Knowledge Base

How to Back Up Your Website

1. Back up before major changes. Create a fresh backup before plugin or theme updates, migrations, redesigns, database work or other changes that could affect the website.

2. Use the backup tools available in cPanel. Depending on the hosting configuration, you may see Backup or Backup Wizard options for website files, databases or broader account data. Save the backup in a location you can identify later.

3. Keep an independent copy of critical data. A hosting backup is valuable, but downloading an additional copy of important files and databases gives you another recovery option if the hosting account itself becomes unavailable.

4. Verify before relying on the backup. Confirm that the backup completed, has a reasonable file size and includes the data you intended to protect. Keep older recovery points when possible instead of overwriting the only good copy immediately.

When to create an extra backup

Create or download a backup before major website updates, plugin or theme changes, database work, migrations or other changes that would be difficult to reverse.

Using cPanel backup tools

  1. Open cPanel from your hosting service.
  2. Locate the backup-related tool available on your server. cPanel installations commonly provide backup or backup-wizard options, but the exact tools can vary.
  3. Choose the type of backup you need, such as a full account backup or individual website/database components where available.
  4. Generate the backup and download a copy to a secure location if the tool supports downloading.

What a website backup may need

  • Website files
  • Databases
  • Configuration files
  • Any separately managed content needed for recovery

Plan backups and your own copies

Tanco Tech Hosting plans include backup protection, with enhanced backup capabilities on higher-tier plans. For business-critical data, maintain an additional copy that you control rather than relying on a single backup location.

Recovery is the real test. A backup is most useful when you know what it contains and how you would restore it. Contact support before a risky change if you are unsure which backup option to use.