Managing Server Backups

Server Backups

Backups are your safety net. Whether you accidentally delete a world, a mod update corrupts your data, or you just want to save a snapshot before making changes, the backup system on Witchly.host keeps your server protected.

Creating Manual Backups

You can create a backup at any time from the control panel:

1. Log in to Dashboard and select your server
2. Click Backups in the sidebar
3. Click the Create Backup button
4. Optionally enter a name for the backup (e.g., “before-update” or “pre-modpack-change”)
5. You can choose to ignore specific files or folders by entering them in the exclusion field
6. Click Start Backup

The backup runs in the background and captures your entire server — world data, configurations, plugins, mods, and all other files. You can continue using your server while the backup is being created.

Automatic Backup Schedules

For hands-off protection, set up automated backups using the schedule system:

1. Go to Schedules in the sidebar
2. Create a new schedule (e.g., “Daily Backup”)
3. Set your preferred timing — daily at 4:00 AM is a common choice since most servers have fewer players online
4. Add a task with the action Create Backup
5. Enable the schedule

Your server will now automatically create backups on the schedule you defined. Combined with manual backups before major changes, this gives you comprehensive data protection.

Restoring from a Backup

If something goes wrong, restoring is simple:

1. Go to Backups in the panel
2. Find the backup you want to restore
3. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Restore
4. Confirm the restore — this will replace your current server files with the backup contents
5. Restart your server after the restore completes

Warning: Restoring a backup overwrites your current server files. If you want to keep your current state, create a new backup first before restoring an older one.

Downloading Backups

You can download any backup to your local computer for safekeeping:

1. Click the three-dot menu next to the backup
2. Select Download
3. The backup will download as a compressed archive

This is useful for keeping off-site copies or migrating your server data to another service.

Backup Limits

Each plan includes a set number of backup slots. When you reach your limit, you will need to delete an older backup before creating a new one. The number of backup slots varies by plan — check your plan details on Dashboard. Automated schedules will not create new backups if all slots are full, so regularly clean up old backups you no longer need.