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kickstart.php — What It Is and How to Use It?
2 min read
08.03.2026
What Is kickstart.php Used For?
- Extracting large .jpa, .zip, or .tar website backups.
- Restoring websites on new hosting or a local development server.
- Migrating a Joomla or WordPress website.
- Handling large backups without FTP timeouts.
How to Use kickstart.php to Restore a Website
Download & Upload kickstart.php
- Download
kickstart.phpfrom Akeeba's official website. - Upload
kickstart.phpand your backup file (.jpa, .zip, or .tar) to thepublic_htmlfolder of your hosting.
Run kickstart.php in a Browser
- Open your browser and go to:
http://yourdomain.com/kickstart.php - The Akeeba Kickstart interface will appear.
Extract the Backup
- Select the backup file from the list.
- Choose the extraction method (Directly, Use FTP if needed).
- Click Start to extract the files.
This step restores all website files.
For the detailed step-by-step guide and related installer topics, see Configuring Database & Finishing Installation Using kickstart.php, "Installation already exists" — Softaculous Fix, and What is bitrixsetup.php?.
Configure Database & Finish Installation
Once the files are extracted, kickstart.php redirects you to the website installer (if available).
- Enter Database Details (if required):
- Database Name
- Username & Password
- Host (localhost for most shared hosting)
- Click Next > Complete the setup.
Delete kickstart.php and Cleanup
After restoration, delete kickstart.php for security:
rm -f kickstart.phpYour website is now restored and live!
Troubleshooting kickstart.php Issues
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| kickstart.php not found error | Ensure the file is uploaded to public_html |
| Backup extraction fails | Use FTP mode instead of direct extraction |
| PHP memory errors | Increase memory_limit in php.ini (memory_limit=512M) |
| Database connection errors | Check credentials and ensure MySQL is running |
Summary
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Download & Upload | Get kickstart.php and backup file, upload to hosting |
| Run kickstart.php | Open http://yourdomain.com/kickstart.php |
| Extract Backup | Select .jpa, .zip, or .tar and start extraction |
| Database Setup | Enter MySQL details if required |
| Cleanup | Delete kickstart.php for security |
Now your website is successfully restored!
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CNY - Chinese Yuan
INR - Indian Rupee
UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia