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+----- Thread: Guide Back Up and Restore a Database in aaPanel Free Edition (/Thread-guide-back-up-and-restore-a-database-in-aapanel-free-edition)
Back Up and Restore a Database in aaPanel Free Edition - DEV - 10-10-2026
Quick answer
In aaPanel Free Edition, open Databases, find your MySQL/MariaDB database, and click its Backup column. Click Backup, wait for the archive to appear, then use Download to keep a copy off the VPS. Test recovery before relying on a backup.
1. Choose the correct database
Open Databases → MySQL. Match the database name with your application's configuration. Do not expose passwords or production dumps in screenshots or public posts. When no backup exists, click Not exist in the Backup column. Otherwise click the existing backup entry to open Database Backup Details.
2. Create a manual backup
Click Backup and wait for completion. Confirm a new archive appears with a filename, file size, backup time and storage type. Our aaPanel Free Edition 8.0.6 lab created a .sql.zip archive on local disk.
AdminsForum tutorial lab: completed backup controls. Database names and internal paths are excluded from this image.
File size depends on database contents. Our tiny tutorial database is not representative of a production database. The backup time follows the server/panel timezone.
3. Download an off-server copy
Click Download beside the archive and confirm the download completed. Store it securely outside this VPS. A local backup can be lost with the server. Database archives may contain user data and password hashes; never post a production archive publicly.
4. Test recovery safely
For a real website, restore into a separate test database and test a staging copy of the application. Do not practice on a live database. In our disposable lab, we backed up a known tutorial row, changed it, and recovered the archive to check whether the original value returned.
- Open the intended database's backup details.
- Identify the correct archive by database name and backup time.
- Click Recover.
- Read the warning: Database will be overwritten, continue?
- Confirm only after verifying the target and protecting any newer data you need to retain.
- Wait for import completion, review its result/log and check the restored tables and records.
Recover can overwrite existing data. Before restoring a live database, take a current backup and plan for downtime or paused application writes. Switching to an older backup can lose data created after that backup.
5. Verify restored data
Check expected tables and a known record, then test relevant application operations such as login and pages that read the database. A ZIP download or successful import message alone is insufficient.
What we tested
On 10 October 2026, we used aaPanel Free Edition 8.0.6 on Ubuntu 22.04 with MariaDB 10.11. We created a backup in the panel, downloaded the archive to another computer, changed a disposable tutorial row and used Recover. A database query confirmed the row returned to its original value, AdminsForum backup tutorial. Larger applications require their own recovery and consistency checks.
Common questions
Does this include website files?
No. Back up the website directory separately, and keep file/database recovery points consistent before an application upgrade.
Does this create scheduled backups?
No. This is a manual backup. Automatic backups need a separate schedule, storage destination, retention policy and successful-run checks.
What if backup or import fails?
Read the task log, check free disk space and database service status, and verify the selected archive. Do not repeatedly restore over live data without understanding the failure.
Can old backups be removed?
Keep enough verified recovery points for your needs. Do not remove the only known-good backup while testing a replacement.
Related guides
Create a database and user in aaPanel Free Edition
Change PHP 8.3 to 8.5 in aaPanel Free Edition