Restore Nextcloud from Data Directory

ℹ️ Support
1

Nextcloud version (eg, 20.0.5): Newest
Operating system and version (eg, Ubuntu 20.04): Newest Docker Image
Apache or nginx version (eg, Apache 2.4.25): Newest Docker Image
PHP version (eg, 7.4): Newest Docker Image

The issue you are facing:

I unfortunately lost my nextcloud installation (main folder, database), but because I still have the data folder with all the user info and data (+ app data), I was wondering if there is some way of restoring an installation without having to manually copy all the users files to newly created users on a new instance.
For example, does it work if I just create a new nextcloud instance, create the users I need, stop the instance, move in the old data directory and start it up again? Will users then have all their settings etc. back?

Thanks in advance!

2

Will users then have all their settings etc. back?

No, not unless you also have a backup of the database as well. That’s where settings, contacts, calendars, sharing information etc are stored.

Notes are on disk, along with a SQLite database file, as far as I remember.

However reinstalling a fresh Nextcloud instance and copying the data directory back will give your users their files back.

You’ve learned a hard lesson about making (and testing) backups.