How to restore Modular backups
If you need to recover a backup generated by Modular DS, here is a step-by-step guide to restore the two main components of a backup: the database and the files.
You will be able to do it either from the Modular DS panel itself or from other well-known tools such as phpMyAdmin for the database or cPanel/Plesk for the files.
Full restoration from Modular DS
Now you can restore a full backup directly from Modular DS, without the need for external tools. Ideal for recovering your website quickly when something goes wrong or you simply want to return to a previous state.
To do so, just follow these simple steps:
1. Restore configuration
Access the backup section of your website and go to the “Restoration” tab.
Once inside, add your server's FTP or SFTP credentials or select a server you have previously added. This will allow Modular DS to upload the necessary files.
Then, also add the database credentials of the database you want to restore.
Click on save.
2. Restore backup
Go back to the backup list of that website and select the backup you want to restore by clicking on its creation date.
Once inside the details of that backup, click on “Restore to this version”.
Before starting the process, make sure that the FTP/SFTP and database data are correct. Then click on “Restore backup”.
The process may take a few minutes. The pop-up that will appear will mark the parts that have been successfully restored, so that you can follow the progress step by step.
You can access the pop-up at any time by going to the Modular DS web overview and clicking on the link in the banner above.
Restoring the database using phpMyAdmin
Restoring the database is a critical process that can be done through phpMyAdmin, a common tool in most hosting services:
1. SQL file download
Access the backup details in Modular and download the ZIP file of the database.
Unzip the file on your computer to get the SQL file. Example: database.sql
2. Database import:
Log into phpMyAdmin from your hosting panel and select the database corresponding to your website.
Go to the “Import” option.
Once inside, upload the downloaded SQL file and run the import to restore the database.
This will restore the database from your backup.
Restoring site files
You can choose to restore your site files using the hosting file manager (cPanel, Plesk or similar) or via an FTP/FTPS/SFTP connection, depending on your preferences and the tools available on your hosting.
Option 1: File manager
1. File download and preparation:
From Modular, download the ZIP files of the desired backup. You can download all files or select specific parts such as the plugins folder.
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2. File restoration:
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Access the file manager from the hosting panel and navigate to your site folder.
In Plesk, it is called “Files/Archives”. **
In cPanel: “File Manager.
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Create a new folder, called, for example, “restoration”.
In Plesk: **
In cPanel:
**Upload the backup ZIP files and unzip them inside this folder.
In Plesk there is an option “File > Extract Files”. **
In cPanel there is an option “Extract”. In cPanel you will have to extract them one by one.
Once done, verify that the WordPress structure (wp-content, wp-admin, wp-includes) is correct.
**Rename the current site folders, adding “-old” at the end to go back if necessary, and move the files in the “restore” folder to the corresponding locations.
This way, your backup will be restored.
As soon as you see that it is working, you can delete the “old” folder. **
OPTION 2: FTP, FTPS or SFTP
1. File download and preparation:
From Modular, download the ZIP files of the desired backup. You can download all files at once or select specific parts such as the plugins folder.
Unzip the backup ZIP files to your computer and make sure they maintain the WordPress structure.
2. Connection and restoration:
Use an FTP client such as Filezilla to connect to your server. You must have the credentials to connect to the server via FTP, FTPS or SFTP.
Once you do that, look in the file tree of the server for your website, and enter the public folder of your website, where you will find the common WordPress folders such as “wp-content”, “wp-admin”, “wp-includes”.
Rename the current folders of the site you want to replace, adding “-old” at the end to go back if necessary, and move the backup files to the corresponding locations.
Once you have replaced the current files with the backup files, your site will return to its previous state and you will have completed the restore.
As soon as you see that it is working, you can delete the old folders and files that you renamed with “-old”.
Updated on: 31/03/2025
Thank you!