Backups occupy disk space on your hosting account. Removing old or unnecessary backups frees up space for your website and email. This guide explains how to manage and remove backup files in Plesk.
Removing a Single Backup
- Log in to Plesk.
- Go to Websites & Domains → Backup Manager.
- Find the backup you want to remove.
- Select the checkbox next to the backup.
- Click Remove.
- Confirm the deletion.
Removing Multiple Backups
- In Backup Manager, select the checkboxes for all backups you want to remove.
- Click Remove and confirm.
Automating Backup Cleanup
To automatically remove old backups:
- Go to Backup Manager → Scheduled Backup Settings.
- Set Keep backup files for: to the number of days you want to retain (e.g., 30 days).
- Backups older than this will be automatically deleted.
Important Notes
- Removed backups cannot be recovered. Always download a backup to your computer before removing it from the server.
- Check that you no longer need a backup before removing it.
- If your account is running low on disk space, removing old backups is often the quickest way to free up space.
Troubleshooting
Cannot remove a backup:
- The backup may be in use by a restore or backup operation. Wait for the operation to complete.
- Contact your hosting provider if the error persists.
Disk space is not freed after removing backups:
- Allow a few minutes for the server to recalculate disk usage.
- Check if backups are stored in remote storage as well.
