---
title: How to Enable Automatic Backups in WHM (Backup Configuration)
description: "**In short:** To enable automatic backups in WHM: go to Backup, then Backup Configuration, and click Enable. Choose the backup type (Compressed, Uncompressed or Incremental), set the daily, weekly and monthly schedule and how many backups to keep, choose how…"
url: "https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/configure-backups-whm/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
category: Server management / whm/cpanel control panels
---

# How to Enable Automatic Backups in WHM (Backup Configuration)

**In short:** To enable automatic backups in WHM: go to Backup, then Backup Configuration, and click Enable. Choose the backup type (Compressed, Uncompressed or Incremental), set the daily, weekly and monthly schedule and how many backups to keep, choose how databases are backed up and the backup directory, then click Save Configuration.

Automatic backups are one of the most important settings on a cPanel server. Here is how to turn them on in WHM.

**1.** Log in to WHM at **https://your-server-ip:2087** with your username and password.

![WHM login](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/whm.png)

**2.** Click **Backup**, then **Backup Configuration**.

![Backup in WHM](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ba1.png)

**3.** Click **Enable** to turn on the backup options.

![Enable backups](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/backup-configuration1.jpg)

## Main options

**Backup Type** has three choices:

- **Compressed:** compresses the backups; uses less disk space but takes longer.
- **Uncompressed:** faster, but uses much more disk space.
- **Incremental:** keeps an uncompressed copy and only updates the files that changed since the previous backup, so later backups are faster.

![Backup type](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/backup-global-setting.jpg)

**Minimum Free Disk Space Check:** checks the available disk space before the backup starts, based on the value you set, to avoid filling the disk.

![Minimum free disk space check](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/free-diskspace-check.jpg)

**Maximum destination timeout:** if you back up many accounts, enter a high number of seconds, or the backup may stop before it finishes.

**Maximum restore timeout:** similarly, enter a high number of seconds for restoring accounts.

![Timeouts](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/maximum-destination-timeout.jpg)

## Scheduling and retention

- **Backup Daily:** creates and keeps backups on the days of the week you choose.
- **Backup Weekly:** creates one backup every week on the day you choose.
- **Backup Monthly:** creates one backup every month on the day you choose.

![Backup schedule](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/whmw.jpg)

## Files and databases

Choose which files and databases to back up, and which user accounts to include if you do not want to back up every account on the server.

![Files to back up](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/whm_3.jpg)

**Backup SQL Databases** has three choices:

- **Per Account Only:** backs up each account's databases with the account.
- **Entire MySQL Directory:** backs up the whole MySQL data directory.
- **Per Account and Entire MySQL Directory:** both of the above.

![Database backup options](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/whm_db.jpg)

**Configure Backup Directory:** enter the folder where backups are saved.

![Backup directory](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/config_whm.jpg)

**4.** Click **Save Configuration**.

See also [how to create a full backup in cPanel](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/cpanel-full-backup/) and [how to restore a full backup in WHM](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/restore-full-backup-whm/).

**Related service:** [Hyyat Host server management](https://www.hyyat.com/en/server-management/) sets up and monitors backups on your server, with 24/7 support.

 **Need this service from Hyyat Host?**Our team handles it for you, with support replying to tickets within 24 hours at most.[Server Management](https://www.hyyat.com/en/server-management/)[dedicated server](https://www.hyyat.com/en/dedicated-server/)