Overview
If you have accidentally deleted files, lost information, or need to restore a previous version of your website, it may be possible to recover the content from a backup.
At Miss Hosting, there are two options:
Manual backup: You can create and download a backup yourself using the "Backup" feature in cPanel.
Historical backup: Miss Hosting performs automatic server backups, which are retained for 30 days. If you need to restore content from one of these backups, you will need assistance from our technicians.
We can help you restore website files, databases, and email.
Option 1: Restore from your own backup
If you have previously created and downloaded a manual backup via cPanel, you can use it to restore your content. The steps you need to follow depend on what you wish to restore.
Restoring website files
If you have a backup of your website files, you can upload them back to your web hosting account.
For example, you can use the File Manager in cPanel to upload and manage your files.
Ensure that you place the files in the correct directory for your website. If you replace existing files, the content previously located there may be overwritten.
Learn more in the guide: How do I upload my files using File manager?.
Restoring a database
If you have a backup of a database in SQL format, you can import it via phpMyAdmin in cPanel.
Open phpMyAdmin from within cPanel..
Select the database you wish to restore.
Open the Import tab.
Select your SQL file and start the import.
Ensure that you select the correct database before importing. An import may affect or overwrite existing content.
Learn more in the guide How do I import a database?.
Restoring email
If you have your own email backup, the restoration process will depend on how the backup was created and what it contains.
If you need assistance restoring email from a historical server backup, our technicians can look into the options for you.
Option 2: Restore from a historical backup at Miss Hosting
Miss Hosting creates automatic backups of server content. These are kept for 30 days.
Please note that you cannot select or restore a historical backup yourself via cPanel. If you need to recover content from an earlier point in time, our technicians will need to assist you.
This could apply to, for example:
Website files: If files have been accidentally deleted or modified.
Databases: If information in a database has been lost or altered.
Email: If you need to recover email messages or other email content.
When requesting a historical restoration, it is helpful to provide as much detail as possible, including:
Which service or domain it concerns.
What you would like to have restored—files, a database, or email.
An approximate timeframe for when the content existed in the state you wish to restore.
Which specific files, databases, or email accounts are affected (if known).
The more detailed the information you provide, the easier it will be to identify the correct backup.
Important: Historical backups are kept for 30 days. If you need to restore something, you should therefore contact support as soon as possible.
If the restoration does not work
If you are attempting to restore content from your own backup but it fails, please check the following:
Ensure that the backup file is complete and not corrupted.
Verify that you are using the correct backup for the specific file, database, or service you wish to restore.
Confirm that you are restoring the content to the correct location or database.
Check that you have sufficient storage space on your hosting account.
If the issue persists, or if you require assistance with a historical backup, a technician will need to investigate the matter.
Important considerations before performing a restoration
Back up your current content: A restoration may overwrite newer files or information. Therefore, please save a copy of your current content before beginning the restoration process.
Select the correct restoration date: Verify when the content was last functioning as intended.
Restore only what is necessary: If the issue concerns a single file or database, you do not necessarily need to restore the entire website.
Contact support promptly: Historical backups are retained for 30 days and require a technician to perform the restoration.
Related guides
Summary
You can create and download a manual backup yourself via the "Backup" feature in cPanel. If you need to restore content from such a backup, you can use it to recover your files and databases.
Miss Hosting also retains automatic historical server backups for 30 days. You cannot restore these yourself, but our technicians can help you restore website files, databases, and email from an earlier point in time.