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Restore a backup safely

Standalone and demo backups can replace their workspace after validation. Shared-network restoration requires coordinated administrator recovery.

Steps

  1. Check the workspace mode. For a paired client or office host, stop and follow the shared-office recovery guide; normal restore is blocked there.
  2. Make a backup of the current workspace if the application still opens.
  3. Choose Reports & exports → Restore backup and select a ClearDesk IQ or compatible legacy backup file. Complete backups (0.4.2 and later) also restore photos and receipts; your current attachments folder is kept, renamed with "before-restore". Older records-only backups leave the photos already on this computer unchanged.
  4. Read the confirmation: check the company name, customer/job counts, the number of photo/receipt files, and whether the target is the demo or real workspace.
  5. Only confirm Restore backup when you intend to replace the currently open workspace. It does not merge two files.
  6. After restoration, inspect jobs and invoices, save a new backup and verify the records remain after reopening.

Check that it worked

The restored workspace matches the selected backup, and the former workspace remains in the automatic recovery copies.

Still stuck?

If the program cannot open its existing database, follow Database cannot be read instead of deleting it to force a new workspace.

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