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How to download a backup of your site

Maxim Tsitsejev
Updated

Applies to: All plans (Self-Managed and Managed).

Before you start: You need access to your hosting account's cPanel. Log in from your client area -> Services -> My Services, open your service, then choose Log in to cPanel — see How to log in to cPanel if you need a hand.

Keeping your own independent copy of your site is a smart habit. Although we run automatic backups for you (How backups work at Maxinodes), generating and downloading a full cPanel backup gives you a portable archive you fully control and can store off our platform.

Note: A full backup includes your website files, databases, and account settings. It does not include your email — mailboxes live in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, not on the hosting server, so they are backed up separately by your email provider.

Generate a full backup

  1. In cPanel, go to Files -> Backup (or the Backup Wizard if you prefer a guided flow).
  2. Under Full Backup, select the option labelled Download a Full Account Backup.
  3. For Backup Destination, leave Home Directory selected. This stores the archive in your account so you can download it.
  4. Optionally enter an email address to be notified when the backup is ready, then select Generate Backup.

Result: cPanel starts building the archive in the background. For a small site this takes a minute or two; larger sites take longer.

Download the finished backup

  1. Return to Files -> Backup. When the archive is ready, it appears under Backups Available for Download as a .tar.gz file (named with your username and the date).
  2. Select the file to download it to your computer.
  3. Alternatively, find the file in Files -> File Manager in your home directory and download it from there, or fetch it over FTP/SFTP — see How to connect over FTP or SFTP.

Result: You now have a complete .tar.gz copy of your account saved locally. Store it somewhere safe and independent of your hosting.

Want just part of your site?

A full backup is best for keeping a complete copy. If you only need one piece, the JetBackup tool in cPanel lets you download or restore a single file, folder, or database from a recent snapshot instead:

A note on disk space

A full backup roughly doubles your account's disk usage while the archive sits in your home directory. If your plan is close to its storage limit, the backup may fail to generate. Delete the archive from File Manager once you have downloaded it to free that space, and check your usage first — see How to check your disk usage and file count.

Troubleshooting this task

  • The backup never finishes or fails: You may be low on disk space (see above), or the site is very large. Free up space or download a database/file set individually via JetBackup instead.
  • I can't find the file to download: It is in your home directory — check Files -> File Manager at the top level, or look again under Backups Available for Download once generation completes.
  • My email isn't in the backup: That's expected. Email is hosted on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, not on cPanel — back it up through your email provider's tools.

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