Articles on: Backups
This article is also available in:

What are incremental backups in Modular DS

Incremental backups are a type of backup that saves only the changes made since the previous copy, instead of copying all of your website's files again every time.


This type of backup is the most efficient way to keep frequent copies without your storage getting out of hand, and in Modular DS you can enable them when scheduling your daily backups.


How an incremental backup works


The first backup is always a full one: Modular DS copies all the files and the database of your website to create a starting point. From there, each incremental backup saves only what has changed since the previous copy.


For example, if the full backup runs on Monday and on Tuesday you only updated a plugin, Tuesday's copy saves that change and not the whole website again. The same happens on Wednesday: only what has been modified since Tuesday is saved. This way, each daily copy is much lighter than a full backup.


Why use incremental backups


Saving only the changes has two clear advantages:


  • You save storage space. Since each daily copy is much lighter than a full one, you use a fraction of the space you would need copying the entire website every day.
  • You reduce server resource consumption. Copying only the changes is a lighter process, so your server works less during each backup and the process finishes sooner.


That's why incremental backups are the recommended configuration by default in most backup systems, especially when you want to run daily copies.


How to enable incremental backups


In Modular DS, incremental backups are configured when you create a global backup configuration. When you set the recurrence to Daily, the Incremental option appears, which you can enable so each copy saves only the changes.



You'll find the full step by step in the guide on how to schedule recurring backups.


Restoring an incremental backup


Even though incremental backups only save the changes since the previous one, restoring them is just as simple and reliable. All incremental copies from the one you choose backwards will be restored, up to and including the previous full backup.


This way, when you want to recover your website, you choose the backup you need, full or incremental, and restore it from that point. You don't have to manually manage any chain of copies: Modular DS takes care of rebuilding the full backup for you.





Do you need help with anything else? Email us at help@modulards.com or contact us via the support chat, and we'll be happy to help you.

Updated on: 07/07/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!