Backup & Restore¶
Purpose¶
Create database and file backups and restore data to protect your store information. Safeguard all business data with complete system backups and safe restoration capabilities.
Accessing Backup & Restore¶
Navigate to: Tools > Backup & Restore from the sidebar
Three Main Operations¶
The Backup & Restore page offers three distinct operations:
1. Export Data¶
Export business data in CSV format (Excel-compatible)
2. Full Backup¶
Create complete system backup (TBK format - proprietary backup file)
3. Restore¶
Restore system from previously saved TBK backup file
Export Data¶
Purpose¶
Export all business data to CSV files packaged in a ZIP archive. Use for data analysis, reporting, or external integration.
When to Use Export¶
- Analyze business data externally
- Create reports in Excel
- Integrate data with other systems
- Data portability for compliance
Important Note¶
Export files cannot be used for system restoration. Use the Full Backup option instead to create restorable backups.
What's Included¶
- Products and inventory
- Orders and transactions
- Customers and accounts
- Categories and attributes
- All business data
What's Excluded¶
- System configuration
- Plugins and extensions
- Theme settings
- Admin user accounts
- Private system data
Exporting Data¶
- Click "Export Data" option
- Click "Create Export" button
- System begins exporting (watch progress bar)
- When complete, click "Download" to save ZIP file
- Extract ZIP to access CSV files
Export Duration¶
- Duration depends on store size
- Typical exports: 1-5 minutes
- Large stores: May take longer
- Do not close window during export
Full Backup¶
Purpose¶
Create complete system backup with all data, settings, and files. Use this for full system restoration if needed.
When to Use Full Backup¶
- Regular data protection
- Before major updates
- Before template changes
- Before installing plugins
- Disaster recovery preparation
Backup Types¶
Database Only¶
- Includes: All database tables and records
- Excludes: Uploaded files, images
- File Size: Usually smallest
- Use Case: Quick backup when files are redundant
Files Only¶
- Includes: All uploaded files, images, documents
- Excludes: Database records
- File Size: Usually largest (depends on content)
- Use Case: Backup custom uploads only
Both (Recommended)¶
- Includes: Complete database + all files
- Excludes: Nothing
- File Size: Largest
- Use Case: Full system protection (recommended)
Creating a Full Backup¶
- Click "Full Backup" option
- Select backup type (Database, Files, or Both)
- Click "Create Backup" button
- System creates backup (watch progress bar)
- When complete, click "Download" to save TBK file
- Store the TBK file in safe location
Backup Duration¶
- Database Only: 2-10 minutes (size dependent)
- Files Only: 5-30+ minutes (file count dependent)
- Both: 10-40+ minutes
- Do not close window during backup
- Do not navigate away from page
What's Included in Full Backup¶
- All database tables and records
- All customer data
- All orders and transactions
- All products and inventory
- All uploaded files and images
- System configuration
- User accounts
- Plugin data
Restore¶
Purpose¶
Restore your store to a previous state using a saved TBK backup file. Completely replaces current data.
⚠️ Critical Warning¶
Restoring will completely replace all current data with backup data.
- All changes since backup creation are lost
- Current data is overwritten
- Cannot undo restoration
- Create new backup before restoring if you need to preserve current state
When to Use Restore¶
- Recover from data loss
- Recover from accidental deletion
- Revert to previous state
- Recover from security incident
- Recovery after system failure
Restoring from Backup¶
- Click "Restore" option
- Click "Select File" or drag-drop TBK file
- System reads backup metadata
- Review backup information:
- Backup type (Database, Files, or Both)
- Application name
- Tables included
- Backup creation date
- File size
- Review carefully - restoration cannot be undone
- Click "Confirm Restore" button
- Wait for restoration to complete
- System will show success message
Restoration Duration¶
- Duration depends on backup size
- Typical restorations: 5-15 minutes
- Large backups: May take 20-45 minutes
- Do not close window during restore
- Do not interrupt process
File Requirements¶
- File Format: .tbk files only
- File Size: Must be readable/not corrupted
- Source: Only TBK files from Backup & Restore page
After Restoration¶
- All current data is replaced
- Store reverts to backup state
- Verify data looks correct
- Test critical functions
- Check orders, products, customers
Backup Management¶
Backup Locations¶
- Store TBK backup files in safe location
- Recommended: External storage or cloud backup
- Multiple backups for point-in-time recovery
- Organize by date:
backup-2025-01-15.tbk
Backup Schedule¶
- Weekly: For most stores
- Daily: For high-transaction stores
- Before Changes: Always before major updates
- After Big Events: After sales events, migrations
Backup Best Practices¶
- Schedule Regular Backups: Weekly minimum
- Test Restorations: Verify backups work periodically
- Offsite Storage: Store backups outside server
- Multiple Copies: Keep 2-3 recent backups
- Document Backups: Track backup dates and types
- Monitor Backup Size: Track backup size trends
Key Information¶
- Super Admin Only: Only administrators can create/restore backups
- Three Operations: Export, Backup, and Restore
- Export vs Backup: Export for data analysis; Backup for restoration
- TBK Format: Proprietary backup format for complete restoration
- Real-Time Progress: Watch progress bars during operations
- Download After Creation: Download files immediately after completion
- Safe Storage: Keep backups secure and accessible
- Test Regularly: Periodically test backup restoration
- Irreversible: Restoration cannot be undone - verify first
- No Auto-Backup: Create backups manually (set your own schedule)
Related Sections¶
- System Settings - General store configuration
- Themes Manager - Backup before theme changes
- Users - User account management and access control