How to Download a Full cPanel Backup
A full account backup captures everything — files, databases, email and settings — in one archive. It is your safety net and your migration file.
Step-by-step
- Open Files → Backup in cPanel.
- Click Download a Full Account Backup.
- Set Backup Destination to Home Directory and optionally an email address to be notified when ready.
- Click Generate Backup. Large accounts take a few minutes; you will be notified when it is done.
- Download the backup-….tar.gz file (from the Backup page or File Manager home directory) to your computer.
- Delete the archive from the server afterwards — it counts against your disk space.
💡 Good to know
- Full backups include email — if mailboxes are huge, download mail via POP so the archive stays manageable.
- A full backup is exactly what is needed to migrate the account to another server.
- Keep at least two recent backups in two locations.