Backblaze is among the cheapest cloud backup services that offer an easy way to protect your data and recover your files. It offers unlimited backup space for your PC or Mac, making it a great option for storing large amounts of data. It also boasts a variety of features that make it a versatile option. You can schedule backups, choose which files to include or exclude from backups, and set bandwidth limits to prevent your backups from impacting your internet connection.
You can also view detailed reports of your backup activity, which can help troubleshoot any issues you may encounter. But, at times, you may lose access to your important files, which may hinder your workflow or even turn the situation more painful. Here are some possible ways to recover Backblaze files.
Recover Backblaze Files from the Website
Backups are generally automated with Backblaze, although the process of restoring data requires more effort. Here are the steps you need to recover Backblaze files:
- Open your Web browser and go to the Backblaze login page to access your account.
- Enter your login information and press Sign In. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you may use your authenticator app or an SMS verification message to input the code.
- You have three options: ZIP, a USB Flash Drive, and a USB Hard Drive. We’ll focus on the first choice because it’s a bit of a misnomer; you don’t need to download a Zip file if you only want to restore a few files. If you need to recover quite a lot of data and the download takes days, the other two choices are required.
- Select the “Download Zip” option. The first time you would Backblaze, a technician will connect your drive and download the full backup. (For the sake of argument, USB Hard Drives are restricted to 4 TB per drive, so if you want to back up an 8 TB hard disk to Backblaze, you’ll need to break it down into two 4 TB volumes.)
- If you have a private encryption key, click “Unlock” in the bottom-right corner of the screen. A file browser appears at the bottom of the page, allowing you to pick and restore files. It will most likely take a few minutes to load your data, so be patient.
- At the top of the screen, you can choose which computer and backup you want to recover from. Backblaze maintains previous versions of files for 30 days, so if you need something other than the newest version of a file, choose “Beginning Of Backup” under “Files From“ and “To” days ahead.
- When you’re finished, press “Go.”
- Note. “Select All Files and Folders” is only available from the file browser; however, unless you have an exceptionally fast Internet connection, Backblaze is a better option.
Steps to Get a Single File from Backblaze
If a file is less than 30 MB, you can immediately download or share it by clicking its name. This is how:
- Select “Download” to obtain the file directly from your browser.
- Selecting “Share with Link” displays a text area with a URL and a Copy button that copies the URL to your clipboard. Anyone who has access to the URL can download the file. Backblaze’s documentation contains some of the more technical information about sharing files in this manner, which uses B2 cloud storage through its B2 service.
Instructions to Restore Multiple Files from Backblaze
You must select the files in the browser and request a Zip file that takes time to prepare if you need to restore an entire folder or more than a handful of files. In contrast, you get all the files in one hit. Do the following:
- Select the checkboxes next to the files you wish to restore in the file browser. If you’re restoring from many locations, note how the folders and subfolders in the sidebar light up, indicating where you’ve selected files to retrieve.
- After choosing the files, select “Continue” to proceed with the restoration process. You’ve now completed the hard part. It’s time to sit back and wait for Backblaze to finish building your backup archive. Depending on how many files you selected, the total size of those files, and the current server load, Backblaze may take several minutes to assemble your restore. Even for a 24 GB restoration, it usually takes around ten minutes in my testing.
- You will get an email stating that your restore is finished. Click “Sign in to download them” on the restore page. You can also access the restore page by signing in to your Backblaze account on the Web and clicking “My Restores”.
- Press the “Download button” to get a Zip file of the selected files once you’ve arrived.
- Note. Because you’re getting a Zip archive of the restored files, they won’t be restored to their original Finder locations. To expand the archive, double-click it. Then move the files back to their correct places manually.
Alternatively, use the Backblaze Downloader app to download a large Zip archive more quickly and efficiently than a Web browser:
- Launch the program and log in using your Backblaze credentials.
- Choose a local folder to receive the file, then “Sign In to Start”.
- Select a restoration, and sign in again when your restore is ready to download.
- Note. Backblaze Downloader does not permit you to start restoring; just download the one you’ve already made.
