Automatic backups and restorations
Updated last week
All cPanel hosting plans include automatic daily backups of your files, emails, and databases, encrypted and stored off-server. You can restore them yourself from cPanel using JetBackup 5 or Acronis Backup. Backups are optional on Cloud and VPS servers and are disabled by default.
Before restoring, decide what you want to recover: the entire account, files only, a database, or email accounts. Then choose the backup date and, if the site was hacked, follow the subsequent cleanup steps to prevent the problem from happening again.
How long backups are retained
We retain backups for up to 21 days for restoration on cPanel hosting plans. Reseller plans also include automatic daily backups. On Cloud and VPS plans, once backups are enabled, copies are created daily and retained for up to 21 days, according to the agreed configuration.
If you prefer to manage backups of your content yourself, write to us and we will disable your account's backups.
Choose what to restore
Each type of restoration applies to a different part of the account. Choose according to what you want to recover:
What to restore | When to use it |
|---|---|
Full backups | Only when you want to restore the entire account: files, databases, logs, emails, and any other content. The process may take a considerable amount of time depending on the size and number of files. |
Home Directory | When you need to restore specific files or directories. You can select the backup date and the content you want to restore. |
Databases | When the problem is with a database, for example, when a WordPress site will not open. The database is restored to the state it was in on the selected date. |
Mailboxes | When you need to recover deleted messages or mailboxes. |
The date you choose determines the state to which the site is restored: anything that happened after that backup is excluded from the restoration.
Restoring a store's database to an earlier date may remove orders, users, or changes recorded after that backup. If your site is still receiving transactions, coordinate the recovery with us before restoring it completely.
If you want to keep the current content and only add what is missing, enable Merge backup data with live account data after choosing the backup type and date: it keeps the current content and adds deleted content.
JetBackup
To restore from JetBackup 5:
Log in to your cPanel. Replace «misitio.com» with your site's actual URL.
Look for the JetBackup 5 tool in your control panel.
Choose the backup type according to the previous section: full backups, Home Directory, databases, or mailboxes.
Select the date of the backup you want to recover.
If you want to keep the current content, enable Merge backup data with live account data.
Start the restoration. A full restoration may take a considerable amount of time depending on the size and number of files.
Acronis Backup
When Acronis Backup is installed on your server, you can find it in the Files section of the control panel. There you will see a list of the dates of the backups available for restoration: choose the date you need and run the restoration from that screen.
Download a backup
In addition to restoring backups, you can save copies on your computer:
Full account backup: from Backups in cPanel, select Download a Full Account Backup. It includes all content, databases, email accounts, and settings, and can be used to restore the account on Duplika or any other cPanel provider. Full details are available in how to download my full account backup.
Databases: you can also download the account's databases from Backups in cPanel, for example, to export products, customers, and orders.
Files and databases from automatic backups: from JetBackup, you can download files or databases from the available backups to import or restore them wherever you need.
For a manual copy of a WordPress installation, see how to create and download a WordPress backup to your PC.
Recovering a hacked or damaged WordPress site
A restoration returns the files and database to the state they were in on the selected date, but it does not remove the cause of the hack by itself. After restoring:
Change your cPanel and customer portal passwords, and enable two-step verification.
In WordPress Management, use Check WordPress integrity and, if necessary, Reinstall WordPress core.
Update WordPress, plugins, and themes, and remove any unlicensed plugin or template.
Review the list of administrator users and reset their login credentials.
Install and configure Wordfence, run a complete site scan, and remove all files unrelated to WordPress.
The complete cleanup guide is available in hacking recommendations, including a review in Google Search Console if Google indexed a different version of your site.
If the problem appeared after updating WordPress or a plugin, restoring the site may bring back the same problem. Contact us before restoring so we can coordinate the recovery.
If the site is still damaged or infected after restoration, contact us through the support area: we can restore databases or mailboxes on our end and help you coordinate the infection cleanup. Tell us the domain, the date of the backup you need, and which data must be preserved.