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How to Restore Airtable with On2Air Backups

How to Restore Airtable with On2Air Backups

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You can restore your Airtable base using On2Air Backups. To get started, you need to have at least one backup version of your data created by On2Air Backups.

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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE RESTORING - We restore the data to new tables inside the same Airtable base or to a new Airtable base, not to the exact same table or records. We do not overwrite your data. - We do not restore Attachments directly back into your base. Instead, we provide a link in the restored field to the Attachment file inside of your storage drive. - We restore all data, however we cannot restore some field types due to Airtable’s API limitations and not providing API access to all fields. Once the data is restored, you will need to change certain field types from a text field type back to their original type. We do provide a table with all the details so you’ll know what to change. Field types you’ll need to review and change: Formula, Rollups, Lookups, Button

Table of Contents

📽️ How to Restore to the SAME Airtable Base - Video Tutorial

📽️ How to Restore to a NEW Airtable Base - Video Tutorial

1. Tutorial - How to Restore Your Airtable Data

Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to use On2Air Backups to restore data from your Airtable base to the same Airtable base:

  • Access the On2Air Backups dashboard at app.on2air.com
  • Ensure you have already created a backup using On2Air Backups. On2Air automatically backs up your data to Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box.
  • In the side menu, choose "Backup Restores"

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  • Click "New Restore"

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  • Select the Backup Project you want to restore from

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  • Choose the specific base you want to restore. Note that you can only restore one base at a time.
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  • Select the backup version you want to use from the history. You will see multiple versions if you’ve backed up your data more than once.
    • You can restore revisions since the new revisions feature launched in May 2024.
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  • Choose which tables you want to restore. You can select all tables or specific ones.

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  • Select the Airtable connection where you want to restore the data. You can choose the same connection or a different workspace.
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  • Decide whether to restore into a new base or an existing one.
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If Restoring to an Existing Base

  • If restoring to an existing base, select the destination base. This is where your data will be created as new tables
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If Restoring to a New Base

If restoring to a new base, you’ll need the Airtable Workspace ID

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  • Open your Airtable Workspace
  • Click on the Workspace name
  • Look at the URL - It should have an ID that begins with a W

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  • Copy and Paste the ID (without the trailing question mark ?) into the Workspace ID field and click Next

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2. Finalizing the Restore Details

  • Review the details of the restore, including the source base and destination.
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  • Click Begin Import the button to begin the import process
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3. Monitor the Restore Process

  • Monitor the status of your restore. You can refresh the page to see updates.
  • Once the restore is complete, you'll see the status for each table.
  • Once completed, you MUST review the restored version using the instructions below.

4. Review the Meta Restore Table and Update Field Types

You’ll need to review the final restored version.

We restore all data, however we cannot restore some field types. Once the data is restored, you will need to change certain field types from a text field type back to their original type. We provide a table with all the details so you’ll know what to change. Field types you’ll need to review and change: Formula, Rollups, Lookups, Button

  • Check the restored data:
    • The data will be in a new table within the selected base.
    • Each record will include the original record ID.
    • Attachments will be restored as links to files in your storage drive.
  • Review the "Meta Restore" Table, which includes:
    • Field names
    • Link to the Original Tables
    • Link to the Original Field
    • Field type
    • Any issues or actions needed for the restore
    • If needs update is checked ✅, you need to review and fix

Meta Restore Table Example

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Formulas - We include the original formula - You’ll need to change the Text field we created into a Formula field and add the Formula

Lookup - We include the Linked Field Name and what field it looked up

Button - We are unable to pull full configuration for Buttons

Important notes:

  • Attachments are restored as links to files in your drive, not as actual attachments in Airtable.
  • If any fields need attention post-restore, they will be marked in the "meta restore" table.
  • You can restore multiple bases from a backup project, but you must do so one at a time.