DirectAdmin includes a built-in backup tool that lets you create a full or partial backup of your hosting account and download it to your computer. This guide walks through creating and downloading a backup from the DirectAdmin control panel.
Accessing the backup tool
- Log in to DirectAdmin. Your login URL will be in the format
https://yourdomain.com:2222- your login credentials are in your Host Media welcome email. - From the main dashboard, look for the Your Account section and click Create/Restore Backups.
Creating a backup
- On the Backup/Transfer page you will see a list of items you can include. By default everything is selected, files, databases, email accounts, forwarders, vacation messages, and settings.
- To create a full backup, leave all boxes ticked.
- To create a partial backup (e.g. databases only), untick everything except MySQL Databases.
- Click Create Backup.
DirectAdmin will create a compressed backup file and place it in your home directory under /backups/. You'll see a confirmation message with the filename once it's done.
Downloading your backup
Once the backup is created it sits on your server. To download it to your computer:
- In DirectAdmin, go to Files → File Manager (or Advanced Features → File Manager depending on your skin).
- Navigate to the backups folder in your home directory.
- Tick the backup file and click Download.
Alternatively, connect via FTP using FileZilla, navigate to the /backups/ directory, and download the file from there. See our FileZilla guide for help connecting.
Restoring from a backup
- First upload your backup file back to the
/backups/folder on your account via FTP or the File Manager. - In DirectAdmin, go to Create/Restore Backups.
- Scroll to the Restore section. Your uploaded backup file should appear in the list.
- Tick the components you want to restore and click Restore Selected.
Note: If you cannot see the Restore section or your backup isn't listed, contact our support team and we can assist with the restore directly at server level.
