Restore SharePoint Online data
Elite Plus Elite Enterprise 
Business Overview
Restore of data ensures that the data is available for future reference and business continuity and can be retrieved in case of accidental deletion or malicious activities.
This feature helps administrators in the following scenarios:
-
If a site is in a Purged state, administrators can either choose to restore this site with the same Title and URL or restore it as a completely new site with a new title.
-
If there is a requirement within your organization to recover the backed up site contents to another existing site or a new site.
Restore of SharePoint Online data using inSync Management Console depends on the following SharePoint site attributes:
- Type of SharePoint site template associated with the Site: Modern or Classic.
- State of the SharePoint site: Active, Purged, and Deleted
- Active: SharePoint site exists in your environment.
- Purged: Sharepoint site that is deleted from Recycle bin.
- Deleted: SharePoint site that is present in Recycle bin.
- SharePoint site component: The site components selected for restore from inSync Management Console
See the Support matrix for restore.
An inSync administrator can restore SharePoint Online data using the inSync Management Console at the following locations based on the selection for restore:
- Restore to the same Site: Restore data to the same site from which it was backed up.
- In-place Restore: To the same site collection from where the data was backed up.
- Restore as a Copy: A new subsite is created within the same site collection and the data is restored in this new subsite.
- Restore to a different Site: Restore one site's data to another existing Site.
- Restore as a Subsite: Creates a subsite with the same title and restores data to this subsite.
- Restore to a new Site: Create a new site with a new URL and restore data to this new site.
- Restore as a new Site: Create a new site with a new URL and restore data to this new site
Support matrix for restore
Here's a matrix that lists the supported restore location and options for SharePoint Online data using inSync.
| SharePoint site component selected in inSync | Site Template | Site State | Restore Location | Restore Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Site |
Modern |
Active |
Same Site |
|
| Purged | Same Site |
Restore as a new site |
||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
|
Active Purged |
Different Site | Restore as a Subsite | ||
|
Active Purged |
New Site | Restore as a new Site | ||
|
Full Site |
Classic |
Active | Same Site |
|
| Purged | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
|
Active Purged |
Different Site | Restore as a Subsite | ||
| New Site | Not Supported | |||
|
Subsite, Document Library, List, Files, and Folders |
Modern |
Active |
Same Site |
|
| Purged | Same Site | Restore as a new site | ||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
|
Active Purged |
Different Site | Restore as a Subsite | ||
|
Active Purged |
New Site | Restore as a new Site | ||
|
Subsite, Document Library, List, Files, and Folders |
Classic |
Active |
Same Site |
|
| Purged | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Supported | ||
|
Active Purged |
Different Site | Restore as a Subsite | ||
| New Site | Not Supported | |||
|
Only Settings |
Modern |
Active | Same Site | In-Place |
| Purged | Same Site | Not Applicable | ||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Applicable | ||
| Different Site | Not Applicable | |||
| New Site | Not Applicable | |||
|
Only Settings |
Classic |
Active | Same Site | In-place |
| Purged | Same Site | Not Applicable | ||
| Deleted | Same Site | Not Applicable | ||
| Different Site | Not Applicable | |||
| New Site | Not Supported |
Restore SharePoint data using inSync Management Console
- Due to a Microsoft API limitation, all team sites (hidden sites for Microsoft 365 Groups, Teams Web App) are restored with the classic template when restored as a copy.
- The add a new site and restore purged site (to the same site by creating a new site) functionalities are available only for Teams Sites, Communication Sites, and Group Sites.
- Group Sites (Modern Sites) are restored as Teams Sites.
An inSync administrator can restore SharePoint data using the inSync Management Console as mentioned below.
Scenario: Full or complete site restore
| Restore Location (Site State) | Restore Options |
|---|---|
| Same Site (Active) |
In-place Restore: Replaces and overwrites the existing data within the site collection with the data selected for restore.
Restore as a Copy: The restored site is available as a subsite with the name <inSync Restore datetimestamp>.
|
|
Same Site (Purged)
|
Restore as a new Site: A new site is created with the same URL and title and the data is restored to this new site. |
| Different Site |
Restore as a Subsite: A Subsite <inSync Restore datetimestamp> is created under the selected site. Another subsite with the same title as the source site is created under the above subsite and the data is restored to this subsite. Example: Let’s say you have: Source site Title: Marketing (Site from which data is to be restored) Destination Site Title: Finance (Different site where the source site data has to be restored) Now, when you perform a restore, a subsite <inSync Restore datetimestamp> is created under the Finance site. Another subsite with the source site title (Marketing) is created under <inSync Restore datetimestamp> and the data is restored here.
|
|
New Site
|
Restore as a new Site: A new site with the provided title is created with the data and settings selected for restore. |
Restore full Site of Teams and Private Channel sites (Modern or Classic template)
| Restore Location (Site State) | Restore Options |
|---|---|
| Same Site (Active) |
In-place Restore: Replaces and overwrites the existing data within the site collection with the data selected for restore.
Restore as a Copy: The restored site is available as a subsite with the name <inSync Restore datetimestamp>.
|
Scenario: Only SharePoint Data (Document Libraries, List, Site, Files, Folders) restore
| Restore Location (Site State) | Restore Options |
|---|---|
| Same Site (Active) |
In-place Restore: Replaces and overwrites the existing data within the site collection with the data selected for restore. Restore as a Copy: A new subsite with name <inSync Restore datetimestamp> folder is created within the restored site and the data is restored to this subsite. |
|
Same Site (Purged)
|
Restore as a new Site: A new site is created with the same URL and title with the data and settings selected for restore. |
| Different Site | Restore as a Subsite:
A Subsite <inSync Restore datetimestamp> is created under the selected site and the data is restored to this subsite. Example: Let’s say you have: Source site Title: Marketing (Site from which data is to be restored) Destination Site Title: Finance (Different site where the source site data has to be restored) Now, when you perform a restore, a subsite <inSync Restore datetimestamp> is created under the Finance site and the data is restored here.
|
|
New Site
|
Restore as a new Site: A new site with the provided title is created with the data and settings selected for restore. |
Restore Subsite, Document Library, Lists of Teams and Private Channel sites (Modern or Classic template)
| Restore Location (Site State) | Restore Options |
|---|---|
| Same Site (Active) |
In-place Restore: Replaces and overwrites the existing data within the site collection with the data selected for restore.
Restore as a Copy: The restored site is available as a subsite with the name <inSync Restore datetimestamp>.
|
Support for hierarchical restore of SharePoint Online data
- This also applies to the files selected for restore from the Federated Search wizard.
- In case of file and folder restore, if you want to restore the Site Contents along with its backed up settings, you must select the corresponding settings.json file from the backup snapshot. For example, if you want to restore Document Library (DL1) along with its backed up settings, you must select DL1 settings.json file from the backup snapshot.
Hierarchical restore means you can restore SharePoint Online data with the same and complete hierarchy structure (Subsite, Document Library, Folder, etc] as the original site data.
Hierarchical restore workflow is based on the following parameters:
- Data selected for restore - File or folder. For file selection restore, file parent id logic is applied. For folder selection restore, path logic is applied. This is applicable for In-Place restore.
- Type of restore
- In-Place
- Restore as a Copy
- Restore to a different site
- Restore to a new site
Let's say you have the following scenario:
If a parent hierarchy is deleted, when you initiate restore for a file or folder, inSync creates the missing hierarchy (for In-Place restore) for the item selected for restore and restores the selected item inside it.
Here's an example.
You have the following hierarchy: site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt. The path for sub1 is deleted.
The hierarchy is restored as follows based on the data selected for restore and the type of restore.
Scenario: If file1.txt is selected for restore, data is restored as follows:
- In-place restore: site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt
- Restore as a Copy: site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt
- Restore to a different site: existing_site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt
- Restore to a new site: new_site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt
In the above example, as sub1 path is deleted, in case of In-Place restore of file.txt selection, inSync creates the missing hierarchy i.e. sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1/file1.txt.
Scenario: If Folder1 is selected for restore, data is restored as follows:
- In-place restore: site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1
- Restore as a Copy: site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1
- Restore to a different site: existing_site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1
- Restore to a new site: new_site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/Folder1
Scenario: If DL1 is selected for restore, data is restored as follows:
- In-place restore: site1/sub1/sub2/DL1/<All Files and Folders within DL1>
- Restore as a Copy: site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1
- Restore to a different site: existing_site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2/DL1
- Restore to a new site: new_site1/sub1/sub2/DL1
Scenario: If sub 2 is selected for restore, data is restored as follows:
- In-place restore: site1/sub1/sub2
- Restore as a Copy: site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2
- Restore to a different site: existing_site1/<inSync Restore datetimestamp>/sub1/sub2
- Restore to a new site: new_site1/sub1/sub2
Things to consider for In-Place restore for files and folders
-
If a parent hierarchy is present and the folder within it is renamed and you perform In-Place restore by selecting a file, inSync restores only the selected file based on the parent id of the file.
For example, you have the following hierarchy: site/DL1/f1/f2/f3/f4/samplefile.txt
The folder f2 is renamed to f2new (site/DL1/f1/f2new/f3/f4/). Now, you select samplefile.txt and perform In-Place restore. As the parent hierarchy for the selected file which is f4 is already present, inSync will restore only samplefile.txt as follows:
-
If a parent hierarchy is present and the folder within it is renamed and you perform In-Place restore by selecting a folder, inSync restores only the selected folder based on the path of the folder.
For example, you have the following hierarchy: site/DL1/f1/f2/f3/f4/samplefile.txt
The folder f2 is renamed to f2new (site/DL1/f1/f2new/f3/f4/). Now, you select f4 and perform In-Place restore. As the path for the selected folder is already present, inSync restores data as follows:
Scenario: Only Sharepoint Settings restore
| Restore Location (Site State) | Restore Options |
|---|---|
| Same Site (Active) |
In-place Restore: Replaces and overwrites the existing data within the site collection with the data selected for restore. |
Procedure
- On the inSync Management Console menu bar, click Data Sources > Microsoft 365. An overview page that provides a holistic view of all the configured Microsoft 365 app appears.
- On the left-hand panel, click SharePoint. A page that lists all the discovered sites appears.
- Click the site name that you want to restore. The site page appears if you select a site for which the backup has been enabled.
- In the right pane, click the Backups tab. From all the listed backup site collections, browse and select the sites and subsites that you want to restore. Alternatively, you can use Search Site Collection, located at the top for files across your backed-up SharePoint Online sites and subsites.
- To use Search Site Collection, type the name of the file you are looking for in the box.
- Use the following filters to refine your search criteria:
- File Extensions - Select the file type of the document.
- Modified between/Time Modified - Select the time range to get the list of files modified during a particular time range.
- Owner - Type the name of the owner of the file.
- Click Search. A list of files matching your search criteria is displayed.
- Select the desired files.
- Use the snapshot selector to select the snapshot from which you want to restore data.
- If the SharePoint Online sites, subsites, lists, and document libraries have a “/” (forward slash) character in their name, the snapshot displays a “_“ (underscore)character instead of the “/” (forward slash).
- If the Enterprise Search feature is enabled for your organization, you can filter your search results using different metadata attributes or by typing the name of the specific backed up sites and subsites. For more information, see Search backed up data to restore.
- Click Restore. The Restore window appears. The Restore Location and Restore Options are displayed based on the selected SharePoint Site component (Full Team, Only SharePoint Data, or Only Settings) and the associated site template.
- Select the desired restore location and option and proceed with the restore action. A confirmation message appears after a restore action is initiated successfully.
If you want to restore a deleted site collection (with Classic site template), create a new site collection with the same URL as the deleted site collection. Restore the data of the deleted site in the newly created site collection.
Note:
- No Content Backed up yet message is displayed in the following scenarios:
- If the selected site collection is enabled for backup, but, backup is not initiated for that site collection
- If the first backup for the selected site collection fails.
- Due to Microsoft API limitations, the SharePoint data pertaining to Ratings Settings and Regional Settings cannot be restored.
- In case of Restore as a Copy for SharePoint data (without Settings), the files/folders data gets restored to the Site Contents folder.
- You can perform only In-Place restore for the following SharePoint site data:
- List Template
- Theme Gallery
- Web Parts
- Device Channel
- Solution Gallery
- Due to Microsoft API limitations, you cannot search a Site Title with a suffix string as a search parameter. However, you can search a Site Title with prefix strings that start with ‘ ’, ‘_’, ‘+’,’/’,’\’,’-’,double and single inverted commas.
- When creating a completely new site or a new site from an existing purged site, by default, global administrator is assigned the role of site owner for the new site.
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