How to Download a Backup of Your Website

Blue Arctic already backs up your site every day, but it’s wise to keep your own copy too: before a big change, before a redesign, or once a month. A website has two parts, and you need both: the files (themes, plugins, images) and the database (posts, pages, settings).

Shared Web Hosting: download files and databases

These are called partial backups: one file for your home directory (the top folder of your hosting account, which holds your website and email) and one for each database.

1. Log in to cPanel. If you can’t log in, open a support ticket.
2. Click Files in the sidebar and open the Backups tab. (If you see a Backup icon instead, click it and use Download a Home Directory Backup and Download a Database Backup.) You can also type Backups in cPanel’s search box (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K). If you can’t find it, open a support ticket and ask how to get a copy of your site.
3. Under Individual Components, click Download next to Home Directory and save the file. It contains your website files, your email and the rest of your home directory.
4. Click Download next to Databases and save the file. If you have more than one database, download each one. A WordPress site normally has one database; its name is on the DB_NAME line of wp-config.php.
5. Move the files somewhere private other than your hosting account, such as your own cloud storage or an external drive.

Shared Web Hosting: full account backup

A full backup holds your whole account, including email and settings. It’s useful for moving to another host. If you need one restored, open a support ticket and we’ll tell you what we can do.

1. On the Backups tab, click Generate Full Backup.
2. To be told when it’s ready, enter an email address in Notification Email. Or leave it empty.
3. Click Generate Backup.
4. Wait for the email that says the backup is finished. A large account takes longer. If you didn’t ask for an email, come back later. The finished file is listed under Available Backups.
5. Open the File Manager tab and go to your home directory, the folder above public_html. Select the newest file whose name starts with backup- (the one listed under Available Backups), and click Download.
6. Wait until the download has finished and check that the file on your computer isn’t 0 KB.
7. Back in File Manager, select the same backup- file, click Delete and confirm.

If you see a Backup icon instead of the Backups tab, use its Download a Full Account Backup option. If you can’t download the full backup, open a support ticket.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Open a support ticket and ask how to get a copy of your site. Tell us whether you need the files, the database or both.

How to tell it worked

Check your Downloads folder. The backup files end in .gz. The home directory backup is usually the biggest, and there’s one file for each database. None of them should be 0 KB. Store at least one copy somewhere other than the computer you use every day.

Troubleshooting

• The download stops partway: large accounts take a long time, so try again on a steady connection. If it still fails, open a support ticket.
• The full backup never appears: your account may not have room for it. Delete files you don’t need (download any you might want first) and try again, or open a support ticket.
• You can’t find your database name: in File Manager, select wp-config.php, choose Open from the More (⋯) menu and read the DB_NAME line. Clicking Databases in the sidebar also lists your databases.

Still need help?

Open a support ticket from the Client Portal at my.bluearctic.com (see our support page). Include your domain, which backup type you tried, the time you tried it, the exact error text, a screenshot and what you already tried. Never include your password.