# How to Create and Manage Backups

> Make backups of your server, lock the important ones, and choose what to leave out.

Source: https://www.beaconhosting.org/knowledgebase/how-to-use-the-backup-manager-in-the-games-panel
Category: Getting Started
Last updated: 2026-10-22

Backups are copies of your server's files you can restore later. They're managed on the **Backups** page.

## Create a backup

1. Open your server and click **Backups** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Create Backup**.
3. Give it a **Backup Name** that says what it's for, such as "Before 1.21 update".
4. Optional: list **Ignored Files & Directories** to leave out, one per line, for example:

```
logs/
cache/
*.log
```

Leave it blank to use the server's `.gitignore`, if it has one.

5. Optional: turn on **Lock** so it can't be deleted by accident.
6. Click **Create Backup** and wait until it shows a size.

> [!TIP]
> Run `save-all` in **Console** first so the backup has the latest world.

## Backup slots

Your plan sets how many backups you can keep. When they're full, delete an old one before creating another. **Locked** backups can't be deleted until you **Unlock** them.

## Restore or download

Open the **⋯** menu on a backup to **Restore** or **Download** it. See [How to Restore and Download Backups](/knowledgebase/how-to-restore-and-download-backups-on-the-games-panel).

## Automatic backups

Set backups to run by themselves with a **Create Backup** task in **Schedules**. See [How to Schedule Tasks](/knowledgebase/how-to-schedule-tasks-on-the-games-panel).