> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.rootset.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backup and recovery

> Protect the complete installation and restore individual databases from saved backups.

Rootset supports two levels of recovery: backups of individual databases through the application, and a complete installation backup managed by your operator.

## Back up the installation

Keep a consistent PostgreSQL backup together with your private object storage and persistent configuration. PostgreSQL contains accounts, workspace settings, table definitions, records, comments and history. Export artifacts live in the S3 source.

Store these settings outside the installation so you can recover them:

* `ROOTSET_SECRET` and `ROOTSET_ENCRYPTION_KEY`.
* The PostgreSQL connection settings and credentials.
* The S3 source settings and credentials.
* The image version and deployment configuration.
* The separate database-backup encryption key, if database backups are enabled.

Use your PostgreSQL and object-storage provider's backup tools. Test recovery before relying on a backup, and take a recoverable backup before upgrading.

## Enable database backups

Add the [backup storage settings](/self-hosting/configuration#database-backup-source) to the worker. An administrator can then configure each database under **Backup & Restore → Backup Schedule**.

Database backups include the tables, records, rules, comments, saved views and retained history of that database. They do not replace a complete installation backup: accounts, sessions, API keys and installation credentials are outside them.

See [Backup and restore](/backups) for scheduling backups, running one manually and restoring into a new database.

## Recover the installation

1. Stop the API and worker while restoring data.
2. Restore PostgreSQL and the matching object-storage snapshot.
3. Restore the original secrets and configuration, including the encryption keys.
4. Start the matching Rootset image version and check API readiness before opening access.
5. Verify sign-in, a table read and an export download.

Use compatible database and application versions. Starting an older image does not reverse a database migration; recovering an earlier schema requires its matching backup.


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