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How to Back Up and Restore Emails in cPanel Webmail

This guide shows how to save a copy of your emails and put them back later. Use it before you delete an account or move to a new host.

Email2 min read16 steps11 screenshots

Why back up emails?

A backup is a safe copy. If a mailbox is deleted or broken, you can bring the mail back from your copy. cPanel is your hosting control panel. Webmail is a way to read email in a browser. Your mail is stored on the server inside folders. You can copy those folders.

Warning: Restoring over an existing folder can replace files. Take a fresh backup first. Do not delete a mailbox until you have checked your copy.

Method 1: back up with an email program

This is the easiest way. You add the mailbox to a program like Thunderbird. It downloads all messages. Those messages are then stored on your computer.

  1. Install Thunderbird on your computer.
  2. Add your email account using IMAP. IMAP keeps messages on the server and shows them in your program. Use the mail server details from your welcome email.
  3. Wait for the folders to download.
  4. Drag the messages you want into a Local Folders folder. This is your backup copy.
    Screenshot: Drag the messages you want into a Local Folders folder. This is your backup copy.

Method 2: back up from cPanel

  1. Log in to cPanel. You can reach it from the Services menu in your client area.
  2. Open Backup in the Files section.
  3. Under Partial Backups, find the email options. Click Email Forwarders and Email Filters to save those settings.
    Screenshot: Under Partial Backups , find the email options. Click Email Forwarders and Email Filters t
    Screenshot: Under Partial Backups , find the email options. Click Email Forwarders and Email Filters t
  4. For the mail itself, open File Manager.
    Screenshot: For the mail itself, open File Manager .
  5. Go to the mail folder in your home directory.
  6. Right-click the folder for your domain and choose Compress.
    Screenshot: Right-click the folder for your domain and choose Compress .
    Screenshot: Right-click the folder for your domain and choose Compress .
    Screenshot: Right-click the folder for your domain and choose Compress .
  7. Choose Zip Archive and click Compress File(s).
  8. Download the zip file to your computer.

You can also choose Full Backup to get everything, including mail. This makes a large file.

Screenshot: You can also choose Full Backup to get everything, including mail. This makes a large file

Restore your emails

  1. In Thunderbird, drag messages from Local Folders back into the mailbox folders. This uploads them again.
  2. Or in cPanel File Manager, upload your zip file to the mail folder.
    Screenshot: Or in cPanel File Manager , upload your zip file to the mail folder.
  3. Right-click the zip and choose Extract.
  4. Open webmail and check the messages are back.

For forwarders and filters, use the restore upload boxes on the Backup page.

Tip: For help with a full restore, open a support ticket. Ask what backups are kept on your plan.

Quick recap

  • A backup is a safe copy of your mail.
    Screenshot: A backup is a safe copy of your mail.
  • Use an email program with IMAP, or zip the mail folder in File Manager.
    Screenshot: Use an email program with IMAP, or zip the mail folder in File Manager.
  • Restore by dragging mail back or extracting the zip.
  • Always test your copy before deleting anything.