---
title: "How to create a backup"
description: "Create, restore, download and lock backups from the Backups tab, see what a snapshot leaves out, and automate a nightly one with a Create Backup task."
url: "https://www.gameserverkings.com/knowledge-base/general/how-to-create-a-backup/"
category: "General"
category_url: "https://www.gameserverkings.com/knowledge-base/general/"
published: "2026-04-10T01:18:31.104Z"
updated: "2026-08-19T04:18:16.007Z"
source_format: "markdown"
site: "GameServerKings"
---

# How to create a backup

Backups are your safety net. Before any major change (mod install, plugin update, wipe, switching frameworks), take a snapshot. This guide walks you through creating, restoring, and downloading backups on our [game server hosting plans](/games/).

## What a Backup Includes

A panel backup is a snapshot of your entire server volume at a moment in time. That includes:

- World save files
- Configuration files (server.cfg, server.properties, etc.)
- Plugin and mod files
- Permission data
- Logs

It does **not** include:

- Database content if you use a separate MySQL/MariaDB server ([back those up separately](/knowledge-base/general/how-to-create-a-database-via-your-panel/))
- External assets hosted on other services (e.g., a fast-download web server)

## Creating a Backup

1. Open your server in the panel.

2. Click the **Backups** tab in the sidebar.

3. Click **Create Backup** at the top right.

4. Optionally name the backup (e.g., "Before VIP wipe" or "Before mod update").

5. Click **Start Backup**.

Backups run in the background. Small servers (Terraria, Valheim) finish in 1 to 3 minutes. Large servers (Rust, ARK, Minecraft with megabases) can take 10 to 30 minutes.

> [!NOTE] No downtime while a backup runs
> Your server stays online during the backup. There is no downtime.

## Backup Retention

The standard allowance is **5 backups per server**. It is the same on every game and every configuration — the vCores, RAM, storage and location you choose do not change it, and there is no higher plan that includes more.

Your server's own limit is the one to trust, and the panel states it plainly. With backups stored, the **Backups** tab reads *"3 of 5 backups have been created for this server."* If it instead reads *"Backups cannot be created for this server because the backup limit is set to 0"*, backups are switched off on that server — open a ticket and we will enable them.

When you reach the limit, delete or download an older backup before creating a new one. If you need a larger allowance, open a ticket and ask: the limit is set per server by us, not bought as a plan upgrade.

## Restoring a Backup

1. Open the **Backups** tab.

2. Find the backup you want to restore.

3. Click the **...** menu next to it.

4. Click **Restore**.

5. Confirm the action.

> [!WARNING] Restoring overwrites your current server state
> Anything that changed since the backup was taken is lost. Always confirm before clicking.

There is no automatic "pre-restore" snapshot — the panel restores straight over your current files. If you might want to undo the restore, take a fresh backup first, and check you have a free slot before you start.

## Downloading a Backup

For long-term archival:

1. In the **Backups** tab, click **...** next to the backup.

2. Click **Download**.

3. The file downloads as a `.tar.gz` archive to your computer.

> [!IMPORTANT] Downloaded archives are your last resort
> Store these somewhere safe (cloud storage, external drive). If your account or server is ever lost, these are your only recovery.

## Locking Backups

To prevent accidental deletion:

1. Click **...** next to the backup.

2. Click **Lock**.

A locked backup cannot be deleted until you unlock it, and automatic rotation skips over it. It still counts toward your allowance — locking protects a backup, it does not add a slot. Use it for "milestone" snapshots (the end of a successful wipe, before a major event).

> [!WARNING] Do not lock every backup
> Rotation works by deleting your oldest **unlocked** backup to make room. If every backup is locked and you are at the limit, new backups fail instead — including scheduled ones, quietly, every night. Always leave at least one slot unlocked.

## Automated Backups via Schedules

You can automate backup creation through the **Schedules** tab:

1. Open **Schedules** > **Create Schedule**.

2. Name: "Daily Backup"

3. Cron: `0 5 * * *` (5 AM server time)

4. Add a task:

   - **Type**: Create Backup
   - **Name pattern**: `auto-{date}`

The scheduler will create a new backup every day, rotating out the oldest unlocked backup when the limit is hit.

## Best Practices

- **Daily automatic backup** for any active server
- **Manual backup before**:
  - [Wipes](/knowledge-base/rust/wipe-day-guide/) (Rust, Conan, ARK)
  - Plugin or mod installs
  - Switching modding frameworks ([Oxide to Carbon](/knowledge-base/rust/how-to-install-carbon/))
  - Game version updates that change save format
  - Schedule changes that might cause unintended restarts
- **Lock major milestones** (end-of-cycle saves you want to keep forever)
- **Download monthly** to your own storage for off-platform redundancy

## What If I Run Out of Backup Slots?

Options:

1. Delete older backups manually
2. Lock the important ones and delete the rest
3. Download to your own storage and delete from the panel
4. Open a ticket and ask for a higher limit — it is set per server, not sold as a plan upgrade

## Common Issues

- **"Backup creation failed"**: Usually a temporary node issue. Wait 5 minutes and try again. If it fails repeatedly, open a ticket.
- **Restore takes a long time**: Large backups (multi-GB) can take 30+ minutes to restore. Don't interrupt the process.
- **Restore brings back deleted files**: That's the point. If you wanted those files gone, delete them again after the restore and create a fresh backup.
- **Backup includes a corrupt file**: If you suspect a backup is bad, don't restore it. Test by downloading and inspecting the contents first.

## Restoring vs Manual Recovery

If you only need to recover one or two files (not the whole server):

1. Download the backup.

2. Extract the `.tar.gz` archive locally.

3. Find the specific file you need.

4. Upload it back to your server via SFTP or the File Manager.

This is much faster than a full restore and avoids overwriting recent legitimate changes.

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