Use this guide to restore an instant backup to the original website or to another website. You can recover a website, test an earlier version separately, or compare files, content, themes, and plugins between backup versions.

Instant backups are retained for 15 days.

Dashboard Instant restore is a whole-site operation. It does not restore one plugin. To copy one plugin folder from a downloaded Instant archive, follow Restore a single plugin’s files from an Instant backup.

When to use

Restore an instant backup when you want to:

  • Recover files or database content on the original website.

  • Restore only the website files while keeping the current database.

  • Test a backup without changing the original website.

  • Compare an earlier backup with the current Production or Staging environment.

  • Troubleshoot plugin or theme issues in a separate website.

Instant restore versus offsite restore

You restore an Instant backup yourself from Backups in the Dashboard, for a backup that already appears in the Instant list.

Full (offsite) backups are stored off-site and are not immediately available. You use Request Restore on a Full backup. Pressidium processes that request before the restore runs. Follow Request an offsite backup restore when the Instant restore point has expired, or you need a disaster-recovery copy.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure that:

  • The instant backup you need is still available.

  • You have access to the source website and the selected destination.

  • Your account has an available website slot if you plan to create a new destination website.

  • You have confirmed which destination website and environment should be overwritten.

Restoring an instant backup to an existing website can overwrite its current files and database. Verify the destination website and environment before starting.

Using the Pressidium Dashboard

  1. Select Websites from the Dashboard sidebar.

  2. Click the name of the website that contains the backup. Tip: Press S to open quick search and find the website by name.

  3. Go to Backups.

Find the backup you want to restore by checking its description and timestamp.

To make the backup easier to locate:

  • Set the backup filter to Show: Instant.

  • Click the backup entry to review additional details, including its creation time, WordPress version, plugins, and themes.

Use a backup that already appears in that list. If you just triggered a backup operation, wait for the Dashboard notification before you restore it. Do not restore from a job that has not completed.

Open the Restore menu for the selected backup, then choose whether to restore it to the same website or another website.

Restore to the same website

Select the option to restore the backup to the current website.

Choose what to restore:

  • Files and Database restores the website files and the database from the selected backup.

  • Files only restores the website files while leaving the current database unchanged.

Neither option restores a single plugin. Files only still replaces the website files from the backup.

You can optionally enter additional email addresses to receive notifications about the restore.

Click Restore to start the process.

Before restoring the backup, Pressidium automatically creates an instant backup of the website’s current state. You can use this recovery point if you need to reverse the restore.

Restore to another website

From the selected backup’s Restore menu, choose Another website.

Select the destination type:

  • Existing website restores the backup over a website already in your account.

  • New website creates a separate website from the backup.

When restoring to an existing website:

  1. Search for and select the destination website.

  2. Select the destination environment:

    • Production

    • Staging

  3. Confirm that the selected website and environment are correct.

  4. Click Restore to start the process.

When restoring to a new website, follow the on-screen instructions to create the destination. Your account must have an available website slot.

Restoring to an existing destination overwrites its current files and database. Pressidium creates an instant backup of the existing destination before the restore begins.

Verification

You will receive a Dashboard notification when the restore is complete.

After the operation finishes:

  1. Open the destination website and select the restored environment.

  2. Confirm that the website loads correctly.

  3. Review important pages, forms, plugins, themes, and account functionality.

  4. Clear the website cache if older content still appears.

  5. If the destination uses a different domain, check whether a database search and replace is required.

Need help?

If you are unsure which backup or destination to use, contact our Support team before starting the restore.

If a restored website does not behave as expected, include the source website, destination website, environment, backup timestamp, and any visible error messages in your request.

Open a support request

Where to go next