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First Restore

Learn how to restore a folder to any historical state.

Upgrade notice

For configs upgraded from older versions, validate restore results in a test directory first.

Steps​

1. Open the history page​

  1. Open FolderRewind.
  2. Click the target config card to enter details.
  3. Select the folder and open its History Timeline.

2. Select a restore point​

The timeline lists all backups in chronological order. Each entry shows:

  • Backup time
  • File size
  • Archive file name

Select the point you want to restore to.

3. Run restore​

  1. Select a backup entry and click Restore.
  2. In the confirmation dialog, choose restore mode:
    • Clean Restore: cleans target directory before restore (recommended). If Safe Restore is enabled, FolderRewind creates a snapshot first and rolls back automatically if restore fails.
    • Overwrite Restore: overwrites same-name files and may keep old files
  3. Some plugin-driven configs may fully take over restore logic. In that case, follow the plugin prompt and plugin documentation.
  4. Confirm and wait for completion.
Encrypted configs

If the config type is encrypted, password verification is required before restore.

Important

Clean mode removes existing content in the target directory (except whitelist rules). If unsure, run a manual backup first, and enable both "Auto backup before restore" and "Safe Restore".

4. Verify results​

Check folder contents and confirm files are restored to the expected state.

In Config Settings → Restore Policy:

  • Enable Auto backup before restore
  • Enable Safe Restore so Clean restore can roll back automatically if something goes wrong
  • Configure Restore Whitelist to keep specified files/folders in Clean mode

Troubleshooting​

  • Backup file missing: the archive may have been moved or deleted manually.
  • Password verification failed: confirm the correct password for this config.
  • Restore failed midway: if Safe Restore was enabled, FolderRewind will try to roll back automatically; then inspect the task log for the actual cause.
  • Unexpected result after restore: confirm restore mode and whitelist settings.

Next Steps​