1 October 2026 · 3 min · Custom Odoo
Backing up your Odoo database automatically: the safe method
To back up Odoo properly, copy the PostgreSQL database and the attachments folder every day, encrypt the copies, keep at least one off the server (for example on S3 storage in Europe), and check regularly that you can restore them. On Odoo Online and Odoo.sh, Odoo takes care of it; if you host Odoo yourself, it is your responsibility. Here is the method.
What to back up
An Odoo database is two things: the PostgreSQL database (customers, products, invoices, entries, settings) and the filestore, the folder holding attachments, generated PDFs, product images and documents. Backing up only the database is the most common mistake: on restore, every attachment is gone.
Who backs up?
| Hosting | Backup |
|---|---|
| Odoo Online | Handled by Odoo |
| Odoo.sh | Handled by Odoo, downloadable copies |
| Your own server (VPS, dedicated, on premises) | Up to you |
Most Odoo Community installations are self-hosted, so backup is a real topic there.
The 3-2-1 rule
3 copies of the data (the original and two backups), on 2 different media, with 1 off the server, ideally in another location. A backup on the same server as Odoo protects against neither disk failure, nor hacking, nor a data-centre fire.
Where to store backups
S3 object storage at a European provider (OVHcloud, Scaleway…): cheap, reliable and widely supported. A remote FTP or SFTP server. A folder on another disk or an office NAS, as a complement. Stay in Europe, for the same GDPR reasons as your main hosting.
Encrypt and retain
Backups contain all your customer data: encrypt them. Keep several generations — for example 7 daily, 4 weekly, 12 monthly; a corruption found after ten days cannot be fixed with yesterday’s backup. Purge older ones automatically.
Test the restore
The forgotten step. At least once a quarter: restore the latest backup to a test database, open a few invoices and their attachments, check the date of the latest data, and note how long it took. On the day of a real incident, you will know exactly what to do.
Automating with an app
We published the Automatic Backups app on the official store for Odoo 18, 19 and 20. It backs up the database and files to S3 (OVHcloud, Scaleway…), FTP or a folder, encrypts copies, reads them back and verifies them after each upload, manages retention and alerts you on failure. See our Odoo apps.
Before a migration
Before any update or migration to a new version, take an extra full backup and verify it — your safety net if something goes wrong. Our Odoo migration offer always includes this step.
Security around it
Protect Odoo’s database manager (/web/database/manager) with a strong master password, or disable it in production. Restrict access to backup storage to a dedicated account. Monitor: a backup failing silently for a month is a major risk.
In short
Database and files, daily, encrypted, off the server, in Europe, with a restore tested every quarter. Simple to set up — and it can save the company. Read also Odoo Community vs Enterprise and see our custom Odoo modules. Need a backup audit? Contact us.
FAQ
How often should I back up?
At least daily for an active database, with several days, weeks and months kept. A company that invoices heavily may back up several times a day.
Is Odoo’s database manager enough?
It can make a full manual backup (database and files), useful occasionally. But it is not automatic and must be protected, or disabled in production. You need a scheduled mechanism.
How much does backup storage cost?
Very little: S3 object storage in Europe costs a few cents per gigabyte per month. For an SME database, often less than a few euros a month.
Sources
Mohamed Rahmouni — founder of Ramira, app developer and Odoo consultant in Niort, France. More