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How to restore a file or folder

Maxim Tsitsejev
Updated

Applies to: All plans.

Before you start: You need access to cPanel (log in by single sign-on from your client area, or directly at https://yourdomain/cpanel). It also helps to know the path of the file or folder you want to restore (for example /public_html/wp-config.php or /public_html/wp-content/themes).

If a file got deleted, overwritten, or corrupted, you can roll just that one file or folder back to how it looked in an earlier backup — without touching the rest of your site. We use JetBackup, which writes snapshots to off-site storage (Backblaze B2) and lets you self-restore directly from cPanel.

How far back you can restore

Your available snapshots depend on your plan's retention:

  • Self-Managed Lite: weekly snapshot
  • Self-Managed Plus: daily, kept 7 days
  • Self-Managed Pro: daily, kept 14 days
  • Managed (all tiers): daily, kept 30 days, off-site

If you need a longer window on a Self-Managed plan, see the Managed Backups add-on.

Restore a file or folder

  1. Log in to cPanel.
  2. In the search box, type JetBackup and open the File Backups tool (look for the JetBackup section, then the option labelled File Backups).
  3. You will see a list of available backup snapshots, each labelled with a date. Pick the snapshot from before the file was lost or changed.
  4. Open that snapshot to browse its contents, then navigate to the folder containing the item you need — for example public_html.
  5. Tick the checkbox next to the single file or the folder you want to recover. You can select more than one item.
  6. Choose the option labelled Restore Selected (or Restore) and confirm.

Result: JetBackup queues the restore and copies the selected file(s) or folder back into your account at their original path. You will see the restore appear in the queue, and JetBackup notifies you when it finishes. The rest of your files are left untouched.

Prefer to download instead of overwrite?

If you would rather not overwrite the live version, you can download the older copy from the snapshot and then put it back manually:

  1. In File Backups, open the snapshot and select the item.
  2. Choose the option labelled Download to save it to your computer.
  3. Upload it where you need it using cPanel -> Files -> File Manager.

See How to upload files with File Manager.

Troubleshooting this task

  • The snapshot you need is not listed. You can only restore within your plan's retention window (see above). Older snapshots are not kept. On Self-Managed, the Managed Backups add-on extends this to 30 days.
  • The restore overwrote a newer version. A file restore replaces the live file with the snapshot's copy. If you picked the wrong snapshot, restore again from a more recent one.
  • You meant to restore a database, not a file. Databases are not stored as plain files — use How to restore a database instead.
  • You want everything back, not just one item. Use How to restore a full account or website.

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