Published: August 2023
Updated: February 2025

How to Backup and Restore Your Website on AxiomHost (Complete 2023–2025 Guide)

Introduction

Backups are one of the most important parts of running a secure and reliable website. If something goes wrong—hacks, bad updates, accidental file deletion, or server failure—a recent backup can save your business.

AxiomHost provides multiple backup options for shared hosting, cloud hosting, and VPS servers, making it easy to create, download, and restore full website backups. This guide explains how to safely back up and restore your website, whether your visitors are in Nigeria, the US, the UK, or anywhere worldwide.

1. Types of Backups on AxiomHost

On AxiomHost, you can use several backup methods:

• Full Account Backup – Includes files, databases, emails, settings.

• Home Directory Backup – Only website files.

• Database Backup – Only MySQL/MariaDB databases.

• Automated Server Backups – Provider-level snapshots (where enabled).

• Custom VPS Snapshots – Full server images on VPS or cloud instances.

2. How to Create a Full Backup in cPanel (Shared & Cloud Hosting)

Step 1 – Log in to cPanel

Visit your cPanel using:

• https://yourdomain.com/cpanel

Or log in from your AxiomHost Client Area → Services → Login to cPanel.

Step 2 – Open “Backup” or “Backup Wizard”

In cPanel, scroll to the Files section and click either:

• Backup

• Backup Wizard

Step 3 – Generate a Full Backup

Select Full Account Backup. For the destination, choose:

• Home Directory

Optionally, enter your email to receive a notification when the backup is complete, then click Generate Backup.

Step 4 – Download the Backup File

Once completed, you will see a backup listed under “Available Backups.” Click the file to download it to your computer. Store it safely—preferably in cloud storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

3. How to Backup Only Files (Home Directory)

If you only want your website files (without emails and settings):

1. Go to cPanel → Backup.

2. Under “Partial Backups,” choose Home Directory.

3. Click Download to save the archive.

4. How to Backup Only Databases

For WordPress, Laravel, or any app that uses MySQL/MariaDB:

Method 1 – Backup via cPanel Backup Tool

1. Go to cPanel → Backup.

2. Under “Download a MySQL Database Backup,” click the database name.

3. Save the .sql file to your computer.

Method 2 – Backup via phpMyAdmin

1. Go to cPanel → phpMyAdmin.

2. Select your database on the left.

3. Click the Export tab.

4. Choose Quick and format SQL.

5. Click Go to download the backup.

5. How to Restore a Full cPanel Backup on AxiomHost

Full cPanel backups are usually restored by AxiomHost support (especially after migrations or major failures).

To request a restore:

1. Log in to your AxiomHost Client Area.

2. Go to Support → Open Ticket.

3. Select the affected service and choose “Backup / Restore” as the department or subject.

4. Attach the backup details or provide the location of the file in your home directory.

The support team will restore your account from the backup file.

6. How to Restore Files Manually from Backup

If you have a Home Directory backup:

1. Extract the backup archive on your computer (optional).

2. Log in to cPanel → File Manager.

3. Navigate to public_html (or your site’s directory).

4. Upload the relevant files or compressed archive.

5. If uploading a ZIP, select it and click Extract.

7. How to Restore a Database from Backup

If you have a .sql database backup:

1. Go to cPanel → MySQL Databases and create a new database and user (if needed).

2. Assign the user to the database with ALL PRIVILEGES.

3. Go to cPanel → phpMyAdmin.

4. Select the target database.

5. Click the Import tab.

6. Choose your .sql file and click Go.

For WordPress, make sure wp-config.php is updated with the correct database name, username, and password.

8. Backups on AxiomHost VPS (Snapshots & Automation)

If you are using an AxiomHost VPS or cloud server, you should enable:

• Automatic snapshots at the provider level (daily or weekly).

• Off-site backups to remote storage (e.g., S3, Google Cloud, Backblaze).

Popular tools include:

• JetBackup (for cPanel servers)

• rclone + cron jobs (for advanced users)

• BorgBackup or Restic for encrypted backups

9. Best Practices for Backup Strategy

• Backup frequency: At least weekly for small sites, daily for busy sites.

• Store copies off-server: Never rely on one location.

• Test restores: Occasionally test that backups actually restore properly.

• Encrypt sensitive data: Especially for customer databases.

10. Common Backup & Restore Problems (And Fixes)

❌ “Backup file is too large to upload”

✔ Use FTP or File Manager instead of browser upload.
✔ Ask AxiomHost support to restore directly from server-side storage.

❌ “Website breaks after restore”

✔ Check that the correct database is connected.
✔ Confirm the domain is pointing to the right hosting account.
✔ Clear cache (LiteSpeed Cache / browser cache).

❌ “Database import timeout”

✔ Split large SQL files into smaller chunks.
✔ Ask support to import via SSH or server-level tools.

Conclusion

Backups are your safety net. With AxiomHost’s backup tools, cPanel features, VPS snapshots, and professional support, you can quickly recover from almost any issue—whether caused by human error, malware, failed updates, or server problems.

By following a solid backup strategy and keeping copies both on and off your AxiomHost server, your website remains protected, stable, and ready to grow—no matter where your visitors are located, from Nigeria to the US, the UK, and beyond.