If you have excluded some type of SharePoint data from your backup – such as library files, list items, or metadata – this may affect your SharePoint restore.

Before you proceed, make sure you understand what will happen to your data. Please also always remember to restore from the correct snapshot – from a time before your data was lost.

Depending on what you have selected to back up, your restore will behave as follows:

Only Library files and metadata included in SharePoint backup

If you lost a document library:

  • Restoring the document library restores the document with all metadata.
  • Restoring the whole site restores the document library with all metadata. If any lists exist, they are not deleted.
  • Restoring the site as a new site with a new URL restores the site with document libraries and metadata.

Only List items and metadata included in SharePoint backup

If you lost a list:

  • Restoring the list restores the list with all metadata.
  • Restoring the whole site restores the list with all metadata. If any document libraries exist, they are not deleted.
  • Restoring the site as a new site with a new URL restores the site with lists and metadata.

Only List items included in SharePoint backup

If you lost a list:

  • Restoring the list restores the list with attachments, but without metadata.

  • Restoring the whole site restores the list with all items and attachments. Existing document libraries and metadata are not deleted.

  • Restoring the site as a new site with a new URL restores the site with lists with its items and attachments. Default site metadata is restored.

Only Library files included in SharePoint backup

If you lost a document library:

  • Restoring the document library restores the document library with its files. Custom metadata is not restored.

  • Restoring the whole site restores the document library and its files without any custom metadata. Existing site data and metadata are not deleted.

  • Restoring the site as a new site with a new URL restores the site with document libraries and its files. Default site metadata is restored.