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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# Snapshots: creation, retention and restoration

Snapshots are **complete backups** of your applications and databases on Square Cloud. This article brings together, in one place, how they're created, how long they're kept, and how to restore them.

## How snapshots are created

* **Automatically:** Square Cloud generates a safety snapshot on important events — for example, when your subscription expires, the system tries to create a full backup of all your applications and databases.
* Treat snapshots as a **safety net**, not as your only backup strategy. For critical data, keep your own backups too.

## Retention (how long a snapshot is kept)

The rule is **single and the same for everything**: **30 calendar days**.

| Snapshot type | Retention |
| ---- |
| Applications and files | **30 days** |
| Databases | **30 days** |
| Snapshot created on subscription expiration | **30 days** |

After **30 calendar days**, snapshots are **permanently deleted** and can no longer be recovered.

## How to restore

While the snapshot still exists (within the 30 days):

1. **Renew or reactivate your subscription** — for snapshots created on expiration, renewing is what reopens access to the data.
2. In the **Dashboard**, your applications, files and databases become available again.
3. If you can't find your data after renewing, **open a ticket with support** as soon as possible, still within the 30-day window.

> After 30 calendar days, restoration is no longer possible.

## Related

See also [What happens to your files if your subscription expires?](https://help.squarecloud.app/en-us/article/files-what-happens-if-your-subscription-expires-1emjq6o/).