How do I know whether my backup will actually work?
A backup is only trustworthy after a restore test; recover a few files now and confirm that an offline or separate copy exists.
Do not wait for a failed drive to discover that the backup stopped months ago. Pick one recent document, one older photo, and one folder, restore them to a temporary location, and open each file. Check the backup’s latest successful-run date and any error notices.
For important data, keep at least three copies on two types of storage with one copy disconnected or stored separately; a permanently attached drive can be damaged or encrypted along with the computer. Repeat a small restore test after major updates or changes to your backup plan.
Why untested backups fail when needed
A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a backup. Failures hide in the gap between copying and recovering: files that were locked during the copy, a drive quietly corrupting, cloud sync that mirrored your deletions, or a password to the backup itself that nobody wrote down.
What to do, step by step
- Restore one folder today, not everything. Pick your most precious folder and prove you can get it back onto a different location.
- Keep the 3-2-1 shape: three copies, two different types of storage, one copy off-site or in the cloud.
- Test on a schedule — tie it to changing smoke-alarm batteries or the first of each season so it actually happens.
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