Knowledgebase

If you need to recover a database from a nightly backup, here is the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Find your backup

Log in to your backup destination (Dropbox, Google Drive, SFTP, or Nextcloud). Backups are stored in dated folders — find the most recent good date and locate the .fmp12 file for the database you need to restore.

Step 2: Download the backup file

Download the file to your local computer.

Step 3: Check for damage (recommended)

Open the file in FileMaker Pro and run File > Recover. This checks the file structure and reports any issues. If the Recover operation finds no problems, the file is clean and ready to use.

Step 4: Upload and re-host

Upload the file to your server via the FMPHost dashboard, then open it in the FileMaker Server Admin Console.

If the database had corruption

If Recover reports structural damage, do not host the recovered file directly. Instead:

1. Open the recovered file in FileMaker Pro
2. Create a Clone (File > Save a Copy As > Clone) — this creates an empty copy with the correct structure but no data
3. Import your records from the recovered file into the clone
4. Host the clean clone on your server

This process removes structural damage while keeping all of your data intact.

Need help with any of these steps? Open a support ticket and we will handle the technical parts for you.