How to Set Up Automated Backups in Pterodactyl
Configure Pterodactyl backups with local storage or S3-compatible targets and automate them with schedules so you never lose server data.
Why Pterodactyl Backups Matter
A corrupted world file or a bad plugin update can destroy hours of work. Pterodactyl backups let you snapshot an entire server, including configs, worlds, and plugins, into a single archive that can be restored with one click. You can store them locally on the Wings node or offload them to S3-compatible object storage.
Backup Storage Drivers
Local (Wings)
By default, pterodactyl backups are stored on the Wings node in /srv/daemon-data/.backups/. This is fast but risky because a disk failure takes both the server and its backups.
S3-Compatible
For offsite safety, configure an S3-compatible target in the panel under Admin > Settings > Backups. Any provider that speaks the S3 API works: AWS S3, Backblaze B2, Cloudflare R2, or MinIO. Fill in the region, endpoint, bucket name, access key, and secret key.
Creating a Manual Backup
Players or admins can create a backup from the server's Backups tab by clicking Create Backup. You can give it a name, choose whether to lock it from automatic deletion, and optionally ignore certain files with a glob pattern (e.g. *.log).
Automating Backups with Schedules
Manual snapshots are fine for one-off saves, but automated pterodactyl backups are what keep your data safe long-term. Go to the server's Schedules tab, create a new schedule with a cron expression (e.g. 0 */6 * * * for every six hours), then add a Create Backup task. You can chain a Delete Files task afterward to clean up temp files before the snapshot runs.
Backup Limits
Each server has a maximum backup count set during creation. When the limit is reached, the oldest unlocked backup is deleted automatically before a new one is created. Locked backups are never auto-deleted.
Restoring a Backup
Click the three-dot menu on any backup and select Restore. You can choose to delete all current files before restoring or merge the backup on top of the existing files.
Pterodactyl backups integrate neatly with the broader backup strategies covered in our Minecraft backup guide and automated backup guide. Combine panel-level snapshots with plugin-level world saves for layered protection.
See a professionally hosted server: Astroworld MC, IP play.astroworldmc.com, Java + Bedrock.