Keeping a local copy of your website backup is one of the smartest things you can do. If anything goes wrong on the server, you've got a copy sitting safely on your own machine. Here's how to download a backup from Plesk to your computer.

## Before you start

You need at least one existing backup in Plesk. If you haven't created one yet, go to **Websites & Domains** > **Backup Manager** > **Back Up** and create one first.

## Steps to download a backup

1. Log in to your **Plesk control panel**.
2. Go to **Websites & Domains** > **Backup Manager**.
3. You'll see a list of all available backups with their dates and sizes. Click on the backup you want to download.
4. Click the **Download** button.
5. Plesk will ask if you want to protect the backup with a password. We recommend setting a password — if the backup file ever falls into the wrong hands, your data stays protected.
6. If you don't want password protection, clear the **"Use password protection"** checkbox.
7. Click **OK**.
8. Your browser will start downloading the backup file to your default Downloads folder.

## Things to keep in mind

- **Large backups take time.** If your site has several gigabytes of data, the download could take a while depending on your internet speed. Don't close the browser tab while the download is in progress.
- **Disk space on the server matters.** Plesk creates a temporary archive during the download process. If your server is low on disk space, the download may fail. Free up space or contact support if this happens.
- **Store backups safely.** Once downloaded, move the file to a secure location — an external hard drive, cloud storage, or another safe spot. Don't leave it sitting in your Downloads folder indefinitely.
- **You can re-upload later.** If you ever need to restore from a downloaded backup, go to **Backup Manager** > **Upload** to send it back to the server and restore from there.

## How often should you download backups?

That depends on how often your site changes. If you update content daily, download a backup at least once a week. For mostly static sites, once a month is usually enough. The key is having a recent local copy available when you need it — server backups alone aren't enough if the server itself becomes unavailable.