# Restore a site backup

Roll a site back to one of its backups: the database, the files, or both.

## Before you start

- A backup with the status **Completed**.
- The storage account the backup is in, still connected to Nuvlo.
- A site that is running. A stopped site can’t be restored; start it first.
- A role that can manage sites. By default that is **Owner**, **Admin** and **Developer**.

## Before you restore

> **Warning:** A restore overwrites the site’s current data and can’t be undone. If you might need today’s version, [back up the site](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/back-up-a-site) first.

A backup restores onto the site it was made from. To bring back a whole server, use a [server snapshot](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/server-snapshots) or your provider’s [automatic server backups](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/provider-backups) instead.

## Step 1: Find the backup

In the sidebar, select **Operations** and then **Backups**, or go to [Backups](https://app.nuvlo.dev/dashboard/backups). Use the site filter to find the site’s backups.

Only completed backups can be restored. Click **Restore** on the backup you want.

![The Backups list filtered to one site, with the Restore button on a completed backup](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/restore-a-backup--restore-button.webp)

## Step 2: Choose what to restore

In the **Restore backup** dialog, choose **What to restore**.

- A full backup offers **Full**, **Database only** and **Files only**. Restoring only the database is useful when content went wrong but your theme and plugins are fine.
- A database-only backup offers only **Database only**.
- A files-only backup offers only **Files only**.

![The Restore backup dialog with What to restore and the field to type the domain](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/restore-a-backup--restore-dialog.webp)

## Step 3: Confirm the restore

Type the site’s domain in the field under **Type** … **to confirm**. The copy button next to it fills it in for you.

Click **Restore** followed by the domain. The button stays disabled until the domain matches.

## Step 4: Follow the progress

The restore appears under **Recent restores** with the step it is on. You can leave the page; the restore keeps running.

On a WordPress site’s **Backups** tab, a **Restoring backup** card shows each step: **Download database**, **Restore database**, **Download files**, **Restore files** and **Bring the site back**. When it is done, Nuvlo shows **Restore finished**, or **Restore failed** with the reason.

The site goes offline briefly while its data is replaced. Visitors may see errors until the restore finishes.

## Restore from a WordPress site’s page

On a WordPress site, open **Backups** and click **Restore** on a completed backup. The dialog works the same way; type the domain and click **Restore backup**.

If the backup left folders out, the dialog says so. Those folders stay as they are on the site.

## What a restore changes

| Site | What is replaced |
| --- | --- |
| WordPress | The database, and the `wp-content` folder (themes, plugins and uploads). |
| PHP and static sites | The data kept between deploys, and the database if the site has one. If the restore fails, Nuvlo puts the previous data back. |
| Applications | The data kept between deploys (persistent paths and environment file). If the app doesn’t come up healthy afterwards, Nuvlo puts the previous data back. |
| 1-Click apps | The app’s databases and data volumes. |

For applications, PHP and static sites, a restore doesn’t change the code that is running. To go back to older code, redeploy or roll back a release. See [Releases and rollback](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/releases-and-rollback).

## Good to know

- You can start up to 3 restores of the same site within 15 minutes.
- If you disconnected the storage account a backup is in, that backup can no longer be restored through Nuvlo.
- On a WordPress site’s **Backups** tab, **Back up now** and the other **Restore** buttons stay disabled until the restore has finished.

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Source: https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/restore-a-backup