How to exclude files and directories from cPanel backups

This article describes how to exclude specific files and directories from cPanel backups. Over time, backup files can become very large, particularly if the backup file contains other backups (for example, WordPress backups). By excluding unnecessary files and directories from backups, you can help prevent filling up the account's disk space.

Excluding files and directories from cPanel backups

To exclude specific files and directories from cPanel backups, follow these steps:

1. Using a text editor from the command line, or one of the editors in the cPanel File Manager, create a file in the user's home directory named cpbackup-exclude.conf.
2. Copy the following text and then paste it into the cpbackup-exclude.conf file:

   *.jpa
   backup-*.tar.gz
   cpmove-*.tar.gz
   site-*.tar.gz
   */com_akeeba/backup/*
   */backupbuddy_backups/*
   public_html/cache/*
   tmp/*
   logs/*
   softaculous_backups/*
   */wp-content/uploads/wpcf7_captcha/*
   */wp-content/widget-cache/*
   */wp-content/cache/*
   */wptsc-cachedir/*
   */wp-content/ai1wm-backups
   

   This list includes files and directories from various popular backup utilities, such as BackupBuddy and Akeeba. You can add additional lines to this file  for any other items that you want to exclude from cPanel backups.
3. Save your changes to the cpbackup-exclude.conf file. All of the files and directories listed in the cpbackup-exclude.conf are now excluded from subsequent cPanel backups.