Restore Conflict Resolutions
In Microsoft 365, each data type is distinguished by specific attributes that uniquely identify it among other objects of the same type. During restore operations, a conflict arises when the object being restored already exists at the destination, as determined by its unique identity. For example, in SharePoint Online or OneDrive, a Site is uniquely identified by its Site URL. If a Site with the same Site URL exists at the restore destination, the system recognizes this as a conflict.
When configuring a restore job, you must specify how the system should handle these conflicting objects. The available conflict resolution options vary depending on the object type and service. Refer to the table below for the available conflict resolutions against each object type in Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Project Online, Public Folders, Microsoft 365 Groups, and Teams.
NOTE
- If you select a file version to restore, the conflict occurs while a file with the same name exists in the destination.
- The data in the table below shows the supported state while HSM is disabled.
Exchange Online
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Mailbox | Object ID | Skip | SkipAppendOverwrite | / |
| Folder | Folder Name | SkipMerge | SkipAppendOverwrite | / |
| Mailbox Item | Item ID | / | SkipAppendOverwrite | / |
OneDrive
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| OneDrive User | OneDrive URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Library | Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Folder | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Document | Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
SharePoint Online
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Site Collection | Site Collection URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| List/Library | List/Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Folder | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Item/Document | Item ID / Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| App | App ID | SkipMerge | / | SkipOverwrite |
Project Online
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Site Collection | Site Collection URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Project | Project Name and Project ID | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| List/Library | List/Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Folder | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Document | Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| App | App ID | SkipMerge | / | SkipOverwrite |
Public Folder
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Folder | Folder ID | Skip | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Mailbox Item | Item ID | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
Microsoft 365 Groups
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Group | Group Address | SkipMerge | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Group Team Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| List/Library | List/Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Folder in SharePoint | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Document | Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| App | App ID | SkipMerge | / | SkipOverwrite |
| Group Mailbox | Group Email Address | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Folder in Mailbox | Folder Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Mailbox Item | Item ID | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Plan | Plan ID and Plan Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Task | Restore the data to its original location: Task IDRestore the data to another location: Task Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
Teams
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Team | Team Address | SkipMerge | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Group Team Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | SkipOverwrite |
| List/Library | List/Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Folder in SharePoint | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Document | Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| App | App ID | SkipMerge | / | SkipOverwrite |
| Group Mailbox | Group Email Address | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Folder in Mailbox | Folder Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Mailbox Item | Item ID | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Plan | Plan ID and Plan Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Task | Restore the data to its original location: Task IDRestore the data to another location: Task Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Public Channel | Channel ID and Channel Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Channel > Conversations | / | / | / | / |
| Channel > Files | File Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Channel > Files > Folder | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Private Channel | Channel ID and Channel Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Private Channel > Conversations | / | / | / | / |
| Private Channel > Files | File Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Private Channel > Files > Folder | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Meetings | Meeting ID | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Group Conversations | Conversation ID | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
Viva Engage
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Viva Engage Community | Group Email Address | SkipMerge | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | Skip Overwrite |
| Viva Engage Messages | / | / | / | / |
| Viva Engage Files | File Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Site Collection | Site Collection URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | Skip Overwrite |
| Site | Site URL | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | Skip Overwrite |
| List/Library | List/Library Title | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| App | App ID | SkipMerge | / | Skip Overwrite |
| Folder in SharePoint | Folder Name | SkipMergeReplace | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Document | Document Name | / | SkipOverwriteOverwrite by Last Modified TimeAppend an “_1” to the Item/Document | / |
| Plan | Plan ID and Plan Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
| Task | Restore the data to its original location: Task IDRestore the data to another location: Task Name | / | SkipOverwrite | / |
Microsoft Teams Chat
| Object Type | Conflict Identity | Container Level Conflict Resolution | Content Level Conflict Resolution | App Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| User | / | / | / | / |
| Chat | / | / | / | / |
| Chat Message | / | / | / | / |
