Encrypted transfers
- SSH/SCP — backups move over encrypted channels, not FTP
- Server-to-server restores are pulled by you; nothing is pushed to your server unsolicited
- No inbound access required — restores are initiated from your end
Docs
Docs
Everything you need to get set up, stay secure, and restore when something goes wrong.
Overview
What CPBackup does and why the backup format matters.
CPBackup stores independent offsite copies of your cPanel account — completely separate from your hosting provider — in native cPanel (cpmove) format. That means you can start a restore straight away. There's no conversion step, no rebuild, nothing to sort out before cPanel can use the file.
Every backup includes a secure wget restore URL so you can pull it directly onto your destination server over root SSH — proper server-to-server recovery without messing about with local downloads first.
Your restore options
- wget URL + cPanel restore — pull directly to your destination server; the quickest route when time matters
- Download to your PC — use the Download button in Backup Manager if you'd rather keep it local first
Not sure which approach suits your setup? Tell us what you're restoring and we'll point you to the fastest path.
Security
How access and transfers are kept secure.
At a glance: encrypted transfers · token-based access · no passwords stored · offsite storage isolation
Token-based authentication
- Connect using a scoped cPanel API token, not your account password
- Revoke or rotate the token at any time — access stops immediately
- One token per service keeps things tidy and easy to audit
Separate UK storage
- Backups sit on infrastructure that has nothing to do with your hosting provider
- UK-based for customers who care where their data lives
- Each account's data is isolated from others on the platform
A few good habits
- Keep restore URLs to yourself — treat them like passwords; they're direct links to your backup data
- Lock down your portal login — strong password and 2FA if it's available
- Limit who can change settings — token access, schedules, and restore links shouldn't be shared around
- Rotate tokens when staff change — if someone who had access moves on, rotate the token straight away
Worth noting: If you ever need to share a restore URL with support, send it in a private ticket — don't paste it in a public forum or chat.
Restore guide
Step-by-step: restoring from a cPanel backup.
Quick steps
- Copy the wget restore URL from Backup Manager.
- SSH into the destination server as
rootand download withwget. - Restore in cPanel or WHM — the backup is already in native cPanel format.
- WHM: Backup Restoration → Restore a Full Backup/cpmove file.
Tip: server-to-server via wget is usually faster than downloading to your PC first, especially for larger reseller backups.
Before you start
- Destination server — run the wget command on the server you're restoring to, not your local machine
- Root access — or equivalent privileges for your restore method
- Keep the restore URL private — it's a direct link to your backup data
wget example
cd /root wget -L --content-disposition --trust-server-names \ 'https://cpbackup.net/backup?action=downloadtoken&token=TOKEN_EXAMPLE_ONLY'
Your real restore URL is shown next to each backup in Backup Manager. Run the command on the destination server, not your PC.
Troubleshooting
- Interrupted download — use
wget -cto pick up where it left off - Not enough space — free up at least as much space as the backup file size before downloading
- ⏳ Expired or 403 error — regenerate the restore URL in Backup Manager and try again
- DNS issues — check your resolver or network if the hostname can't be resolved
Prefer not to use the command line?
There's a Download button next to each backup in Backup Manager. Click it to save the file to your PC — handy if you're restoring a single site and don't have root SSH to hand.
FAQ
Common questions — billing, restores, storage, and everything in between.
What does the base plan include?
£10 per month and you get 10GB of storage included.
How is overage billed?
Anything above 10GB is £1 per GB, charged at the end of your billing period. You're not billed mid-cycle for going over.
What does "storage used" mean?
It's simply the total size of all your stored backups at billing time — nothing more complicated than that.
Can I lower my bill?
Yes — reduce what's stored before your billing date and the next invoice will reflect that.
Are there storage tiers?
No. You pay for what you actually use. There are no tiers to upgrade through.
Why is native cPanel format important?
Because it means restores can start immediately. There's no conversion or rebuild step before cPanel can use the file — it's already in the format cPanel expects.
What is the wget restore URL for?
It lets you pull your backup straight onto the destination server over SSH — much faster than downloading to your PC first, especially for large accounts or reseller backups.
Do I have to use wget?
Not at all. There's a Download button in Backup Manager if you'd rather save the file locally and restore from there.
How long do restore links last?
Each restore URL is tied to a specific backup. If you need a fresh one, open the backup again in Backup Manager.
How often can backups run?
That's up to you — set a schedule that matches how often your sites change.
Can I change retention later?
Yes, any time. Bump it up or trim it down — no need to contact support to do it.
What happens when I reduce retention?
The oldest restore points are removed first, so your most recent backups are always the ones kept.
Do you store my passwords?
No passwords are stored. You connect using a cPanel API token instead — it can be revoked at any time from within cPanel.
Can I revoke access?
Yes — delete or rotate the token in cPanel and access stops immediately.
Are transfers encrypted?
Yes — backups travel over SSH/SCP, not FTP.
Why does offsite matter?
Because if something goes wrong with your hosting provider — outage, data loss, account suspension — you want your backups on completely separate infrastructure that isn't affected.
Where should I check for incidents?
Check the Status page for live updates and active incidents.
What should I include in a support ticket?
The domain or hostname, the backup job ID if it's shown, the approximate time it happened, and the full error or output text. Screenshots help too.
A backup failed — what now?
Check the backup status and details first. If the cause still isn't clear, submit a ticket with the failure message and timestamp and we'll take a look.
What's included in a backup?
A full archived backup of the cPanel account: all your files and folders, MySQL databases, email accounts and forwarders, and any websites or apps hosted in the account.
What format is it stored in?
Native cPanel (cpmove) format — the same format cPanel uses for its own full account backups.
How do I download a backup?
Use the Download button in Backup Manager to save it to your PC, or use the secure wget restore URL for a faster server-to-server transfer.
Need help?
Not sure whether to pull via wget or download to your PC first? Tell us what you're trying to restore and we'll give you the straight answer.
When something breaks, the more detail you give us — the exact command you ran, the full error message, the timestamp — the faster we can sort it out.