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A backup is a safe copy of your server’s files. Make one before you update the game, change plugins or mods, or try anything risky. If something breaks, you can put your server back the way it was.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

5 minutes

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Open the Backups page

Open your server, then click Backups in the sidebar. At the top you see how many backups you have, for example 1 of 3 backups used, and their Total size. The second number is your plan’s backup limit.
Backups page showing 1 of 3 backups used, the total size and a backup called Before docs test with Download, Restore, Lock and Delete buttons and its SHA-1 checksum

A finished backup

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Create a backup

1

Click Create backup

Click Create backup at the top right.
2

Name it (optional)

Give it a name that tells you why you made it, for example Before the 1.21 update. Leave it empty and the panel names it after the date.
3

Leave out files (optional)

Under Files to leave out, list anything you don’t need, one per line. A * stands for any text, so *.log skips every log file and cache/ skips the cache folder. Leave it empty to use your server’s .pteroignore file, if it has one.
4

Keep it safe (optional)

Switch on Keep this backup to lock it. A locked backup can’t be deleted, by you or by an automatic clean-up, until you unlock it.
5

Start the backup

Click Start backup. The backup shows CREATING with a progress bar. Your server keeps running, and you can leave the page. It updates by itself when the backup is done.
Create a backup dialog with an optional name, a Files to leave out box with *.log and cache/ examples, a Keep this backup switch and Cancel and Start backup buttons

Creating a backup

If you’ve reached your limit, delete a backup you don’t need before making a new one.

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What you can do with a backup

If you try to delete a locked backup, the panel tells you it’s locked. Click Unlock it, then delete it.

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Restore a backup

Restoring replaces your current files with the ones in the backup. Changes you made since then are lost. If you might want to come back to how the server is now, create a new backup first.
1

Click Restore

Click Restore next to the backup you want.
2

Read what happens

  • The server is stopped. Until the restore is finished, you can’t start it, use the file manager or make another backup.
  • Files in the backup replace the files on your server that have the same name.
  • Other files stay. Anything on the server that isn’t in the backup is left alone.
3

Choose whether to delete other files

Switch on Also delete files that are not in this backup if you want your server to match the backup exactly. This removes everything else first and can’t be undone. Leave it off if you’re not sure.
4

Restore

Click Restore this backup. The server pages show Restoring from Backup until it’s finished. This can take a few minutes.
5

Start your server

When the restore is done, start your server from the Console.
Restore dialog explaining that the server is stopped, that backup files replace files with the same name and that other files stay, with an Also delete files that are not in this backup switch and a Restore this backup button

Restoring a backup

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Make backups automatically

You don’t have to remember to make backups:
  • Automatic backups back up your server every few hours, every day or every week and clean up old ones for you.
  • A schedule with a Create a backup task is useful if you want a backup as part of a bigger routine, such as a nightly restart.
Backups made automatically or by a schedule count toward your limit too.

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Troubleshooting

You may have reached your backup limit. Delete or unlock and delete an old backup, then try again.
Leave out files you don’t need, such as *.log files or cache folders, under Files to leave out.
Check the Activity page for a failed restore. Then open a ticket with the backup’s name and the time you restored it.
Yes. Click Download. Use Show checksum to check the downloaded file is complete.

Automatic backups

Back up on a timetable without lifting a finger.

Schedules

Add a backup to a nightly routine.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026