Before you start
Access to your customer area or a direct cPanel login.
Enough free space in your hosting account to create the archive.
A private location on your computer for the downloaded backup.
Steps
1. Sign in to your hosting provider’s customer area. If you use a direct cPanel login, sign in there and continue from step 4.
2. Find the web hosting package you want to back up.
3. Use the cPanel login link or button for that service.
4. Under Files, click Backups.
5. Under Full Backup, click Generate/Download a Full Website Backup.
6. Select Home Directory as the backup destination.
7. Enter your email address if you want a completion notification.
8. Click Generate Backup.
9. Wait for the backup to finish.
10. Return to the full-backup screen.
11. Click the completed filename under Backups Available for Download.
12. Save the archive to a private folder on your computer.
Note: A backup contains private website data. Do not put it in public_html or another publicly accessible folder. Keep a copy outside the hosting account.
Example
Your downloaded file should end in .tar.gz. Check that the download has finished and that the backup date matches the copy you just created.
Questions and troubleshooting
The backup is not ready. Wait for the completion notification, if requested, then refresh the backup screen. Large accounts take longer. If the process reports an error, send us the message.
The backup fails. Check your account’s free space. A full or nearly full account can prevent backup creation.
Can I restore this file in cPanel? A full account restore needs your hosting provider. Contact us before restoring so we can check which data will be replaced, especially if the site has received new orders or content.
Related guides
Next steps
Keep the downloaded copy somewhere safe. You can now continue preparing the website for its PHP update.
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