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To restore files from IDrive, sign in to your account on the web or open the IDrive desktop application, select the backed-up computer and files, choose a destination, and start the restore. For an older copy, use file version history or Snapshots. For items deleted from your IDrive account, check Trash promptly: IDrive says it automatically deletes Trash contents after 30 days.
Before you restore files
Make sure you are signed in to the IDrive account that contains the backup, then identify the computer or backup set where the files were stored. A file may be missing because you selected the wrong account or computer, or because it was never backed up.
Choose where the recovered files should go. Restoring to the original location is convenient, but IDrive warns that it can overwrite existing files with the latest available backup copy. To preserve a newer local version, restore to a separate folder or another local destination first. An external drive can provide extra space if needed; buying one is not required for a restore.
If you set a private encryption key for your account, have it available for a web restore. IDrive’s web FAQ says a user-selected private key is needed for web restoration; accounts using the default key can restore directly.
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Restore files from the IDrive website
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Sign in to your IDrive account in a browser.
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Open the backup or computer containing the files. In the Remote Manage route documented by IDrive, go to More > Remote Manage, select the computer, and choose Restore.
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Select the file or folder you need. If the interface offers a restore-location field, choose a destination before continuing.
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Start the restore or download, following the option shown in your account.
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IDrive’s web interface labels can vary across versions, so use the destination choice presented in your account rather than relying on one exact button name. A browser restore is useful when you need remote access or a small number of files.
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Restore files with the desktop application
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Open the IDrive application and go to Restore.
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Select the online backup source and the backed-up computer or files you need.
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Choose a destination. Use a separate folder if you want to protect the current local copy.
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Select Restore Now to begin. The Windows classic/6-series FAQ also describes drag-and-drop restoration; available labels and behavior may differ in other app versions or operating systems.
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IDrive’s Windows FAQ states: “Restoring to original location overwrites the existing files with the latest file version available in your cloud backup or local backup.” See the IDrive Windows application FAQ for its documented workflow.
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Restore an older version of a file
Use version history when a file still exists in the backup but you need an earlier revision—for example, before an unwanted edit. In the web interface or the application’s Restore view, locate the file’s Version or previous-version control, select the revision you want, then download or restore it.
IDrive says current accounts can restore up to 30 previous versions. Accounts created before November 7, 2018 may have up to 10. These are maximum version counts, not a guarantee of a fixed time span: how far back you can go depends on the timestamps of versions still retained for that file. IDrive documents these limits in its Snapshots information and Windows FAQ.
Recover files deleted from your IDrive account
Use Trash for files deleted from the IDrive account itself. This is different from deleting a file from your computer: a backed-up copy may still be available even if the local file is gone.
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In the web interface, open More > Trash.
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Select the relevant computer and the files or folders to recover.
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Choose Put Back to return data to the account, or use the local restore option if it is offered and you want a local copy.
IDrive says items in Trash are automatically deleted after 30 days. If you cannot find an item there, it may have passed that period or may not have been backed up to the account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Restore files from a point in time with Snapshots
Snapshots are useful when you want to recover selected files or folders as they existed at a particular date and time, rather than choosing a revision file by file. In the application, open Restore > Snapshots, select the available date and time, submit the selection, then choose the files or folders to restore.
Snapshots rely on file versioning. The oldest retained timestamp determines how far back the available recovery can reach; a requested point may not be available if the relevant versions are no longer retained. See IDrive’s Snapshots documentation.
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If a file or computer is missing
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Confirm that you are in the correct IDrive account and selected the computer or backup set that held the data.
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Search the backup and check whether the file was included in a backup.
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For a deleted item, distinguish a local computer deletion from deletion inside the IDrive account; check the backup and Trash as appropriate.
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If your private encryption key is lost, contact IDrive support. The cited help pages do not describe a way to recover that key.
Recovery depends on a backup having been made and the relevant copy or version still being available. IDrive’s documented restore routes cannot recover files that were never backed up or copies that are no longer retained.
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