The Backups page shows every backup stored for your account, across all connections and servers.
Backup list
Each backup entry shows:
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Connection | The connection name (e.g., prod-postgres) |
| Server | Which server ran the backup |
| Status | success or failed |
| Size | Compressed, encrypted size |
| Created at | When the backup completed |
| Expires at | When it will be deleted per your retention setting |
Triggering a backup
Click Backup now on any connection row to trigger an on-demand backup immediately. The dashboard sends a signal to the agent on your server — the backup runs locally and uploads the result.
The backup appears in the list within seconds of completing.
Restoring a backup
Click Restore on any backup row. The dashboard sends a restore signal to the agent on your server. The agent:
- Downloads the encrypted file from cloud storage
- Verifies the SHA-256 checksum
- Decrypts it locally using your local key
- Pipes it into the target database
Restoring overwrites the current contents of the target database. You will be asked to confirm in the dashboard before the restore signal is sent.
Failed backups
Failures appear in the list with a failed status and an error message. Failures are always surfaced in the dashboard — even dump-stage failures that produce no uploaded file.
Common reasons for failure:
- Database tools not installed (
capsule doctor to check)
- Database credentials changed
- Database server unreachable
- Disk space exhausted during dump
Retention and expiry
Backups are deleted automatically when they reach the retention limit you configured on the schedule, or when your plan’s maximum retention period is reached. The Expires at column shows when each backup will be removed.
To keep a backup longer, upgrade your retention setting on the schedule or your plan. 