---
title: "Deleting Unnecessary Backups"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/server-administration/server-backup-and-restore/deleting-unnecessary-backups/"
description: "If you have a lot of old backup files, you might want to delete some of them from your server. Backups can be quite large and storing a lot of them on your serv…"
vertical: "Hosting"
date: "2024-03-04"
last_modified: "2026-07-20"
---

# Deleting Unnecessary Backups

If you have a lot of old backup files, you might want to delete some of them from your server. Backups can be quite large and storing a lot of them on your server can slow down your websites. You’ll generally do this for manual backups: your scheduled backups will automatically rotate out.

## Using cPanel to Delete Unnecessary Backups

1. Log into your website’s cPanel account. If you haven’t created a cPanel account yet, read [Creating a cPanel User Account](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/whm/cpanel/website-management/creating-a-cpanel-user-account/).
2. In the **Files** section, click on **File Manager**.  
    ![file manager link on cpanel home page](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_ABeHNo.png)
3. Look for filenames starting with “backup.” These are your manual backups. (Your automatic scheduled backups are stored somewhere else: usually in the */backups* directory.)
4. Click on the backup file you’d like to delete and then click **Delete** in the top functions menu. **Confirm** that you want to delete the file.  
    ![gif showing backup file selected and deleted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_kHahcm.gif)

## Using Plesk to Delete Unnecessary Backups

1. Log into your Plesk control panel.
2. Depending on the view you use in Plesk, the way you get to your backups will be different.  
    In **Service Provider** view:
    
      
      
    
    1. Click on **Subscriptions** from the menu on the left hand side of the page.  
        ![subscription link highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_LbkD1w.png)
      
    2. Click on the necessary domain to open its home page.  
        ![domain name highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_PFjryg.png)
      
    3. Select **Backup Manager** from the menu on the right hand side of the page.  
        ![backup manager highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_2CWlTe.png)
      
    
      
    In **Power User** view:
    
      
      
    
    1. Click on **Websites & Domains** in the left navigation menu.  
        ![websites and domains link highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_LmJcLU.png)
      
    2. Then, click on **Backup Manager** in the menu on the right hand side of the page, and select the necessary domain.  
        ![backup manager link highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_mDDH43.png)
      
    
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
    | ### **Server-Level Backups:** |
    |---|
    | If you want to delete server backups:         1. Click on **Tools & Settings** in the left navigation menu.    2. Then, in the **Tools & Resources** section, click on **Backup Manager**. Now you can follow steps three and four as normal. |
3. You will see any backups you have in the **Backup Manager** list. Select the checkbox next to any backups you’d like to remove.  
    ![gif showing backups selected to delete](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_Qmzcsc.gif)
4. Click **Remove**. Confirm you want to remove the backups you selected. Your backups will be removed.  
    ![remove button highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_jE3kKQ.png)