Microsoft Teams backup and restoration

Unlike other Microsoft 365 services, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business where the data of their respective services is stored in dedicated storage locations, Microsoft Teams data is stored across each of these storage spaces. Using ManageEngine RecoveryManager Plus, you can back up all Teams data stored in the various spaces and restore it individually to achieve Teams backup and restoration.

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Where is Teams data stored?

Teams can be used to perform one-to-one, group, and channel chats, and can also be used to give an organization private branch exchange (PBX) and telephony capabilities that are tightly integrated with the cloud experience. Depending on the type of communication, the data is stored in the following locations:

One-to-one chat

One-to-one chat

Files shared during the chat: When a user shares a file in a one-to-one conversation, it is stored in the user's OneDrive for Business account in a folder called Microsoft Teams Chat Files. The files are automatically shared with the other members in the chat.

Whether you are chatting with members of your own company, or people outside your company, file storage and permissions are configured in the same manner.

Note: On October 6, 2020, Microsoft modified the location where Teams compliance records for personal chats are stored. Because of this change, RecoveryManager Plus cannot back up Teams compliance records for personal chats right now. RecoveryManager Plus will continue to back up all other aspects of your Teams data.

Group chats

Files shared during the chat: When a user shares files in group chats, the files are stored in the user's OneDrive for Business account in a folder called Microsoft Teams Chat Files. These files are automatically shared with all members in the group chat.

Whether you are chatting with members of your own company, or people outside your company, the file storage and permissions are configured in the same manner.

Group chats
Chat within a channel

Chat within a channel

When you create a Team, an Microsoft 365 group with a group mailbox is created, along with a SharePoint Team site.

  • Files in that channel chat: All files shared in the channel are stored in a document library that is created within the SharePoint Online site. Each channel has a separate document library within the same SharePoint Online site. Files shared in the channels are automatically shared with every member in the channel.
  • Emails sent to channels: All emails sent to the channel’s email are stored in the Email messages of the GroupMailbox created.

Voicemail messages

Voicemails, along with their transcriptions, are stored in the receiver's OneDrive.

Voicemail messages

How can you back up Microsoft Teams using RecoveryManager Plus?

ManageEngine RecoveryManager Plus enables you to back up all parts of your Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business environment.

This includes:
  • All folders in Exchange Online mailboxes, including all folders where voicemail is stored.
  • All folders in users’ OneDrive for Business sites, including the Microsoft Teams Chat Files folder where all files shared in one-to-one chat and group chats are stored.
  • All SharePoint Online sites, including all document libraries that store the files shared in channels, and email messages folders storing all emails sent to channels.
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