---
title: Back up and restore your site
description: "Every Simple Source plan includes off-server backups. We run one backup schedule, with backups at least 48 hours apart, and keep them for 30 days. Backups include your databases. You can restore a backup yourself from your hosting control panel…"
url: "https://getsimple.net/knowledgebase/back-up-and-restore-your-site/"
updated: "2026-11-01"
category: Get Started
---

# Back up and restore your site

Every Simple Source plan includes off-server backups. We run one backup schedule, with backups at least 48 hours apart, and keep them for 30 days. Backups include your databases. You can restore a backup yourself from your hosting control panel on every plan, and you can make your own backup right before a big change.

## Make a backup before a big change

Do this before you update WordPress or Joomla, switch themes or templates, or change your PHP version.

1. Open your hosting control panel. See [How to open your control panel](/knowledgebase/open-hosting-panel/).
2. Open **Websites** and select your site.
3. Open the **Backups** tab.
4. Select **Backup now**.

There is no note field. Each backup in the list shows the date and time it was made, so write down when you made yours, for example before a Joomla 6 update.

## Restore a backup

A restore replaces what is there now with the copy from the backup. Made changes since then that you want to keep? Make a new backup first, then restore.

1. Open your hosting control panel, then **Websites**, and select your site.
2. Open the **Backups** tab.
3. Find the backup by its date and time and open its **Restore** menu.
4. Choose **Full website**, **All mailboxes**, or **Custom**.
5. With **Custom**, use the **Files**, **Databases** and **Emails** tabs to choose what to restore, then select **Restore now**.

You cannot restore a single file or folder. Files are restored all together or not at all.

Not sure which backup to pick? [Open a ticket](/knowledgebase/get-help/) with the site and the date you need.

## Test changes without touching the live site

Not sure about an update? Try it on a staging copy first. See [Create a staging site](/knowledgebase/create-a-staging-site/). On [WordPress hosting](/wordpress-hosting/) and [Joomla hosting](/joomla-hosting/), a staging copy plus a backup lets you test an update and go back if you need to.

## Your own copy of the database

To keep a copy on your own computer, export the database as a .sql file with phpMyAdmin. Keep your own copy of anything you cannot lose. See [MySQL and MariaDB databases on your hosting plan](/knowledgebase/mysql-on-your-hosting-plan/).

## FAQ

### How often are backups made?

We run one off-server backup schedule, with backups at least 48 hours apart, and keep them for 30 days.

### Do backups include my database?

Yes. Backups include your databases.

### Can I restore a backup myself?

Yes. You can restore a backup yourself from your hosting control panel on every plan.

### Can I restore just one file?

No. You can restore all of your site's files or none of them. To restore only your databases or only your email, use **Custom** in the backup's **Restore** menu.

### I need a backup that is no longer in the list.

Backups are kept for 30 days. [Open a ticket](/knowledgebase/get-help/) with the site and the date you need, and we will tell you what is available.

## Related

- [How to open your control panel](/knowledgebase/open-hosting-panel/)
- [Create a staging site](/knowledgebase/create-a-staging-site/)
- [Business hosting](/business-hosting/)
- [Clean up a hacked site](/knowledgebase/clean-up-a-hacked-site/)
- [Get Help](/knowledgebase/get-help/)