# Backup and Restore

*Tools → Backup* lists the database backups on the server and lets you create, download, upload, restore and delete them.

[![backup](https://help.snono-systems.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-11/scaled-1680-/backup.png)](https://help.snono-systems.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-11/backup.png)

The list shows **FileName** (click to download), **Date**, **Size** and **Version** (the SAS Radius version the backup was made with). Search by file name.

## Buttons

<table id="bkmrk-buttonwhat-it-doespe" style="width: 100%; height: 291.2px;"><thead><tr style="height: 29.6px;"><th style="width: 13.2201%; height: 29.6px;">Button</th><th style="width: 71.9257%; height: 29.6px;">What it does</th><th style="width: 14.8295%; height: 29.6px;">Permission</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr style="height: 46.4px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 46.4px;">Create Backup</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 46.4px;">Starts a backup in the background. Reload the page after a few minutes to see the new file.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 46.4px;">Backup - Create</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.4px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 46.4px;">Download</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 46.4px;">Downloads the selected backup file (<code>&#46;gz</code>). Keep copies outside the server.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 46.4px;">Backup - Download</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.4px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 46.4px;">Upload</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 46.4px;">Uploads a backup file (<code>&#46;gz</code>) from your computer, for example to restore it on a new server.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 46.4px;">Backup - Restore</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.4px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 46.4px;">Restore</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 46.4px;">Restores the selected backup. See below.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 46.4px;">Backup - Restore</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.6px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 29.6px;">Delete</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 29.6px;">Deletes the selected backup file.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 29.6px;">Backup - Delete</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.4px;"><td style="width: 13.2201%; height: 46.4px;">Settings</td><td style="width: 71.9257%; height: 46.4px;">Opens the backup settings: backup disk, daily backups, session records, Google Drive and auto-delete. See the *Backup Settings* page in the Settings chapter.</td><td style="width: 14.8295%; height: 46.4px;">Settings - System Settings</td></tr></tbody></table>

Opening the Backup page needs *Backup - Download*.

## What is in a backup

A compressed copy of the SAS Radius database: users, managers, profiles, NAS, cards, invoices, journals, settings and more. Session history is included only if **Include Session Records** is enabled in the backup settings (this makes files much larger).

## Restoring a backup

1. Select the backup and click **Restore**, then confirm.
2. A **Restoring Database** window shows the progress. **Don't close the window or reload the page.**
3. When finished, all managers are logged out. Log in again.

<p class="callout danger">A restore **replaces the whole database** with the backup, including settings. Everything changed after the backup was made (activations, payments, new users) is lost. Create a fresh backup and download it before restoring.</p>

- If the server time looks wrong after a restore, reboot the server.
- Only one backup or restore can run at a time.

## Good practice

- Enable **Daily Backups** on a separate backup disk, and **Upload To Google Drive** for an off-site copy.
- Download a backup before system updates, bulk changes and maintenance actions.
- Use **Auto Delete Old Backups** so the backup disk doesn't fill up.