Create and Download a WordPress Backup to My PC
Updated 2 months ago
Create a backup of your WordPress site from cPanel and download it to keep a local copy on your computer. A backup of a WordPress installation includes the website files and its database, and is different from a full account backup and automatic daily backups.
Before you begin, you need access to cPanel. If you don't know how to log in, see how to log in to the cPanel control panel.
Create a backup from WordPress Management
WordPress Management is available in the cPanel sidebar and lets you manage each WordPress installation in your account.
Log in to cPanel.
In the sidebar, select WordPress Management.
Find the WordPress installation you want to back up.
Create a backup of that installation (files and database).
The process may take a few minutes and displays a progress bar. If you prefer the detailed walkthrough with screenshots, see how to create and restore backups in Softaculous.
Download the backup
You can download the backup as soon as it's created or return later from the backups page.
When the process finishes, use the link to the backups page that appears.
From the list of backups, download the file you need.
If you return later, log in to cPanel, open WordPress Management, and go to the installation's backup list to download the saved backup.
Where the file is saved
Backups are saved by default in the wordpress-backups folder in your account's root directory. You can find them using the cPanel File Manager or an FTP client such as FileZilla, and download them to your computer.
Saved backups take up space in your account. Once you have a local copy, you can delete any backups you no longer need to free up space.
Differences between other backups
This backup includes only the WordPress installation (files and database). To save your entire account—email, settings, and other domains—use the full account backup. Automatic daily backups are managed by Duplika and can be restored from JetBackup or Acronis.