On Windows 10, after setting up a file backup using Microsoft Azure services, if you ever run into an issue, for example, you lose an important file because of data corruption or accidental deletion, or you need to revert to the previous version of the file, the Azure backup console makes it a straightforward process to get your files and folders back.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to recover files from a backup created with Azure services on Windows 10. (You can also use the same instructions to restore files on Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, 2012, and even 2008.)
How to restore files to the same computer using Azure backup
To restore one or multiple files from a backup created using Azure on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Microsoft Azure Backup and click the top result to open the console.
- Click the Action menu.
- Click the Recover Data option.
- Azure backup recover data option
- Select the This server option.
- Azure backup recovery, device option
- Click the Next button.
- Select the Individual files and folders option.
- Azure backup recovery files and folders option
- Click the Next button.
- Using the drop-down menu, select the drive (volume) with the files to be restored to display the available backups. (You can only select the dates in bold.)
- Select the recovery point that includes the version of the files that you want to recover.
- Azure backup select recovery point
- (Optional) Using the drop-down menu, select the time of the backup of a specific date.
- Click the Mount button.
- Click the Browse button.
- Azure backup browse recovery point to restore data
- Select the data to restore, right-click and select the Copy option, and then use the Paste option to recover your files into a local folder.
- Restore Azure backup data
- Click the Unmount button in the wizard.
- Unmount Azure backup recovery point
- Click the Yes button
As you can see, unlike traditional backup solutions, you need to File Explorer to browse and recover your data as they were stored on a removal drive.
Open Start.
Search for Microsoft Azure Backup and click the top result to open the console.
Click the Action menu.
Click the Recover Data option.
Azure backup recover data option
Select the This server option.
Azure backup recovery, device option
Click the Next button.
Select the Individual files and folders option.
Azure backup recovery files and folders option
Using the drop-down menu, select the drive (volume) with the files to be restored to display the available backups. (You can only select the dates in bold.)
Select the recovery point that includes the version of the files that you want to recover.
Azure backup select recovery point
(Optional) Using the drop-down menu, select the time of the backup of a specific date.
Click the Mount button.
Click the Browse button.
Azure backup browse recovery point to restore data
Select the data to restore, right-click and select the Copy option, and then use the Paste option to recover your files into a local folder.
Restore Azure backup data
Click the Unmount button in the wizard.
Unmount Azure backup recovery point
Click the Yes button
Once you’ve completed the steps, the files and folders will be restored on your device.
