Creating and restoring backups in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin includes a built-in backup tool that creates a compressed archive of your account files, databases, email, and configuration. Always create a backup before making major changes to your site.

Create a backup

1. Open the backup manager

   Log in to DirectAdmin and go to Advanced Features → Create/Restore Backups.

2. Select what to back up

   Choose which components to include:

   • Domains-all website files and domain configuration
   • Databases-all MySQL databases
   • Email-all mailboxes and email account settings
   • FTP accounts-FTP user configuration

   For a full backup, select all options.

3. Create the backup

   Click Create Backup. DirectAdmin creates a compressed archive file in your home directory. For larger accounts this can take a few minutes.

Download the backup

After the backup is created, it appears as a .tar.gz file in your home directory. Download it using:

• File Manager: Navigate to the backup file in DirectAdmin File Manager, select it, and click Download
• FTP/SFTP: Connect with FileZilla and download the backup file from your home directory

Store the backup off-server-on your local computer or a cloud storage service. A backup stored only on the same server does not protect you from server-level failures.

Restore from backup

To restore a backup:

1. Upload the .tar.gz backup file to your home directory using File Manager or FTP
2. Go to Advanced Features → Create/Restore Backups
3. Select the backup file from the list
4. Choose what to restore (files, databases, email, etc.)
5. Click Restore Selected Items

For database-only restores, you can also use phpMyAdmin: go to Extra Features → phpMyAdmin, select the database, click Import, and upload the SQL dump from the backup.

Automated backups

Whether UnderHost runs automated backups for your DirectAdmin account depends on your plan. Check your plan details in CustomerPanel or open a ticket to confirm. Plans with automated backups typically retain daily snapshots for 7–14 days and can be restored on request.

Even if your plan includes automated backups, we recommend keeping your own independent copy. See Backup best practices.

Backup best practices

• Create a backup before every major change (WordPress update, plugin install, PHP version change)
• Download backups to your local computer-do not rely solely on server-side copies
• Test your backups occasionally by verifying the archive can be opened
• Store backups in at least two separate locations (e.g., local computer + Google Drive)
• For large accounts, consider a dedicated backup strategy using rsync or a remote backup plugin

Related: cPanel backups | Restore from backup | DirectAdmin databases

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