How to restore backups with the Backup Wizard in cPanel

The cPanel Backup Wizard lets you restore specific parts of your account, such as files, databases or email settings. Use it when you accidentally deleted content or need to roll back to a previous version. The restore may take a few minutes depending on the size of the backup.

Before you start

• Have on your computer the partial backup file you are going to upload, for example home.tar.gz or mysql.sql.gz.
• Know which component you are going to restore (main directory, database or mail).

Find the Backup Wizard in cPanel

At the top of cPanel, use the Search Tools (/) field and type backup. In the results, open Backup Wizard (the wording may vary by language or version). This takes you to the right flow.

Confirm you are in the Backup Wizard

Verify that the header shows Backup Wizard and that the Steps section appears with Backup or Restore. This tells you that you are in the correct tool to start the restore.

Start the restore from the corresponding option

In the restore section, click Restore. This opens the form where you can upload the backup file for the component you want to recover.

Locate the Restore section before uploading the file

On the wizard page, find the Restore block (not the Backup block) and verify that the Restore button is available. From here you continue uploading the file in the next form.

Final verification

• The backup upload form is shown after clicking Restore.
• The name of the selected file appears in the upload form.
• The restored content is reflected when you reload the site or check the database.

Common errors

• No result appears when searching → it was misspelled in Search Tools (/) → type backup and try again.
• The Restore button is not responding → cPanel session expired → reload cPanel and sign in again.
• The form does not show the name of the selected file → the backup does not match the expected type → upload the correct file, for example mysql.sql.gz for databases.

Related readings

• How do I restore files I accidentally deleted?
• How to clean malware from a website that appears suspicious in the browser