Doc Summary
Introduction #
Backups are copies of your website and related data that can be used to recover information after data loss or errors.
At ProRedLine, backups are provided as a safety measure, not as a replacement for your own backups. In this doc we will explain more about backups within cPanel.
How Backups Work at ProRedLine #
ProRedLine maintains automatic server-side backups as part of the hosting environment. These backups are created on a scheduled basis and include daily, weekly, and monthly restore points. They are stored within ProRedLine infrastructure and are intended to support recovery when something goes wrong.
Depending on the backup type, backups may include items such as website files, databases, email data, and configuration-related content. The exact coverage can vary, so not every backup will always contain the same data in the same way.
Backup retention is limited and rotates automatically. This means older backups are overwritten over time, and the availability of a specific date cannot be guaranteed. Backup availability depends on the backup cycle in place at that moment.
Where available, backups can be accessed through cPanel backup and restore tools. In some situations, support-assisted restores may also be possible. Any restore depends on whether a suitable backup exists and is still available within the retention cycle.
It is important to understand what these backups are not. They are not guaranteed long-term archives, not real-time snapshots, and not a replacement for customer-managed backups. They exist to assist with recovery, but they do not remove all risk of data loss.
Backups are commonly used in situations such as accidental file deletion, failed updates, malware cleanup, or database corruption. Because backups are created automatically and on a schedule, customers cannot manually trigger the server-side backup cycle. If you want additional restore points or a separate copy before making changes, creating your own backup remains your responsibility. Full backups can be downloaded within cPanel.
‘Backup’ Feature in cPanel #
The Backup feature in cPanel is the standard backup interface for downloading copies of important account data and, where supported, restoring certain items. It is generally the more direct and flexible backup tool, and cPanel notes that experienced users may prefer it over Backup Wizard.
Within the Backup interface, you can usually download a full account backup or partial backups of specific data, such as your home directory, MySQL databases, email forwarders, or email filters. The exact restore options depend on the type of backup file involved.
In practice, the Backup feature is best suited for users who want direct access to available backup types without using a guided step-by-step interface.
‘Backup Wizard’ Feature in cPanel #
The Backup Wizard feature in cPanel is a guided version of the backup tools. It is designed to make the process easier by walking you through backing up all or part of your website, or restoring it from the most recent partial backup file.
Through Backup Wizard, you can create either a full backup or a partial backup. Full backups can be saved to the home directory or, for advanced users, sent to remote destinations such as FTP or SCP. Partial backups can be created for specific parts of the account, such as the home directory, databases, or email-related data.
In short, Backup Wizard is the more guided and beginner-friendly option, while the standard Backup interface is the more direct backup tool.
File and Directory Restoration #
The File and Directory Restoration feature in cPanel allows you to restore specific files or folders from available server-side backups without needing to upload a backup manually. This is often the most practical option when only part of a website or account needs to be recovered.
Instead of restoring an entire backup, this tool lets you restore only the files or directories you actually need. Depending on the available backup data, this can include individual files, specific folders, or larger directory structures. This makes it useful when, for example, files were deleted accidentally, a change caused problems, or part of a website needs to be rolled back without affecting the rest of the account.
At ProRedLine, this feature uses the automatic server-side backups that are available within the backup cycle. No manual backup upload is required.
How to Access File and Directory Restoration #
To open this feature in cPanel:
- log in to cPanel
- go to the Files section
- click File and Directory Restoration
Once opened, you will see the available restore points based on backup date.
How the Restore Process Works #
Within File and Directory Restoration, you can browse the available backup snapshot, locate the files or folders you want to recover, and restore only the selected content. This gives you more control than a full restore and helps avoid overwriting unrelated files or directories.
Because this is a selective restore tool, it is generally the recommended option when you only need to recover part of your website or account rather than everything at once.
Backup Tips and Best Practices #
Backups in cPanel can be very useful for recovery, but they should not be treated as your only safety measure. Server-side backups are intended to help restore data when something goes wrong, but they are not a guaranteed archive of every file version or change.
At ProRedLine, backups are created automatically on a scheduled basis and may include daily, weekly, and monthly restore points, depending on the backup cycle and retention at that time. Because backup retention is limited and rotates automatically, older restore points may no longer be available when needed.
To reduce risk, it is recommended that you also create your own backups before making important changes. This is especially important before:
- updating websites, plugins, themes, or applications
- editing configuration files or database content
- removing files, accounts, or directories
- making larger structural changes to your website or hosting setup
If you need to restore only a small part of your site, selective restore tools such as File and Directory Restoration are usually the best first option. If you need an additional copy for your own records, a manual backup through cPanel is recommended.
In short, automatic backups are there to support recovery, but customers should still treat backup management as a shared responsibility and keep their own copies whenever changes are important or difficult to undo.
Still need help after reading this article?
