How to Restore Accidentally Deleted Files in cPanel

Posted by Paul on July 1, 2011

However careful you are, mistakes happen. Sometimes surgeons remove the wrong kidney. Sometimes pilots fall asleep while flying a plane. Sometimes those files you thought you could delete... you needed!

One of the first rules in IT is that everything should always be backed up. Luckily for cPanel users, it often is.

If you've accidentally deleted a file or folder on your website and your web host uses cPanel, the chances are you can get it back.

If you're in that unfortunate situation, you've probably checked your local copy of the website, checked your recycle bin, checked the trash folder on the web server, checked your browser cache, checked down the sofa and probably everywhere else you can think of!

But you may not have been aware your site is probably backed up automatically by cPanel, daily, weekly and sometimes monthly too.

So to get back your files:

  1. Log in to cPanel.

  2. Find Files > Backups

    files.jpg

  3. Choose the most recent backup where you know your file/folder still existed.

    backup-options.jpg

  4. Save the file, which will be a .tar.gz (don't let the filename put you off, this is just like a .zip file).

  5. Unzip the file (we like to use www.7-zip.org) and then unzip it again... and hopefully there will be your missing files!


Has this article helped you get back your files? Please let us know by leaving a comment below!

Comments:

Posted by Raza Zaveri on
Thanks a Million
Posted by Tisha on
A mntiue saved is a minute earned, and this saved hours!
Posted by Azubuike on
Very helpful to me.
I accidentally deleted an expensive premium them I use on my site and by reading this article I was able to restore back the theme.

Thanks
Posted by linnworksreview on
If you're in that unfortunate situation, you've probably checked your local copy of the website'checked your browser cache, checked down the sofa and probably everywhere else you can think of!
Posted by Anju on
I dont know how to thank you it was really helpful to me. Thanks a looot......
Posted by pratik patil on
i didnt get my deleted file by above way..plz tell me if there is another way to recover deleted file...
Posted by george on
you saved me a lot of trouble dude thanks ;-)
Posted by Anil Prajapati on
Hi, I have different situation of replacing my file. I copied a file from another location to one of the folder where there exist a file with same file name. So I copied the file to that location, thus my old file which has same name is now replaced with new file. Please help me, how can i recover that old file. I did this from cpanel with copy feature in it. Please please.
Posted by Kayo on
You make thgins so clear. Thanks for taking the time!
Posted by Arjun on
Thanks a lot!
Posted by Fola on
Good day sir i accidentaly deleted all the files on my Public_html folder now my website is completely empty please help.............
Posted by http://canadianorderpharmacy.com/ on
What's up to every one, it's truly a fastidious for me to visit this web page, it includes priceless Information.
Posted by Arjun on
Thanks a lot!
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