Backup - How to run a Full Restoration from Backup

Updated August 04, 2025 09:00

You can restore all backed up data for a user, organizational unit, smart team, entire domain, Shared Drive or deleted users.

You can also view and download individual Mail and Drive items - see Download individual items section.

Backup Release 1.9 - 20th May 2025 - Contacts have now been included for Backup and Full restoration

NEW - Backup Release 1.10 - 5th August 2025 - Chat has been included for Backup, Full and Item Restoration - SEE KB = Back up of Google Chat

A separate KB has been created for Full Restoration = Backup Chat - Full Restoration

NEW - (Release 1.10 5th August 2025) Chat - Chats are Google Direct Messages - this does not include spaces or apps. This will include conversations between multiple members in a Direct Message.
NEW - (Release 1.10 5th August 2025) Chat - A full list of supported items that appear in the Direct Message is in the KB

Restore an individual user

Restore multiple users

Restore Organizational Unit or Smart Team

Restore all users / entire domain

Restore individual Shared Drive

Restore multiple Shared Drives

Restore deleted user

Restore individual item(s) - Users

Restore individual item(s) - Shared Drive

Restore Folder(s) - Users

Restore Folder(s) - Shared Drive

Download individual item(s) - Users

Download individual item(s) - Shared Drives

Full restoration of individual users

Backup > Full Restoration > Users

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. If you are on a different tab, select Users at the top of the screen to return to the tab,
You will see the full list of users that have data backed up. To filter the list:
- Enter the email address of the user in the Search field. As you enter details, the list will automatically filter,
- Use the Select Policy to filter the list to only the users that have a particular policy assigned to them.
Click on the user that you want to restore.
The next screen will be specific to the user that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.
- By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.
By default, the user to restore to is always set as the original user (the user that the data was backed up from). You can change the user if you need to restore the backup to a different user (e.g. a manager, admin or colleague).
Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Decide whether you want to restore Mail, Drive data, Calendar and/or Contacts (if that data is backed up as part of their policy) by placing a check in the checkbox under the relevant data type.
Mail - You can add a custom mail label name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can add a custom Drive folder name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the file will be restored with all its original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Drive - The final setting is to set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Calendar - You can add a custom calendar label name that the data will be restored to.
Calendar - You can choose to either restore Primary calendars or All calendars - This will restore primary and secondary calendars associated with the user. Meeting attachments will NOT be restored.
Contacts - You can add a custom contact label name that the data will be restored to.
Contacts - Only primary contacts are available to be restored.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of multiple users

Backup > Full Restoration > Users

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. If you are on a different tab, select Users at the top of the screen to return to the tab,
You will see the full list of users that have data backed up. To filter the list:
- Enter the email address of the user in the Search field. As you enter details, the list will automatically filter,
- Use the Select Policy to filter the list to only the users that have a particular policy assigned to them.
Place a tick in the checkbox on any user that you want to restore.
Once you have selected multiple users, the Restore Selected button will be enabled. Click the button.
The next screen will be specific to the users that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.
- By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.
When multiple users are selected, you can only restore data back to the original user.
Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the Pill icon to enable (orange).
Decide whether you want to restore Mail, Drive data, Calendar and/or Contacts (if that data is backed up as part of their policy) by placing a check in the checkbox under the relevant data type.
Mail - You can add a custom mail label name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can add a custom Drive folder name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the file will be restored with all its original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Drive - The final setting is to set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Calendar - You can add a custom calendar label name that the data will be restored to.
Calendar - You can choose to either restore Primary calendars or All calendars - This will restore primary and secondary calendars associated with the user. Meeting attachments will NOT be restored.
Contacts - You can add a custom contact label name that the data will be restored to.
Contacts - Only primary contacts are available to be restored.
At the bottom of the screen, you will see the Selected Users to Restore section. Double check that the required users are included.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of Org Unit or Smart Team

Backup > Full Restoration > Org Unit

Backup > Full Restoration > Smart Team

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. Select either the Org Unit or Smart Team tab.
You will see the full hierarchical Org Unit or Smart Team list for your domain.
Place a tick in the checkbox on any OU / Smart Team that you want to restore.
Once you have selected all the relevant Org Units or Smart Teams, the Restore Selected button will be enabled. Select the button.
The next screen will be specific to the OUs or Smart Teams that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.
- By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.
You can only restore data back to the original user.
Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the Pill icon to enable (orange).
Decide whether you want to restore Mail, Drive data, Calendar and/or Contacts (if that data is backed up as part of their policy) by placing a check in the checkbox under the relevant data type.
Mail - You can add a custom mail label name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can add a custom Drive folder name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the file will be restored with all its original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Drive - The final setting is to set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Calendar - You can add a custom calendar label name that the data will be restored to.
Calendar - You can choose to either restore Primary calendars or All calendars - This will restore primary and secondary calendars associated with the user. Meeting attachments will NOT be restored.
Contacts - You can add a custom contact label name that the data will be restored to.
Contacts - Only primary contacts are available to be restored.
At the bottom of the screen, you will see the Selected Org Units / Smart Teams to Restore section. Double check that the required users are included.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of All Users

Backup > Full Restoration > All Users

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. Select the All Users tab.
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.
- By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.
You can only restore data back to the original user.
Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the Pill icon to enable (orange).
Decide whether you want to restore Mail, Drive data, Calendar and/or Contacts (if that data is backed up as part of their policy) by placing a check in the checkbox under the relevant data type.
Mail - You can add a custom mail label name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can add a custom Drive folder name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the file will be restored with all its original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Drive - The final setting is to set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Calendar - You can add a custom calendar label name that the data will be restored to.
Calendar - You can choose to either restore Primary calendars or All calendars - This will restore primary and secondary calendars associated with the user. Meeting attachments will NOT be restored.
Contacts - You can add a custom contact label name that the data will be restored to.
Contacts - Only primary contacts are available to be restored.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of Shared Drive for Individual Users

Backup > Full Restoration > Shared Drive

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. Select the Shared Drives tab at the top of the screen,
You will see the full list of Shared Drives that have data backed up. To filter the list:

Enter the Shared Drive name in the Search field. As you enter details, the list will automatically filter,
Use the Select Policy to filter the list to only the Shared Drives that have a particular policy assigned to them.

Click on the Shared Drive that you want to restore.
The next screen will be specific to the Shared Drive that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.

By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.

Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Select which Shared Drive you want to restore the data to - you can restore either to the original Shared Drive or any other existing Shared Drive (that has synced and propagated to our system) or to a new Shared Drive. You can set the name of the folder the data will be restored to.Note: the new shared drive created during the restoration process will not have a backup policy applied to it unless you have a default Shared Drive backup policy configured (See How to create a backup policy and How to assign a backup policy).
You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the files will be restored with all their original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
You can choose to Preserve Shared Drive permissions. If it is enabled, the new Shared Drive will have the original Share Drive permissions intact.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of Multiple Shared Drives

Backup > Full Restoration > Shared Drive

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. Select the Shared Drives tab at the top of the screen,
You will see the full list of Shared Drives that have data backed up. To filter the list:

Enter the Shared Drive name in the Search field. As you enter details, the list will automatically filter,
Use the Select Policy to filter the list to only the Shared Drives that have a particular policy assigned to them.

Place a tick in the checkbox on any Shared Drive that you want to restore.
Once you have selected multiple Shared Drives, the Restore Selected button will be enabled. Click the button.You can restore all backed up data for a user, organizational unit, smart team, entire domain, Shared Drive or deleted users.
The next screen will be specific to the Shared Drives that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.

By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.

Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Select which Shared Drive you want to restore the data to - you can restore either to the original Shared Drive or any other existing Shared Drive (that has synced and propagated to our system). You can set the name of the folder the data will be restored to.
You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the files will be restored with all their original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
You can choose to Preserve Shared Drive permissions. If it is enabled, the new Shared Drive will have the original Share Drive permissions intact.
At the bottom of the screen, you will see the Selected Shared Drives to Restore section, including names that will be given to the new Shared Drives. Double check that the required Shared Drives are included.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.

Full restoration of deleted users

Backup > Full Restoration > Deleted Users

Select Backup from the main navigation menu and then select Full Restoration in the sub menu,
By default, the Full Restore screen will show the Users tab. Select the Deleted Users tab,
You will see the full list of deleted users that have data backed up. To filter the list:

Enter the email address of the user in the Search field. As you enter details, the list will automatically filter,
Use the Select Policy to filter the list to only the users that have a particular policy assigned to them.

Click on the user that you want to restore.
The next screen will be specific to the user that you have selected,
You can use the Timestamp field to select a date and time to restore data that was backed up at a specific time. This means that the version restored will be exactly as it was at that date and time based on the closest previous backup, not including any changes made after.

By default, the restoration will be for the Latest Backup.

Choose the user you want to restore the data to.
Next, decide if you would like to include deleted items. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Decide whether you want to restore Mail, Drive data, Calendar and/or Contacts (if that data is backed up as part of their policy) by placing a check in the checkbox under the relevant data type.
Mail - You can add a custom mail label name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can add a custom Drive folder name that the data will be restored to.
Drive - You can enable the Preserve file permissions setting. If it is enabled, the file will be restored with all its original access permissions for that specific version of the file intact. By default, this option is set to disabled. Click on the pill icon to enable (orange).
Drive - The final setting is to set whether to Restore to original file type. When Google files are backed up, they are converted to Microsoft formats (e.g. docx, xlsx and pptx) as they are easier to transfer and store. This setting changes the format back to the original file type when enabled (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Calendar - You can add a custom calendar label name that the data will be restored to.
Calendar - You can choose to either restore Primary calendars or All calendars - This will restore primary and secondary calendars associated with the user. Meeting attachments will NOT be restored.
Contacts - You can add a custom contact label name that the data will be restored to.
Contacts - Only primary contacts are available to be restored.
Now, scroll back to the top of the screen and select Restore.
You will see a Confirmation pop up box that prompts you to either confirm the restore (Yes) or Cancel.
On confirmation, the restoration process will start. You can follow the process on the Restoration Status screen.