How to Create or Restore Droplets from Backups

Validated on 1 Aug 2024 • Last edited on 18 Dec 2024

Backups are automatically-created disk images of Droplets. Enabling backups for Droplets enables system-level backups at weekly or daily intervals, which provides a way to revert to an older state or create new Droplets.

You can use backups as the base image for new Droplets. This is useful to create additional Droplets with the same data and configuration as the original, or to view or restore a small number of files to the original Droplet.

You can also restore an existing Droplet to one of its backups, replacing the original Droplet with one based on the backup image. This is useful if you want to completely revert a Droplet to an older point in time, but you lose any changes on the Droplet from after the backup was taken.

Create New Droplets from Backups

Using the Control Panel

To use a backup as the base image for a new Droplet, from the control panel, click the name of the Droplet with the backup you want to use, then click Backups.

In the Droplet backups section, open the More menu of the backup you want to use and choose Create Droplet.

Droplet backups with the More menu open

This brings you to the Droplet create screen with the image for that backup selected. Choose the rest of the Droplet options.

Note
To preserve data integrity, you must select a disk size equal to or larger than the Droplet used to create the backup.

Finally, click Create to create a Droplet based on the selected backup.

Once the new Droplet is created, you can copy files between the original and new Droplet using file transfer tools like scp or rsync.

Using the API or CLI

You can create new Droplets from backups using the Droplet creation doctl command or API endpoint, and setting the image field to the backup image’s ID.

How to Create a New Droplet From a Backup Using the DigitalOcean CLI
  1. Install doctl, the official DigitalOcean CLI.
  2. Create a personal access token and save it for use with doctl.
  3. Use the token to grant doctl access to your DigitalOcean account. 
    doctl auth init
  4. Finally, run doctl compute droplet create. Basic usage looks like this, but you can read the usage docs for more details: 
    doctl compute droplet create <droplet-name>... [flags]
    The following example creates a Droplet named example-droplet with a two vCPUs, two GiB of RAM, and 20 GBs of disk space. The Droplet is created in the nyc1 region and is based on the ubuntu-20-04-x64 image. Additionally, the command uses the --user-data flag to run a Bash script the first time the Droplet boots up: 
    doctl compute droplet create example-droplet --size s-2vcpu-2gb --image ubuntu-20-04-x64 --region nyc1 --user-data $'#!/bin/bash\n touch /root/example.txt; sudo apt update;sudo snap install doctl'
How to Create a New Droplet From a Backup Using the DigitalOcean API
  1. Create a personal access token and save it for use with the API.
  2. Send a POST request to https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets.

cURL

Using cURL:

curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"name":"example.com","region":"nyc3","size":"s-1vcpu-1gb","image":"ubuntu-20-04-x64","ssh_keys":[289794,"3b:16:e4:bf:8b:00:8b:b8:59:8c:a9:d3:f0:19:fa:45"],"backups":true,"ipv6":true,"monitoring":true,"tags":["env:prod","web"],"user_data":"#cloud-config\nruncmd:\n  - touch /test.txt\n","vpc_uuid":"760e09ef-dc84-11e8-981e-3cfdfeaae000"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets"

Go

Using Godo, the official DigitalOcean API client for Go:

import (
    "context"
    "os"

    "github.com/digitalocean/godo"
)

func main() {
    token := os.Getenv("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN")

    client := godo.NewFromToken(token)
    ctx := context.TODO()

    createRequest := &godo.DropletCreateRequest{
        Name:   "example.com",
        Region: "nyc3",
        Size:   "s-1vcpu-1gb",
        Image: godo.DropletCreateImage{
            Slug: "ubuntu-20-04-x64",
        },
        SSHKeys: []godo.DropletCreateSSHKey{
            godo.DropletCreateSSHKey{ID: 289794},
            godo.DropletCreateSSHKey{Fingerprint: "3b:16:e4:bf:8b:00:8b:b8:59:8c:a9:d3:f0:19:fa:45"}
        },
        Backups: true,
        IPv6: true,
        Monitoring: true,
        Tags: []string{"env:prod","web"},
        UserData: "#cloud-config\nruncmd:\n  - touch /test.txt\n",
        VPCUUID: "760e09ef-dc84-11e8-981e-3cfdfeaae000",
    }

Ruby

Using DropletKit, the official DigitalOcean API client for Ruby:

require 'droplet_kit'
token = ENV['DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN']
client = DropletKit::Client.new(access_token: token)

droplet = DropletKit::Droplet.new(
  name: 'example.com',
  region: 'nyc3',
  size: 's-1vcpu-1gb',
  image: 'ubuntu-20-04-x64',
  ssh_keys: [289794,"3b:16:e4:bf:8b:00:8b:b8:59:8c:a9:d3:f0:19:fa:45"],
  backups: true,
  ipv6: true,
  monitoring: true,
  tags: ["env:prod","web"],
  user_data: "#cloud-config\nruncmd:\n  - touch /test.txt\n",
  vpc_uuid: "760e09ef-dc84-11e8-981e-3cfdfeaae000",
)
client.droplets.create(droplet)

Python

Using PyDo, the official DigitalOcean API client for Python:

import os
from pydo import Client

client = Client(token=os.environ.get("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN"))

req = {
  "name": "example.com",
  "region": "nyc3",
  "size": "s-1vcpu-1gb",
  "image": "ubuntu-20-04-x64",
  "ssh_keys": [
    289794,
    "3b:16:e4:bf:8b:00:8b:b8:59:8c:a9:d3:f0:19:fa:45"
  ],
  "backups": True,
  "ipv6": True,
  "monitoring": True,
  "tags": [
    "env:prod",
    "web"
  ],
  "user_data": "#cloud-config\nruncmd:\n  - touch /test.txt\n",
  "vpc_uuid": "760e09ef-dc84-11e8-981e-3cfdfeaae000"
}

resp = client.droplets.create(body=req)

Restore Droplets from Backups

Using the Control Panel

To restore a Droplet to one of its backups, from the control panel, click the name of the Droplet, then click Backups. In the Droplet backups section, open the More menu of the backup you want restore to and choose Restore Droplet.

Because restoring a backup to your Droplet erases existing data on that Droplet, confirmation is required to complete the operation:

Restore Droplet window

In the Restore Droplet window, confirm the restoration by clicking Restore Droplet.

Restoring from a backup turns your Droplet off during the restoration process and turn it back on automatically once the restoration is complete.

Using the API or CLI

You can restore a Droplet from a backup using the following command, or by sending a request to the Droplet action endpoint and setting the restore field to a backup image’s ID.

How to Restore a Droplet From a Backup Using the DigitalOcean CLI
  1. Install doctl, the official DigitalOcean CLI.
  2. Create a personal access token and save it for use with doctl.
  3. Use the token to grant doctl access to your DigitalOcean account. 
    doctl auth init
  4. Finally, run doctl compute droplet-action restore. Basic usage looks like this, but you can read the usage docs for more details: 
    doctl compute droplet-action restore <droplet-id> [flags]
    The following example restores a Droplet with the ID 386734086 from a backup image with the ID 146288445: 
    doctl compute droplet-action restore 386734086 --image-id 146288445
How to Restore a Droplet From a Backup Using the DigitalOcean API
  1. Create a personal access token and save it for use with the API.
  2. Send a POST request to https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/{droplet_id}/actions.

cURL

Using cURL:

# Enable Backups
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"enable_backups"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Disable Backups
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"disable_backups"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Reboot a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"reboot"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Power cycle a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"power_cycle"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Shutdown and Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"shutdown"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3067649/actions"

# Power off a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"power_off"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Power on a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"power_on"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Restore a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"restore", "image": 12389723 }' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3067649/actions"

# Password Reset a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"password_reset"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Resize a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"resize","size":"1gb"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Rebuild a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"rebuild","image":"ubuntu-16-04-x64"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Rename a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"rename","name":"nifty-new-name"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Change the Kernel
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"change_kernel","kernel":991}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Enable IPv6
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"enable_ipv6"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Enable Private Networking
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"enable_private_networking"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Snapshot a Droplet
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"snapshot","name":"Nifty New Snapshot"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164450/actions"

# Acting on Tagged Droplets
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"type":"enable_backups"}' \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/actions?tag_name=awesome"

# Retrieve a Droplet Action
curl -X GET \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
  "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/3164444/actions/36804807"

Go

Using Godo, the official DigitalOcean API client for Go:

import (
    "context"
    "os"

    "github.com/digitalocean/godo"
)

func main() {
    token := os.Getenv("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN")

    client := godo.NewFromToken(token)
    ctx := context.TODO()
// Enable Backups
    action, _, err := client.DropletActions.EnableBackups(ctx, 3164450)

// Disable Backups
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.DisableBackups(ctx, 3164450)

// Reboot a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Reboot(ctx, 3164450)

// Power Cycle a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.PowerCycle(ctx, 3164450)

// Shutdown a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Shutdown(ctx, 3067649)

// Power Off a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.PowerOff(ctx, 3164450)

// Power On a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.PowerOn(ctx, 3164450)

// Restore a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Restore(ctx, 3164449, 12389723)

// Password Reset a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.PasswordReset(ctx, 3164450)

// Resize a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Resize(ctx, 3164450, "1gb", true)

// Rebuild a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.RebuildByImageSlug(ctx, 3164450, "ubuntu-16-04-x64")

// Rename a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Rename(ctx, 3164450, "nifty-new-name")

// Change the Kernel
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.ChangeKernel(ctx, 3164450, 991)

// Enable IPv6
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.EnableIPv6(ctx, 3164450)

// Enable Private Networking
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.EnablePrivateNetworking(ctx, 3164450)

// Snapshot a Droplet
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Snapshot(ctx, 3164450, "Nifty New Snapshot")

// Retrieve a Droplet Action
//  action, _, err := client.DropletActions.Get(ctx, 3164450, 36804807)

}

Ruby

Using DropletKit, the official DigitalOcean API client for Ruby:

require 'droplet_kit'
token = ENV['DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN']
client = DropletKit::Client.new(access_token: token)

# Enable Backups
client.droplet_actions.enable_backups(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Disable Backups
# client.droplet_actions.disable_backups(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Reboot a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.reboot(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Power Cycle a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.power_cycle(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Shutdown a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.shutdown(droplet_id: 3067649)

# Power Off a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.power_off(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Power On a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.power_on(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Restore a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.restore(droplet_id: 3067649, image: 12389723)

# Password Reset a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.password_reset(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Resize a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.resize(droplet_id: 3164450, size: '1gb')

# Rebuild a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.rebuild(droplet_id: 3164450, image: 'ubuntu-16-04-x64')

# Rename a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.rename(droplet_id: 3164450, name: 'nifty-new-name')

# Change the Kernel
# client.droplet_actions.change_kernel(droplet_id: 3164450, kernel: 991)

# Enable IPv6
# client.droplet_actions.enable_ipv6(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Enable Private Networking
# client.droplet_actions.enable_private_networking(droplet_id: 3164450)

# Snapshot a Droplet
# client.droplet_actions.snapshot(droplet_id: 3164450, name: 'Nifty New Snapshot')

Python

Using PyDo, the official DigitalOcean API client for Python:

import os
from pydo import Client

client = Client(token=os.environ.get("DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN"))

# enable back ups example
req = {
  "type": "enable_backups"
}

resp = client.droplet_actions.post(droplet_id=346652, body=req)

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