Restore overview

You can restore files from your backup set to replace ones that you accidentally lose or damage or to revert files to previous versions. Connected lets you restore a single file or the entire backup set from an active device. There is no limit to how many files you can restore.

NOTE: Connected provides data protection and not long-term archival storage. Although it retains the most current copy of your protected files indefinitely, it keeps previous versions of those files for only a limited time before permanently deleting them. Similarly, when you delete a protected file from your computer, Connected keeps its copy for only a limited time. Files permanently deleted from Connected are no longer available for access.

Restoring files is a two-part process that you perform using the Connected web application:

  • Step 1: Create a restore request containing the files you want to restore.

  • Step 2: Start the restore request, which notifies the device's Agent to begin the restore process.

    You can either start the request at the time you create it or leave it pending and start it at a later time.

The web application lets you create and start restore requests for any of your protected devices regardless of whether you are currently using the device or it is located somewhere else. As long as you are logged on to the device, it has a network connection, and its Agent is running, Connected can notify the Agent to restore files. For example, from home, you can use the web application to create and start a restore request for a device that you left on at work. When the Agent on that device receives notification of the request, it automatically starts to restore the files.

Your Connected data administrator can also restore files for you. Therefore, if you need assistance with the restore process, your administrator can create a restore request and start it for you. You can view, edit, start, or cancel any request that an administrator creates on your behalf. Similarly, an administrator can perform those same actions on requests you create to assist or troubleshoot any restore-related issues that occur. When you have restore requests pending or in progress, regardless of who created them, the web application displays a flag on the RESTORE tab to notify you. For example, the flag flag icon indicating one item indicates that you have one restore request pending or in progress. To learn how to monitor restore requests, see How can I monitor the Agent's progress restoring files?

By default, the Agent restores files to their original location. When restoring a file that already exists, the Agent keeps the existing file and appends a number to the name of the one it restores. You can override these defaults in restore requests for devices running Agent version 4.7.0 (or later) by specifying a custom restore location or selecting to overwrite existing files. While restoring files, the Agent downloads them from Connected in an encrypted format and then decrypts the files after they are on your device. If the Agent stops for any reason, such as if you turn off your device, it automatically continues restoring any remaining files the next time it starts.