How to backup your website on cPanel?

If you have a shared or reseller plan with us then we already backup your website every day to a remote server just in case but it’s always best to be prepared yourself. This is why there are still features to backup the website and databases yourself from the cPanel. This feature is available on the shared and reseller hosting plans.

In this tutorial we are going to show you how to do it and we will provide pictures to make it even easier.

Step 1: Login to cPanel and find the “Files” section

You can find your login details in the account information email we sent to you when you registered for website hosting. On shared hosting plans you can also automatically login from your Smughost account.

Once logged in find the section that says “Files”.

Step 2: Press “Backup Wizard”.

In the files section you will find the “Backup Wizard”, press this to get started.

Step 3: Press “Back Up”.

Step 4: Choose what you want to backup.

Now you can choose what you want to backup, you can choose the partially backup your website, you can backup the files or just the databases or even the email forwarder settings but in this tutorial we are going to go for the full backup.

It is recommended you do a full backup as 99% of the time your website files are no good without the database and the databases are no good without the files.

Full backups can take a little more time and are going to be larger files but it’s worth it. So here we are going to click “Full Backup”.

Step 5: Choose where you want the backup to go.

Now you have to choose where you want the backup to be saved to, in this tutorial we are going to backup to the home directory which means it will be backed up into your file manager on your current Smughost account.

You can also choose if you want a email notification once your website is backed up.

Now click “Generate Backup”.

Step 6: Your website will now be backed up.

The system will now start backing up your website, now you just need to keep an eye on your emails. offcourse the size of your directory determines how long it will take, you don’t need to stay on this page while waiting.

Step 7: (Once Received Email) Check directory.

Now you have received your email it will tell you that the backup is complete and it will tell you the directory it has been saved into. Now you need to go back to your cPanel dashboard and go to the “Files” section again.

Step 8: Go to “File Manager”.

Step 9: Go to the directory the backup is saved in.

Now go to the directory the backup is saved into, the one shown on the email. You will now find the backup file.

Step 10: Right Click on That File.

Now right click on your backup file and press “Download”.

Step 11: Choose where to save your backup.

Now choose where you want to save the backup into your personal directories. Be sure to put it somewhere safe and rememberable.

Once you have found that perfect location click “Save”.

Step 12: It’s all done!

The backup is now downloaded and is safe in your own directory.

We hope this tutorial has helped. Although we do the daily backups it’s good practice to keep your own backups.

If you need help with anything or have any questions please contact us.

The Smughost Team.