How to Backup Home Assistant to Google Drive

Smart Home Device Admin 18 November 2024

Backing up your Home Assistant to Google Drive ensures you have a secure copy of your configurations, automations, and custom settings.

This process uses the Home Assistant Google Drive Backup Add-on, making it easy to automate and manage backups.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Home Assistant installed and running.
A Google account with access to Google Drive.
Access to the Home Assistant web interface.
Internet connection for initial setup.

Step 1: Install the Home Assistant Google Drive Backup Add-on

Open Home Assistant in your web browser.
Go to Settings > Add-ons > Add-on Store.
Search for Google Drive Backup (also known as “Home Assistant Google Drive Backup”).
Click Install and wait for the installation to complete.

Also Read: How to Add Google Nest to Home Assistant

Step 2: Configure the Backup Add-on

After installation, click on the Add-on to open its settings.
Go to the Configuration tab.
Adjust the settings as needed, such as:

Max Snapshots to Keep: Set the number of backups you want to keep on Google Drive.
Days Between Backups: Specify how often you want the backups to occur (e.g., every 3 days).

Click Save after making your changes.

Step 3: Authenticate with Google Drive

Open the Google Drive Backup Add-on and click Start.
Click the Open Web UI button.
You’ll see a prompt asking to authenticate with your Google account.
Sign in with your Google account and grant the necessary permissions for the add-on to access your Google Drive.
Copy the authentication code provided and paste it back into the add-on’s Web UI in Home Assistant.

Step 4: Create Your First Backup

Go back to the Google Drive Backup add-on Web UI.
Click Create Snapshot to manually start your first backup.
Wait for the snapshot to complete. You’ll see it uploaded to your Google Drive under a folder named Home Assistant Snapshots.

Step 5: Set Up Automatic Backups

In the add-on configuration, ensure the Automatic Backups option is enabled.
Specify the backup schedule (e.g., daily, weekly).
Click Save and Restart the add-on to apply the changes.

Also Read: How to Add Google Assistant to Home Screen

Your Home Assistant will now automatically back up to Google Drive based on your configured schedule.

Step 6: Verify Your Backup on Google Drive

Open Google Drive in your browser.
Navigate to the Home Assistant Snapshots folder.
Check that your recent backups are listed with the correct date and time.

Troubleshooting Tips

Backup Not Uploading: Ensure you’ve authenticated with the correct Google account and that there’s enough storage space in your Google Drive.
Add-on Fails to Start: Restart Home Assistant and the add-on. Verify your configuration settings for any errors.
Access Issues: Check your Google account permissions and re-authenticate if necessary.

Common Questions

How often should I back up Home Assistant?
It’s recommended to back up at least once a week, but daily backups are ideal for active configurations.
Can I restore from Google Drive directly?
Yes, you can download the backup file from Google Drive and restore it via the Home Assistant Snapshots menu.
Is my data secure on Google Drive?
The backup files are as secure as your Google Drive account. Enable 2-Step Verification on your Google account for added security.

Also Read: How to Launch Google Assistant Without the Home Button

Conclusion

Backing up Home Assistant to Google Drive is a reliable way to protect your configurations and ensure you can easily recover from any issues. Using the Google Drive Backup Add-on, you can automate this process and have peace of mind knowing your data is securely stored in the cloud.

Quick FAQs About Backing Up Home Assistant to Google Drive

How do I backup Home Assistant to Google Drive?
- Install the Home Assistant Google Drive Backup add-on and configure it to automatically sync your backups to Google Drive.

Also Read: Also Read: How to Connect Google Home to Home Assistant Without Cloud

What add-on is used for Home Assistant Google Drive backup?
- The most popular add-on is Google Drive Backup (formerly Hass.io Google Drive Backup).
How do I install the Google Drive Backup add-on?
- Go to Settings > Add-ons, search for Google Drive Backup, and click Install.
Is Home Assistant backup automatic with Google Drive?
- Yes, once set up, the add-on can automatically create and upload backups on a schedule.
Can I backup Home Assistant manually to Google Drive?
- Yes, you can create a backup in Settings > Backups and upload it manually using the add-on.
How do I restore Home Assistant from Google Drive backup?
- Install the Google Drive Backup add-on, access your backups, and select Restore.
Does Google Drive backup include all Home Assistant configurations?
- Yes, it includes configurations, add-ons, and settings by default.
How much space does Home Assistant backup need on Google Drive?
- It depends on the size of your Home Assistant setup. Typically, backups range from 100MB to 1GB.
Is Google Drive free for Home Assistant backups?
- Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage, which can be used for backups until the limit is reached.
Can I schedule Home Assistant backups to Google Drive?
- Yes, the Google Drive Backup add-on allows you to set a schedule for automatic backups.

Also Read: How to Use Google Home with Home Assistant

Is it safe to backup Home Assistant to Google Drive?
- Yes, the add-on uses encrypted communication for secure uploads to Google Drive.
Can I exclude files from Home Assistant backups to Google Drive?
- Yes, you can customize the backup settings to exclude specific files or folders.
What happens if my Google Drive is full?
- The backup process will fail, and you may need to delete old backups or upgrade your Google Drive storage plan.
Can I backup Home Assistant to multiple cloud services?
- By default, the add-on supports Google Drive, but you can use other services via third-party integrations.
How often should I backup Home Assistant to Google Drive?
- It’s recommended to back up daily or weekly, depending on how frequently you make changes to your setup.
Can I access my Home Assistant backups on Google Drive?
- Yes, you can find the backups in a folder named Home Assistant Backups in your Google Drive.
Does the Google Drive Backup add-on require a Google account?
- Yes, you need to sign in with a Google account to grant access for uploading backups.
Can I encrypt Home Assistant backups to Google Drive?
- Yes, you can enable encryption for added security when creating backups.

Also Read: How to Enable Google Assistant on Home Button

Do I need Google Workspace for Home Assistant backups?
- No, a standard Google account with free Google Drive storage is sufficient.
Is there a limit to how many backups I can store on Google Drive?
- The limit is based on your available Google Drive storage space.