Microsoft 365 Backup Gains Granular Restore Capabilities for SharePoint and OneDrive

Microsoft is enhancing its Microsoft 365 Backup service with a new granular restore capability, allowing administrators to recover specific files and folders from SharePoint and OneDrive backups. This update aims to reduce the need for full site or account rollbacks, minimizing disruption and downtime for organizations.

Addressing the Challenges of Data Loss

Microsoft 365 Backup is a cloud-based data protection service designed to safeguard content stored in SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts and Exchange mailboxes. It provides organizations with fast and reliable backup and recovery options to mitigate data loss events, including accidental deletions and ransomware attacks, without relying on traditional, slower external storage systems. Learn more about SharePoint and OneDrive.

Previously, restoring a single file or folder often required a complete SharePoint site or OneDrive account recovery. This process could be time-consuming, potentially overwriting recent content and disrupting users even when the issue was isolated to a single item. The new granular restore feature directly addresses this inefficiency.

How Granular Restore Works

The new capabilities enable administrators to restore only the necessary files or folders, rather than performing full recoveries. According to Microsoft, administrators will be able to browse and search for files across a site from available daily restore points, apply filters to narrow results, and restore content either to its original location (overwriting existing content) or to a new location by creating a copy.

Rollout and Availability

Microsoft plans to release the granular restore feature in public preview later this month, with general availability expected in early May 2026. The feature will be available to administrators with the SharePoint Backup Administrator role and will apply to organizations already utilizing Microsoft 365 Backup.

Implications for Microsoft 365 Backup Strategies

This update does not alter how backup data is stored and has no direct impact on finish-users. Organizations are encouraged to review their existing backup coverage, prepare administrators for the new restore workflow, and update internal recovery procedures to incorporate file- or folder-level restoration scenarios.

By providing more precise control over data recovery, the granular restore capability empowers administrators to resolve data loss incidents more quickly and efficiently, minimizing disruption to active content. Access Microsoft 365 apps.