title: Backup Wizard created at: Fri Oct 18 2024 09:02:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) updated at: Sat Feb 08 2025 14:22:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) --- # Backup Wizard !! Important !! This feature only appears if your hosting provider’s [server profile](https://docs.cpanel.net/knowledge-base/cpanel-product/cpanel-glossary) enables it. # Overview The *Backup Wizard* interface allows you to back up all or part of your website, or to restore it from the most recent backup file. !! Note !! Experienced users may prefer to use the [*Backup*](https://docs.cpanel.net/cpanel/files/backup-for-cpanel) interface (*cPanel » Home » Files » Backup*). !! The system stores backup files as [tarballs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_\(computing\)) that use the `.tar.gz` file extension. For more information about what backup files contain, read our [Backup Tarball Contents](https://docs.cpanel.net/knowledge-base/backup/backup-tarball-contents) documentation. # Back Up You can choose to create a full backup file or a partial backup file. !! Important !! You **cannot** use a full backup file to restore your files through the cPanel interface. Contact your hosting provider for assistance. !! You **must** compress the backup file prior to restoration. !! After you decompress the backup file, you can upload and restore individual portions of your website that the full backup file contains. !! The backup process for an account near or over its quota may fail because the system cannot write necessary files, such as a database lock file. ## Create a full backup To create a full backup file, perform the following steps: 1. From the main *Backup Wizard* interface, click *Back Up*. The *Full or Partial Backup* section of the interface will appear. 2. Click *Full Backup*. The *Download* section of the interface will appear. 3. Select one of the following destinations from the *Backup Destination* menu: ``` - [_Home Directory_](https://docs.cpanel.net/cpanel/files/backup-wizard/#home-directory-backup-file-contents) — Select this setting to save the backup file on the server. The server saves the file in the `home/username` directory. - _Remote FTP Server_ — Select this setting to use FTP to store the backup file on a remote server. - _Remote FTP Server (passive mode transfer)_ — Select this setting to use passive FTP to store the backup file on a remote server. - _Secure Copy (SCP)_ — Select this setting to use SCP to store the backup file on a remote server. !! Important ``` Only advanced users should select the *Remote FTP Server*, *Remote FTP Server (passive mode transfer)*, or *SCP destination* settings. 4. Perform one of the following actions to configure notifications for this backup file: * To receive a notification when the backup process finishes, enter your email address in the *Email Address* text box. * To disable notifications, select the *Do not send email notification of backup completion.* checkbox. 5. If you selected the *Remote FTP Server*, *Remote FTP Server (passive mode transfer)*, or *Secure Copy (SCP)* destinations, enter the remote destination’s information in the available text boxes. 6. Click *Generate Backup*. A confirmation message will appear. Click *Go Back* to return to the *Download* section of the interface. !! Note !! If you selected the *Home Directory* setting in step 3, click the filename in the *Download* section of the interface to download the backup file. !! The backup file is in `backup-MM-DD-YYYY` format, where `MM` is the month, `DD` is the date, and `YYYY` is the four-digit year. !! The system stores full backup files as [tarballs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_\(computing\)) that use the `.tar.gz` file extension. ## Create a partial backup To back up a portion of your site, perform the following steps: 1. From the main *Backup Wizard* interface, click *Back Up*. The *Full or Partial Backup* section of the interface will appear. 2. Select which portion of your website that you wish to back up. The *Download* section of the interface will appear. 3. Click the desired backup file to download it. !! Note !! When you create a partial backup, the backup type determines the backup file’s extension. !! *Home Directory* — `*.tar.gz` !! *Email Forwarders & Filters* — `*.net`, `*.com` !! *MySQL Databases* — `*.sql` # Restore To restore a portion of your site from an existing backup, perform the following steps: 1. Click *Restore*. The *Select Restore Type* section of the interface will appear. 2. Select which portion of your website that you wish to restore. The *Restore* section of the interface will appear. 3. Click *Choose File* and select the desired backup file. !! Remember !! The backup file’s extension depends on the portion of your site that you backed up. 1. Click *Upload* to begin the restoration process. # Home Directory backup file contents When you back up your `/home` directory, the backup file includes the following files: * All of the files that you own. * Files that you do **not** own, but can access. !! Note !! Backup files do **not** include files from your `/home` directory that you do **not** own and **cannot** access. To exclude certain files and directories from a backup file, place a configuration file in your home directory. For more information, read our [How to Exclude Files From Backups](https://docs.cpanel.net/knowledge-base/backup/how-to-exclude-files-from-backups) documentation.