Restore files
O&O AutoBackup provides several ways to restore files. Recovery does not have to depend on the original PC or its original O&O AutoBackup configuration.
Choose the recovery situation
| Situation | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| The original PC and pair still exist | Select the pair on Home and choose Restore |
| The pair was deleted or this is another PC | Choose Restore from an existing backup |
| O&O AutoBackup is not installed | Run Recover this backup from the destination |
| You only need a current unencrypted file | Copy it directly with File Explorer |
| You do not remember the file's folder | Use Search backups |
| The backup is encrypted | Unlock it as described in Restore an encrypted backup |
Whichever route you choose, restoration reads the backup and writes copies to a target folder. It does not remove the stored backup versions.
Restore from the Home page
- Select the backup pair and choose Restore.
- If the destination is disconnected, connect it and retry.
- Choose Restore entire backup or Restore selected files.
- For a selective restore, browse the tree or file list and mark the items you need.
- Use the date controls to go back in time and display the state from an earlier restore point.
- Choose the target folder.
- Review the selection and start the restore.
Restore everything or select items
Restore entire backup is appropriate after replacing a data drive or rebuilding a user account. Confirm that the target has enough free space and consider restoring one top-level folder first as a test.
Restore selected files is safer for everyday mistakes. The tree view preserves folder context, while the all-files view is useful when names matter more than original locations.
Restoring to a separate folder is safest when you want to compare an earlier file with the current one. If you restore to the original location, review the overwrite choice carefully. A separate folder also prevents a cloud synchronization client from immediately distributing restored data before you have checked it.
Open an existing backup
Choose Restore from an existing backup on Home when the pair is not configured on this PC. Select the drive or backup folder, then follow the same file-selection flow.
O&O AutoBackup reads the backup's own metadata; it does not need the original pair settings file. Network destinations may take longer because every folder listing requires communication with the remote system.
Point-in-time view
The displayed date controls which versions appear in the tree. A file deleted yesterday can still appear when you select a restore point from before its deletion. Moving between restore points does not change the backup; it only changes the view.
Think of each restore point as a window into the folder at that time. If a file was renamed, its earlier name may appear in an earlier point. If it was deleted, move to a date before deletion. If it was overwritten, compare several nearby versions rather than assuming the latest stored version is the good one.
Restore with the portable recovery app
When Keep a copy of the program with the backup is enabled, the destination contains Recover this backup. Launch it on a compatible Windows PC. The restricted recovery mode opens directly on that backup, does not configure scheduled work on the PC, and does not require a product license.
This is the preferred disaster-recovery route because the tool needed to interpret versions travels with the data. See Portable recovery app.
Direct recovery through File Explorer
For an unencrypted backup without hidden names, the current and date-stamped files can be copied directly. This is useful when you need one obvious item and do not need the point-in-time view.
Use O&O AutoBackup for a large restore, for selecting a coherent historical state, or whenever version names are ambiguous. Encrypted backups cannot be recovered by copying their stored objects directly.
After recovery
Verify several restored files by opening documents, previewing photos, and testing archives. Keep the backup until you have checked the recovered data. The restore log records files that could not be written.
If the restore replaced an active working folder, restart the relevant application only after verification. For OneDrive content, resume synchronization after you are confident that the restored set is the one you want propagated.
Recovery does not erase the backup. However, writing into an existing destination can replace files there. Use a new folder when uncertain.