How to manage server backups on Cloudways

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-13

Quick Answer

Cloudways offers automated scheduled backups, on-demand backups, local backups, and snapshots at the server level via dashboard. Configure frequency, retention, and enable local copies for quick SSH/SFTP access; backups cover apps and databases in UTC time. Test restores and monitor storage to prevent issues like disk overflows.

Prerequisites

Active Cloudways account with server access
Admin permissions for backups
Sufficient server disk space
FTP/SSH access for downloads
Confirm staging vs production environment

Step-by-Step Instructions

Log in to Cloudways Platform

Log in to your Cloudways account at the platform and select the appropriate workspace or project if managing multiple. Ensure you have admin permissions and are in the correct environment (staging vs production) to avoid data risks.

Navigate to Servers

Click Servers in the top main navigation bar. Select the specific server by clicking its name to access the server details screen.

Access Backups Panel

On the server details screen, click Backups in the left sidebar under Server Management. This opens the BACKUPS panel showing options for scheduling, local backups, on-demand backups, and snapshots if supported by your provider.

Backups use UTC time zone and cover entire server including applications and databases.

Configure Scheduled Backups

In the BACKUPS panel, select Schedule Backup. Set Schedule Time (hour and minute in UTC, e.g., 02:00), Backup Frequency (6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days; default 1 day), and Backup Retention (1-4 weeks; default 1 week). Click Save Settings to enable automated offsite backups stored in Cloudways infrastructure.

Adjust frequency based on server size; smaller 2GB servers may need shorter retention to save storage.

Enable Local Backups

Toggle Local Backup to enabled in the BACKUPS panel. This stores the latest backup copy on the server for SSH/SFTP downloads without affecting offsite backups. Click Save Settings; processing time varies by server size.

Only the latest local backup is kept; use for quick access via <code>scp -r user@server:/backups/ localpath</code>.

Create On-Demand Backup

Click TAKE BACKUP NOW in the BACKUPS panel for a manual full server backup (requires local backups enabled). Monitor progress; ideal before major changes. Time depends on data size.

Configure Snapshots

If supported (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud), select SNAPSHOTS subsection in Backups tab. Set Snapshot Frequency (1 day, 2 days, or 3 days) and click SAVE CHANGES. Cloudways auto-restores from latest snapshot if issues detected.

Snapshots act as full server restore points; no manual restore needed.

View and Manage Backups

Backups list displays in the BACKUPS panel. Download latest via SSH/SFTP from /backups directory after enabling local backups. Offsite backups provide redundancy.

Monitor Storage and Test

Regularly check server disk space in dashboard as backups consume GBs. Test restores post-setup, especially local ones (5-30 min) vs remote (up to 24 hours), to ensure reliability.

Use AI Copilot for auto-fixes on issues.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Disk space full from backup accumulation

Delete old backups manually, adjust retention to 1 week, toggle off local backups temporarily, or use AI Copilot to clear large archives in wp-content/uploads.

Slow or incomplete backups on frequent schedules

Switch to 3-6 hour frequencies with 4-week retention; ensure sufficient disk space and monitor processing time based on app/database size.

On-demand backup fails

Enable local backups first; check server resources and retry, or use app-level backups via Application Management > Backup and Restore.

Slow remote restores (up to 24 hours)

Opt for local backups for faster 5-30 min restores; test in staging environment first.

Cannot download backups

Enable local backup option, then access via SSH/SFTP to /backups directory using master credentials.

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