kickstart.php is a PHP script commonly associated with Akeeba Kickstart, a tool used to restore Joomla, WordPress, and other PHP-based websites from a backup file. It is often used when deploying a site from a backup made with Akeeba Backup.
kickstart.php from Akeeba's official website.kickstart.php and your backup file (.jpa, .zip, or .tar) to the public_html folder of your hosting.http://yourdomain.com/kickstart.phpThis step restores all website files.
Once the files are extracted, kickstart.php redirects you to the website installer (if available).
After restoration, delete kickstart.php for security:
rm -f kickstart.php
Your website is now restored and live!
| 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 |
| 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!