Global term sets are backed up in a Term Store folder located at the top level of your SharePoint folder, alongside the list of all SharePoint sites.


Local term sets are backed up within their respective SharePoint site folders, also in a Term Store folder.


Inside each Term Store folder, you'll find term sets, terms, and subterms (if applicable).


We also back up properties, users related to the items, and links (between term sets and terms, i.e., between pinned and reused terms).


Restoring term sets and terms


How to restore global term sets

Global term sets can only be restored from within the connector, not through the restore wizard.

Open your Microsoft 365 connector and navigate to SharePoint > Term Store.

From here, you can restore the entire term store or select and restore individual term sets or terms.


How to restore local term sets

Local term sets can be restored together with SharePoint sties either through the restore wizard or by restoring individual sites from within the connector.

Local term sets can also be restored independently from within the connector via an item restore. For more info, see: Restore Microsoft 365 items 


What happens when term sets are restored?

Term store data is restored in place, unless the site is restored to a new URL or a different tenant.

Deleted term sets, terms, and subterms will be restored with new IDs.

Will items be deleted?

Using the restore wizard

Term groups, term sets, terms, and subterms that are present in SharePoint but not in the snapshot will be deleted. 

Properties, taxonomy administrators, Term Group Managers, term set Owners, and stakeholders that are present in SharePoint but not in the snapshot will be deleted. 

Using item restore

Term groups, term sets, terms, and subterms that are present in SharePoint but not in the snapshot will not be deleted. 

Properties, taxonomy administrators, Term Group Managers, term set Owners, and stakeholders that are present in SharePoint but not in the snapshot will not be deleted. 



Behavior of pinned and reused terms 

Pinning or reusing a term creates linked copies of a source term that can be used in different term sets.

  • Pinned terms can only be modified at the source location, and the pinned copies in the destination location are read-only.
    Deleting a source term with pinned terms automatically deletes all linked copies of the term.
  • Reused terms can be modified in both the source and destination locations. Changes made in either location are synchronized in both directions.
    Deleting a source term with reused terms does not delete linked copies of the term.


Links

  • If the source term is modified, links between the source and pinned or reused terms are renewed.
  • If the source term is deleted, links between the source and pinned or reused terms are not renewed.


Names

Restoring a deleted source term with pinned terms (pinned terms were deleted automatically):

  • The source term is restored with its original name.
  • Pinned terms are restored as RelationCopy_name.

Restoring a deleted source term with reused terms (reused terms still exist):

  • The source term is restored with its original name.
  • Reused terms continue to exist on Microsoft's side.

Restoring a deleted source term when its reused terms were also deleted:

  • The source term is restored with its original name.
  • Reused terms are restored as RelationCopy_name.

Restoring a deleted reused term when its original term still exists:

  • The source term remains unchanged with its original name and ID.
  • Reused term is restored as RelationCopy_name.


Restore limitations

  • Restoring the "System" global term store group is not supported.
  • Links between original and pinned or reused terms are not restored if the terms have been deleted.

  • Restored terms, which were deleted, are returned to the term store taxonomy in the admin center but do not automatically reappear in SharePoint.