> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Excluding files and directories from cPanel backups

> Discover how to exclude files and directories from cPanel backups to save disk space.

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](/docs/cpanel-file-manager-editors), 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
   ```

   > 📘 Note
   >
   > 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.

## Related articles

* [Backups on dedicated servers and VPS](/docs/backups-on-dedicated-servers-and-vps)

* [Backups on shared hosting and reseller accounts](/docs/backups-on-shared-hosting-and-reseller-accounts)

* [Managing backups](/docs/backups-in-cpanel)

* [E-mail backups](/docs/e-mail-backups)

* [MySQL database backups using AutoMySQLBackup](/docs/mysql-database-backups-using-automysqlbackup)