Back up the WHMCS database automatically

The WHMCS database contains every client, invoice, transaction and ticket. Losing it would be a disaster for a hosting business. WHMCS can send a backup of its database every day during the cron run. Combined with your host's backups, this gives you a reliable recovery path.

Before you start

• WHMCS admin access and a working cron.
• A destination for backups: an SFTP or FTP server off the WHMCS machine, or your cPanel account's backup system.

Configure automatic backups

1. Go to Configuration → System Settings → Database Backups.
2. Choose and activate a method:
   • Secure FTP / FTP – enter host, port, user, password and destination folder. SFTP (port 22) is strongly preferred.
   • cPanel Backup – triggers a full cPanel account backup to a remote destination using your cPanel credentials or API token. This includes WHMCS files too.
   • Email – sends the compressed database by email. Only suitable for small databases, and email is not a secure place for customer data.
3. Click Test Connection where offered, then Save Changes.

Backups run during the daily automation. Check Utilities → Automation Status the next day for the result.

Add independent backups

Don't rely on one method. Good practice for a hosting business:

• WHMCS's own SFTP backup to a separate server or storage box.
• Your hosting provider's daily backups of the account (MdmHost uses JetBackup on cPanel hosting).
• A weekly manual export you store offline, especially before upgrades.

Make a manual backup

In cPanel, open phpMyAdmin, select the WHMCS database, click Export, choose Quick and SQL, and save the file. Over SSH:

mysqldump --single-transaction -u whmcs_user -p whmcs_db | gzip > whmcs-$(date +%F).sql.gz

Also copy configuration.php: it contains the $cc_encryption_hash, without which encrypted data (passwords, stored card references) in the database cannot be decrypted.

Restore WHMCS from a backup

1. Put WHMCS in maintenance mode: Configuration → System Settings → General Settings → Maintenance Mode.
2. Create a fresh backup of the current (broken) state, just in case.
3. In phpMyAdmin, drop all tables of the WHMCS database or create a new empty database.
4. Import the backup SQL file.
5. Ensure configuration.php has the matching database credentials and the original $cc_encryption_hash.
6. Log in to the admin area, check recent invoices and transactions, then disable maintenance mode.

Payments received between the backup and the restore must be re-entered from your gateway reports.

Troubleshooting

• FTP backup fails: wrong credentials, passive mode issues or the remote folder does not exist. Check the Activity Log for the error.
• Backup email never arrives: the attachment is too large for your mail server. Switch to SFTP.
• Import fails due to size: import via SSH with mysql instead of phpMyAdmin.

Next steps

• Harden WHMCS security.
• Update WHMCS safely.
• Automate MySQL backups with mysqldump.