Overwrite existing records when restoring data
ProBackup can overwrite selected fields of an existing record when restoring, to roll back bad edits, failed imports or AI agent errors. Available for seven data types.
In short: Since March 2026 ProBackup offers two restore methods: 'Restore as new records' (the default; creates a fresh copy without touching live data) and 'Overwrite existing records', which updates a live record with values from any backup date, limited to the fields you tick. Overwrite is available for seven data types: Airtable records, Asana tasks, Attio records, ClickUp tasks, HubSpot contacts and deals, Linear issues and monday.com items. Per-data-type constraints, such as Asana formula and read-only custom fields, are shown in the restore pane.
If you've ever needed to roll back changes to a record that's still live in your app, this restore method is for you.
What it does
Before March 2026, ProBackup always restored data as new records. That's still the safest and most common approach, but it isn't always what you need. Sometimes a record wasn't deleted; it was changed. Someone updated the wrong fields, an automation went sideways, or an AI agent touched things it shouldn't have. The record still exists, but the data inside it is wrong.
For the data types listed below, you can restore directly into existing records, overwriting only the specific fields you choose.
How it works
When you select a record and click "Restore...", a restore pane opens on the right. For data types that support overwrite, you'll see a Restore method option with two choices:
- Restore as new records (recommended): The existing behaviour. Creates a fresh copy of the record in its original location without touching anything currently in your app.
- Overwrite existing records: Updates the live record with values from a previous backup. When you select this option, a field picker appears so you can choose exactly which fields to overwrite. Everything else stays untouched.
You can also adjust the snapshot date directly in the pane using the date picker, so you're not limited to the most recent backup, you can restore the record as it looked on any date ProBackup has captured.
At the bottom of the pane, ProBackup surfaces any restore constraints for the data type you're working with. For example, formula fields and read-only custom fields can't be restored for Asana tasks. These are shown upfront so there are no surprises.
Both methods run on the same granular restore engine, down to a single record or field.
When to use each method
| Scenario | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Record was deleted and needs to come back | Restore as new records |
| Record exists but has wrong field values | Overwrite existing records |
| You want to roll back specific fields only | Overwrite existing records + field picker |
| You're unsure | Restore as new records (always safe) |
Which data types support overwrite
Overwrite is available for seven data types:
- Airtable records
- Asana tasks
- Attio records
- ClickUp tasks
- HubSpot contacts and deals (when you back up HubSpot, other objects such as companies and tickets restore as new copies)
- Linear issues
- monday.com items
Other restorable data restores as a new copy (GitHub and DocuSign backups are download-only). A deleted record can only come back as a new record, since there is nothing left to overwrite.
Why this matters
As teams adopt more automation and AI-driven workflows, the risk of bulk, unintended changes to live records grows. An agent that updates the wrong fields across a hundred tasks, or an automation that fires at the wrong time: these are the scenarios where field-level recovery makes the difference between a quick fix and a painful manual cleanup.
Overwrite restore gives you that precision, and makes it practical to undo unwanted AI-agent edits.
Why restore granularity matters
Backup is only as valuable as the restore behind it. Restoring a single record, or a few of its fields, saves you from the export-and-reimport cleanup that a full rollback would need.
Whether you need to recover a deleted record, roll back a handful of fields, or undo the aftermath of a runaway automation, you pick exactly what comes back and leave the rest of your team's work alone.
Getting started
Both restore methods are available on every ProBackup plan. For a full walkthrough of the restore flow, see How to recover deleted data in our Help Center.
Before you need it in anger, it is worth taking the time to run a test restore first.
As always, if you run into anything or have feedback, we'd love to hear from you.
