> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.latitude.sh/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backups and restore

> Capture point-in-time backups of a virtual machine's disk and restore them into new virtual machines.

A backup captures a point-in-time copy of a virtual machine's disk. You can restore that backup into a new virtual machine whenever you need to recover data or clone the machine. Backups run in the background and don't affect the running instance.

## Creating a backup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a backup">
    Open the virtual machine and click **Actions > Back up...**, or open the **Backups** tab and click **Create backup**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Review the details and click **Create backup**. The machine keeps running while the backup is captured in the background.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Backups tab

The **Backups** tab on the virtual machine's detail page lists every backup as an expandable card showing when it was created, its status, and its size. Expand a card to see the virtual machines restored from that backup, each linking to the machine it created. You can also copy a backup's ID from its card.

Each backup moves through the following statuses:

* **Creating**: The backup is being captured. It can't be restored or deleted yet.
* **Ready**: The backup is complete and available to restore or delete.
* **Failed**: The backup didn't complete. You can delete it, but you can't restore from it.
* **Archived**: Deletion was requested and the backup is being removed.

While a backup is being created or removed, the tab updates on its own, so statuses and sizes refresh without a manual reload.

## Restoring from a backup

Restoring always creates a new virtual machine and leaves your original machine unchanged.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the restore modal">
    On the **Backups** tab, expand the backup you want and click the restore action. The backup must be in the **Ready** status.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the new machine (optional)">
    Enter a name for the restored machine, or leave it blank to generate one from the source machine.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a region">
    Pick a region for the new machine. The picker lists the locations your plan is available in; out-of-stock locations are disabled and show a **No stock** badge.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the restore">
    Click **Restore**. The restore runs in the background, and the new machine appears in the backup's restore list as it's created.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Deleting a backup

On the **Backups** tab, expand a backup, click the delete action, and confirm. A backup can be deleted once it's in the **Ready** or **Failed** status. Deleting is permanent and can't be undone, but virtual machines you've already restored from the backup aren't affected.