Learn to backup your data using Dropmysite cPanel plugin

It is essential to keep your website safe. Data loss can happen anytime because of hacking, server crash, or even a small mistake. To protect your website, emails, and database from any such trouble, you should always have a reliable backup system in place.

Dropmysite cPanel plugin makes this task very simple and automatic for you. With this plugin, you can easily keep off-site backups of your website files, your MySQL or PostgreSQL databases, and even your email messages.

Moreover, it also checks if your website has been blacklisted by Google Safe Browsing apart from maintaining regular backups.

The best thing about Dropmysite is that it automatically takes care of backups for most parts. Whenever you want, you can manage your backups directly from the cPanel dashboard. This includes checking backup history, restoring old backups, downloading files, scheduling backups, or even deleting backups you no longer need.

Now, let us get into how you can use Dropmysite properly.

Managing Website Backups

Automatic Website Backup Setup

When you install Dropmysite, it will automatically start creating backups of your website’s home directory. So in most cases, you do not need to do anything extra. Still, if you want to create backups for specific folders inside your home directory, you can easily do that manually.

How to Manage Existing Website Backups

First, you have to log in to your cPanel account.
Then you must find the SOFTWARE section and click on Dropmysite.
Once you open Dropmysite, you will see the dashboard.

Inside the dashboard under the Websites section, you will find your backups. To manage them, click on the respective icons as below –

Edit Connection if you want to change the connection settings.
Edit Schedule if you want to change how often the backups happen.
Backup History to see the list of old backups.
Download Files to download your backup to your computer.
Restore Files to bring back a previous version of your site.
Backup Now if you want to take a fresh backup immediately.
Delete if you want to remove a backup profile.

How to Add a Website Backup Manually

The first step is to log in to your cPanel.
Then go to SOFTWARE and open Dropmysite.
After reaching the dashboard, click on Add Website.

Now you have to fill in some connection details:

In the Protocol box, select SFTP-SSH File Transfer Protocol.
Choose between password and public key authentication.
In the Directory Path field, you can give a path inside your home directory if needed.
In the Port field, type 7822.
Enter your hosting server’s Host name.
Enter your Username for the hosting account.
If you are using password authentication, type your password. If you are using public key authentication, leave it empty.

Click on Next and let Dropmysite test the connection. If it works, you will go to the Schedule Backup page.

Here you will:

Choose the directories and subdirectories you want to back up.
Set exclusions for anything you do not want to back up.
Set how many backup copies you want to keep.
Set how often the backup should happen.
Select your local time zone.

After setting all this, click Next. On the Save Profile page, give a name to your backup profile and click Save. Your website backup will be ready and active.

Managing Database Backups

Dropmysite can back up both MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.

How to Manage Existing Database Backups

First, log in to your cPanel.
Then open Dropmysite from the SOFTWARE section.
In the dashboard, under Databases, you will find your database backups.

You can manage them just like website backups, click on:

Edit Connection if you want to change the settings.
Edit Schedule if you want to update backup timing.
Backup History to see old database backups.
Download Files to save your backup locally.
Restore Files if you need to bring back an older database.
Backup Now to create a backup immediately.
Delete to remove any backup profile.

How to Add a Database Backup Manually

Start by logging into your cPanel.
Open Dropmysite from the SOFTWARE section.
In the dashboard, click on Add Database.

Fill in the database connection details:

In the Database type field, select MySQL.
Ensure the Port is 3306.
Enter your hosting server’s Host name.
Type the Database name you want to back up.
Enter the Username for the database.
Enter the correct Password.

After filling everything, click Next. Dropmysite will test your connection. If everything is fine, you will go to the Schedule Backup page.

Now you must:

Choose how many copies of backup you want to keep.
Select the frequency of backup.
Choose when the backup should start.
Set your local time zone.

After filling in these options, click Next. On the Save Profile page, give your database backup a name and click Save. Now your database backup will be live.

Managing Email Backups

Dropmysite can also take backups of the emails stored on your hosting account.

How to Add an Email Backup Manually

First, log in to your cPanel.
Then open Dropmysite under the SOFTWARE section.
In the dashboard, click on Add Email.

Fill in the connection settings:

For Protocol, select SFTP-SSH File Transfer Protocol.
You can choose password or public key authentication.
Set the Port to 7822.
Enter the hosting server’s Host name.
Type your hosting account’s Username.
Enter the Password if you are using password authentication. Leave it empty if using public key authentication.

Click Next. Dropmysite will test your connection. After a successful test, you will reach the Schedule Backup page.

Now:

In the Directories section, uncheck everything except the mail directory.
Choose the number of backup copies you want to keep.
Select how often you want the backups to happen.
Set the start time and time zone.

After setting all these, click Next. On the Save Profile page, give a name for your email backup profile and click Save. Now the email backup will be active.

How to Manage Existing Email Backups

Log in to your cPanel account.
Open Dropmysite under the SOFTWARE section.
In the dashboard under Emails, find your email backups.

To manage –:

Click on Edit Connection to change connection settings.
Click on Edit Schedule to change backup frequency.
View Backup History .
Click on Download Emails to save your email backups.
Click on Restore Emails to restore from backup.
Click on Backup Now to create a new backup immediately.
Click on Delete to remove an old backup.

Important Notes for Dropmysite Users

Dropmysite saves a lot of your time because it automates most backup tasks.
Always double-check your backup schedules and retention settings to make sure they match your needs.
If you install software through Softaculous or during your hosting signup, remember you might need to manually set database backups.
Regular backups are important for business websites, online stores, blogs, or even personal portfolios.
Always store at least one backup copy offline or download it locally whenever possible.