# Restoring a backup

> Settings Saver backs up an instance's options.txt before Load replaces it. Learn where the backups are, how many are kept and how to put one back.

URL: https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/guides/backups/ · Updated: 2026-11-06 · Applies to: Fabric, Quilt, Legacy Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, MC 1.7.10 - 26.3

Before Settings Saver overwrites an instance's existing `options.txt`, it copies the file into the
store. By the end of this guide you can find that copy and put it back.

## When backups are made

- When you press **Load settings from profile**.
- At every launch of an instance in the **Auto + always apply** [sync mode](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/mechanics/sync-modes/index.md).

A new instance that gets the profile on its first launch has no `options.txt` yet, so nothing is
backed up then. Save never changes the instance, so it makes no backup either.

## Where they are

Backups are in `backups/vanilla/` inside the [store](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/guides/store-location/index.md). Each file is named
`<date>-<time>-<instance>-options.txt`, for example:

```text
20261105-214233-117-5f2a9c1e-options.txt
```

The first part is when the backup was made (year, month, day, then hours, minutes, seconds and
milliseconds). The second part is a short code for the instance's folder: backups from the same
instance share it.

Settings Saver keeps the **newest 5 backups in total**, across all instances, and deletes older ones.
Change the number with `backups` in the [global config](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/config/global/index.md). `backups=0` turns
backups off.

## Steps

1. Close the game whose settings you want to restore.
2. Open `backups/vanilla/` in the store and pick the backup by its date and time.
3. Copy it into the instance's game folder (the folder with `mods` and `saves`) and rename it to
   `options.txt`, replacing the file there.
4. Start the game.

> **Warning:** In the **Auto + always apply** mode the profile is applied again at the next launch, over the
> restored file. Switch the instance to **Off** or **Auto** first, or edit the profile instead.

> **Tip:** With sync on **Auto**, the restored settings are not saved to the profile just because you put the
> file back. Press **Save settings to profile** once the game is running if you want the profile to
> match.