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Download and Restore MySQL Database Backup

 

Backups are a very important part of maintaining a website. It is important to backup your files and databases on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis or prior to making any major changes so that a backup is available in the event of data loss.

A MySQL database backup will backup all data in a specific database. This can be useful for backing up the valuable data of various scripts; however, it is only a partial backup, and it will not include DNS, home directory files or other system files and settings. If you would prefer to generate a full backup, please see the following article:

Create a MySQL Database Backup

To create a backup of your MySQL Database:

  1. Log into cPanel.
  2. In the Files section, click on the Backups icon.
  3. Under Partial Backups > Download a MySQL Database Backup, click the name of the specific database you want to backup.
  4. In the popup that appears, click Save As or select Save File.
  5. Select a destination where you would like to store the backup locally.
  6. Click Save.

The backup file will be downloaded to the destination you have chosen in a .sql.gz file which can be opened with Linux command line. The file can also be unzipped from a Windows-based machine with the appropriate software.

Restore a Home Directory Backup

Warning: Restoring a backup will overwrite any existing files!

A MySQL database backup can be restored in cPanel, in the same place where the backup was created.

  1. Log into cPanel.
  2. In the Files section, click on the Backups icon.
  3. Under Partial Backups > Restore a MySQL Database Backup, click on the Browse button.
  4. In the popup that appears, navigate to the appropriate destination and select the backup file you intend to use.
  5. Click Open.
  6. Click Upload.

A new tab will open, displaying the database name and status of the database restore. This is only for confirmation purposes and is safe to close.