Knowledgebase

Creating a full backup of your Plesk account ensures that all your website data, emails, databases, and configuration settings are safely stored.

Follow these steps to generate and download a full backup in Plesk.

Step 1: Log in to Plesk

1. Open your web browser and navigate to your Plesk login page:
   • Example: https://yourdomain.com:8443 or https://your-server-ip:8443.
2. Enter your username and password, then click Log In.

Step 2: Access the Backup Manager

1. Once logged in, go to the Tools & Settings tab in the Plesk control panel (for admins) or the Websites & Domains tab (for individual users).
2. In the Tools & Settings section, find and click on Backup Manager under General Settings.
   • If you're an individual user managing a website, go to the Websites & Domains tab and look for the Backup Manager in the corresponding section for your domain.

Step 3: Create a Full Backup

1. In the Backup Manager, click on Back Up to start the backup process.

2. Backup Settings:

   • Select the Full Backup option to back up all data, including:
     • Websites
     • Emails
     • Databases
     • DNS settings
     • System configurations
   • Optional: If you want to back up specific settings, you can adjust the backup options, such as including or excluding email, databases, or specific domains.

3. Backup Destination:

   • You can choose where to store the backup. Common options include:
     • Local storage (on the server)
     • FTP storage (if you’ve configured an FTP server for backups)

4. Backup File Name (optional):

   • Plesk will automatically generate a backup file name, but you can change it if needed.

5. Email Notification (optional):

   • You can specify an email address to receive a notification when the backup is complete.

6. Click OK to begin the backup process.

Step 4: Wait for Backup to Complete

• Plesk will now start generating the full backup. The time taken to create the backup will depend on the size of your account data (websites, databases, emails, etc.).
• You can monitor the progress in the Backup Manager. Once the backup is complete, the status will change to Completed.

Step 5: Download the Backup File

1. After the backup is finished, you’ll see the newly created backup in the Backup Manager.
2. Click on the Download button next to the backup file you want to download. This will initiate the download process.
   • If the backup was saved to local storage, you can download it directly from the Plesk panel.
   • If the backup is saved to FTP or another remote destination, you will need to download it from that location.

Step 6: Verify the Download

• Once the download completes, check the downloaded backup file to ensure that it contains all necessary data and is stored in the expected location.
• You can also verify the backup file integrity by restoring it to a test environment if necessary.

Step 7: (Optional) Restore Backup

If you ever need to restore your Plesk account from the backup:

1. Go to the Backup Manager.
2. Select the backup file and click Restore.
3. Follow the prompts to restore the backup to your account.

Additional Notes

• Backup Size: If your backup is large, it may take some time to generate and download. Ensure you have enough storage space on your local machine for the backup file.
• Security: Store the backup in a secure location, as it contains sensitive data (e.g., email accounts, databases).
• Automated Backups: You can also set up automated backups in Plesk if you want to schedule regular backups for your account.
• External Backup: If you're backing up via FTP or remote storage, ensure that the remote server has enough storage space for the backup file.

Generating and downloading a full backup of your Plesk account is a simple process that can be done through the Backup Manager. It's essential to back up your data regularly to avoid potential data loss. Once the backup is complete, you can download it to your local machine or store it remotely for safe-keeping.