheduled backups stored off-server. The Backup Wizard is perfect for on-demand safety nets; automation covers you the rest of the time.
