---
layout: article
title: Backups
description: Learn how to efficiently back up your databases on Appwrite Cloud, ensuring data security and seamless recovery.
---

Appwrite Backups enable seamless, **encrypted** database backups on Cloud.
All backups are **hot** backups, ensuring zero downtime and fast recovery.
Learn how to efficiently back up your databases to ensure data security and smooth recovery.

**Backups are available on Appwrite Cloud for all Pro and Enterprise customers.**

Appwrite Backups allow you to automate database backups using backup policies, supporting pre-defined, custom retention & other options. You can also create manual backups whenever necessary.

# Backup policies

Backup policies allow you to automate your backup process. The Enterprise plan allows for more customization and offers options like how often backups should occur, how long they should be retained, and when they should run.

## Creating a backup policy

To automate your database backups, you need to create backup policies that run at scheduled intervals.

![Create databases screen](/images/docs/databases/databases.avif)

1. In the Appwrite Console's sidebar, click **Databases**
2. Create or select & navigate to your database and click on the **Backups** Tab
3. Click on **Create Policies** & select a pre-defined policy\
 
    * On a **Pro** plan, you get access to a Daily backup policy

    ![Pro plan policy](/images/docs/databases/pro-policy.avif)

    * On the **Enterprise** plan, you get access to more & custom policies\
     
        * Select a pre-defined policy

            ![Backup policies](/images/docs/databases/scale-policies.avif)
        * Or create a custom policy and adjust the settings as you like

            ![Custom backup policies](/images/docs/databases/scale-custom-policies.avif)

4. Click on **Create**

Your database is now set up for automated backups with just a few clicks.
Note that you can always navigate to the same tab and click **Create Manual** to create a backup on-demand.

# Manual backups

You can always create an on-demand backup whenever necessary.

![Manual backup](/images/docs/databases/manual-backup.avif)

1. In the Appwrite Console's sidebar, click **Databases**
2. Select & navigate to your database and click on the **Backups** Tab
3. Click on **Manual Backup**

Depending on the size of your database, the backup process may take some time to complete.
You can monitor its progress via the floating status bar at the bottom of your screen.

# Restoring backups

To restore a database, you must have a backup of the database you want to restore.

![Restore databases](/images/docs/databases/restore.avif)

1. In the Appwrite Console's sidebar, click **Databases**
2. Select & navigate to your database and click on the **Backups** Tab
3. Click on the options menu in the far corner of your backup
4. In the dropdown menu, click **Restore**.
5. Enter the new database name and an optional database ID
6. Click **Restore**

Depending on the size of your database, the restoration process may take some time.
You can observe its status in a floating bar across your project.

# Backup security & performance

All backups created with Appwrite are:

1. **Encrypted**:
    All backups are securely encrypted to ensure your data remains protected at all times.

2. **Remotely stored**:
    Backups are stored in a remote location, providing an additional layer of security and ensuring your data is always recoverable.

3. **Hot backups**:
    Backups are hot, meaning they occur with zero downtime, allowing you to recover data quickly without interrupting your projects and services.

# Best practices

To ensure your backups are robust and effective, consider the following best practices:

1. **Schedule regular backups**:
   Add multiple backup policies based on the frequency of database changes. Daily or weekly backups are often sufficient for most use cases.

2. **Retain critical backups longer**:
   Use custom policies with longer retention to keep backups of critical data for extended periods, ensuring historical records are available when needed.

3. **Optimize backup policies based on data sensitivity**:
   Tailor your backup frequency and retention settings according to the sensitivity and importance of the data.
   Critical data may require more frequent backups, while less essential data can have longer retention and fewer backups.