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Cloud Sites Manual Backup with FTP/SFTP

Backing up your site is crucial for data preservation. While automated backups are available in most Liquid Web products, manual backups may be necessary, especially without cPanel or SSH access. Utilize FTP clients like Filezilla, WinSCP, or SmartFTP for this purpose.

Backing up your site is an important part of site maintenance and helps to ensure that you never lose important data. Most Liquid Web products offer automated backups, but there may be times when you need to take a manual backup to your local workstation. Most often you will do this because you are without cPanel or SSH access. You will need to download an FTP client like Filezilla, WinSCP or SmartFTP. You can use any FTP client you wish, for the purposes of this tutorial, I am using FileZilla.

Cloud Sites Backup

You can now purchase a subscription backup plan for your Cloud Sites control panel. See our article What is Cloud Sites Backup? to get started!

  1. Your FTP credentials are in your Cloud Sites control panel under the FTP section in your Website Details.
    ftp credentials in cloud sites section
  2. Log into your FTP client using the Server name, username and password in this section. Click Quickconnect to connect to your website.
    ftp credentials in ftp client
  3. Once you are connected, click on the location you want to save the backup to. Here we will use the Desktop.
    desktop highlighted in local site directory
  4. Right click on the Desktop and choose Create a New Directory.
    create directory highlighted in ftp client
  5. Enter a name for your new directory. I am using Backup in this tutorial.
    directory name entered
  6. You will now see your folder named Backup on the left-hand side of the window in your FTP client. Double-click on the file to open it. This will allow your backup to be directed into the correct folder.
    backup directory created and highlighted in ftp client
  7. Select the files on the right that you want to backup by either using Control/Command+A or the Command/Control key and selecting the files with your mouse.
    files highlighted as selected
  8. Right-click over the files and select Download. The files will be downloaded into the directory you selected and serve as your backup.
    download link highlighted
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