How to restore Modular backups
If you need to restore a backup generated by Modular, we offer this step-by-step guide to restore the two main components of a backup: the database and the site files.
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.
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.
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.
2. File restoration:
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.
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.
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”.
In the future, restoring a backup from Modular will be much easier. We are working on a one-click backup restore via an FTP/FTPS/SFTP connection to your server that will allow us to do all the above mentioned process for you.
You can see the status of the functionality in our public roadmap.
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.
2. File restoration:
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.
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”.
1-click automatic restoration
In the future, restoring a backup from Modular will be much easier. We are working on a one-click backup restore via an FTP/FTPS/SFTP connection to your server that will allow us to do all the above mentioned process for you.
You can see the status of the functionality in our public roadmap.
Updated on: 20/12/2024
Thank you!