Soft2Hosting
cPanel Backup and Restore Guide: Home Directory, Databases and Email
A safe cPanel setup has two layers of backup: the backups included with your hosting plan, and your own copies stored somewhere else. Soft2Hosting's Starter Pro includes weekly backups, and Business Pro Hosting and Enterprise Pro Hosting include daily backups, with restore listed on Enterprise Pro. Your own copies protect you if you need a version older than the plan keeps, or want to move hosts.
What a cPanel account contains
| Part | What it holds | How to back it up yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Home directory | Website files, uploads, configuration | Backup Wizard partial backup, or compress in File Manager and download |
| MySQL databases | WordPress content, orders, users | Backup Wizard database backup, or export with phpMyAdmin |
| Mailboxes, forwarders, filters | Backup Wizard email forwarders and filters. Mailboxes via your mail app |
Taking your own backup
- Open Backup Wizard in cPanel and choose Back Up.
- For a quick site backup, choose a partial backup of the home directory, then each MySQL database.
- Download the files to your computer or cloud storage.
- Label them with the date and keep several versions.
Take a manual backup before every major change: a theme switch, a plugin update on a shop, or a WordPress core upgrade.
Restoring
Restore files
Use the Backup Wizard's restore option for a home directory archive, or upload and extract individual files in File Manager to replace only what broke.
Restore a database
Use the Backup Wizard to restore a database backup, or import an SQL file into an empty database through phpMyAdmin. Make sure the website's configuration points to the right database name and user.
Restore from the plan's backups
If you need a copy from the hosting plan's own backups, contact Soft2Hosting support with the date and which parts of the account you need.
A restore test routine
- Once a quarter, take last month's downloaded backup.
- Restore the files and database into a temporary subdomain or a local copy.
- Open the site and confirm recent content is there.
- Delete the test copy.
WordPress's own backup guidance makes the same point: a backup you have never restored is not proven.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving large backup archives inside your hosting account, where they use storage and share the same failure risk.
- Backing up files but not the database, or the other way round.
- Keeping only the latest backup, so a problem you notice late cannot be undone.
Plans
| Plan (billed yearly) | Websites | NVMe storage | Backups | Extras | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pro | 1 | 10 GB | 5 accounts | Weekly | Free auto SSL, 5 databases, 100 GB bandwidth | ₹2,499 |
| Business Pro Hosting | 10 | 50 GB | Unlimited | Daily | LiteSpeed + cache, basic DDoS protection, unmetered bandwidth | ₹4,999 |
| Enterprise Pro Hosting | Unlimited | 100 GB | Unlimited | Daily backup + restore | LiteSpeed + Redis cache, advanced DDoS protection, priority support | ₹7,999 |
Prices are annual in INR, as listed on the Soft2Hosting cPanel plans page. Taxes and final terms are confirmed at checkout. Every plan includes cPanel access and free SSL.
A sensible routine for a small business
- Weekly: confirm the plan's backups are running and your site still loads.
- Monthly: download a full manual backup of files and databases to cloud storage you control.
- Before changes: a manual backup before theme, plugin or core updates on anything that takes orders or bookings.
- Quarterly: the restore test described above.
Keep at least three months of your own copies, so a problem you only notice weeks later, such as a hacked page or a deleted product range, can still be undone.
WordPress-specific tips
For WordPress, the two things that matter are the wp-content folder (themes, plugins and uploads) and the database. A backup plugin that saves both to cloud storage on a schedule is a convenient complement to cPanel backups. After restoring, clear any caching plugin's cache and log in to confirm the admin works, because a stale cache can make a restore look as if it failed.
Store the download location and restore steps in a short note that anyone on the team can follow.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I back up myself?
Before every major change, and at least monthly for a site that changes rarely. Weekly or daily for shops and busy sites.
Can I schedule backups?
WordPress backup plugins can schedule backups to cloud storage. Keep an eye on storage used inside your account.
Do backups include email?
The Backup Wizard covers email forwarders and filters. Mailbox contents stay in sync in any IMAP mail app, which gives you another copy.