A full cPanel backup contains an entire account: files, databases, mailboxes, DNS zones and settings. WHM can turn that archive back into a working account. This is how you move a site from another cPanel host or roll back a customer from an older full backup.
Before you start
- A full backup file named like
backup-MM.DD.YYYY_HH-MM-SS_user.tar.gzorcpmove-user.tar.gz. Partial backups (home directory only, or a single database) are restored from cPanel instead. - Free disk space for the archive and the extracted account, roughly twice the archive size.
- The restore privilege on your reseller account. If you do not see the tool, ask MdmHost support.
Note: For restores of recent data on an existing MdmHost account, JetBackup is faster: customers use cPanel → JetBackup 5. Use this guide for archives that came from somewhere else.
Upload the archive
- Upload the file with FTP or the File Manager of your reseller cPanel account, into your home directory (for example
/home/youruser/). - If the file is large, use FTP (see connecting with FileZilla); browser uploads time out on very large files.
Restore the account
- Log in to WHM.
- Go to WHM → Transfers → Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account.
- Under Restore from a file, choose the archive (or enter its path).
- Set the Username. Leave it blank to use the one inside the backup.
- Choose options: Replace all instances of the original server's IP address (recommended), Restore Subdomains, Restore Mail Forwarders, Restore MySQL databases.
- Click Restore.
The progress log shows each part being restored. When it finishes, the account appears in List Accounts.
After the restore
- Assign the right package with Upgrade/Downgrade an Account; restored accounts keep the old host's limits.
- Check the site's PHP version and extensions in cPanel → Software → Select PHP Version.
- Run AutoSSL in SSL/TLS Status once DNS points to the server.
- Test email login in Webmail.
Troubleshooting
"The account already exists"
Either the username or a domain in the backup is already on the server. Restore with another username, or ask support to check which account owns the domain.
Restore stops at "Extracting"
The archive is incomplete or corrupt, often from an interrupted download. Run tar -tzf backup.tar.gz on a computer to test it, or create a new backup.
Databases are missing
The backup may have been made with "Skip databases". Restore the SQL dump separately through phpMyAdmin (see importing with phpMyAdmin).
Site shows a database connection error
If the username changed, database names changed prefix. Update wp-config.php or the app's configuration with the new names.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restore over an existing account?
WHM restores to a new account. To overwrite, terminate the old account first, which deletes it, so be sure you have the backup you need.
Does restoring keep the old IP?
Not if you tick the IP replacement option, which updates DNS and configuration to the new server's IP. Always tick it when migrating.
Is there a size limit?
There is no fixed limit, but the account must fit in your reseller allocation and very large archives take a long time. For accounts over 20 GB, ask support for help.