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Windows Server failed, need to access files from Azure Backup

Craig DeAndrea 60 Reputation points
2026-04-24T19:19:46.01+00:00

My Windows Server failed and I need to access the files and folders in my Azure Backup vault from a Windows client until a new server can be set up. How can this be done?

Azure Backup
Azure Backup

An Azure backup service that provides built-in management at scale.

Answer accepted by question author

Siva shunmugam Nadessin 10,570 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-04-24T22:34:13.11+00:00

Hello Craig DeAndrea,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

When investigated we see that can absolutely stand up a temporary Windows client, install the MARS (Microsoft Azure Recovery Services) agent on it, register to your Recovery Services vault, and pull down your backed-up files and folders. Here’s how:

  1. Pick a Windows machine • Any Windows 7/8/10/Server 2008R2+ system that meets the MARS-agent OS requirements will work.
  2. Download the MARS agent and vault credentials

• In the Azure portal, go to your Recovery Services vault

• Under Settings (or “Backup Infrastructure”), choose Prepare Infrastructure → Backup • Download the MARS agent installer (32- or 64-bit as needed)

• Click the link to download the vault credentials file (.vaultcredentials) and save it locally – This is the file you pointed out you couldn’t find; it lives in the “Prepare Infrastructure” > “Backup” section of the vault.

Install & register the MARS agent

• Run the MARS agent MSI on your Windows client

• During setup, when prompted, browse to the .vaultcredentials file you just downloaded

• Enter the passphrase shown on the portal (you copied it when you downloaded the vault-credentials)

• Complete the registration wizard

Recover your files

• Open the Microsoft Azure Backup app on the client

• Click Recovery → From Azure → File and Folder Backup

• Select the appropriate recovery point, browse to the folders/files you need, and choose Recover

• Specify an alternate location on the client (since your original server is offline) and start the restore

• Copy files off the client to wherever you need until you rebuild the server.

Let me know if any further queries - feel free to reach out!

Reference List

  1. Backup files/folders using MARS agent: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/backup/backup-windows-with-mars-agent
  2. Tutorial: Recover files from Azure to a Windows Server: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/backup/tutorial-backup-restore-files-windows-server
  3. Step-by-step restore individual files/folders from VM backup (if you were using IaaS VM backups): https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/backup/backup-azure-restore-files-from-vm
  4. MARS agent FAQ (vault credential questions answered here too): https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/backup/backup-azure-file-folder-backup-faq#how-do-i-recover-if-i-lost-my-original-machine-where-backups-were-taken

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Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-04-24T19:20:10.2466667+00:00

Use the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent on a Windows client and recover the data from the Recovery Services vault, treating the client as the temporary “target machine.”

High-level approach

  1. Ensure both the failed (source) server and the Windows client (target) are or can be registered to the same Recovery Services vault.
  2. Install and register the MARS agent on the Windows client.
  3. Use the Microsoft Azure Backup snap-in on the client to recover files and folders from the vault.

Detailed steps

  1. Prepare the Recovery Services vault and client
  • Confirm which Recovery Services vault the failed Windows Server was backing up to.
  • On a working Windows client machine:
    • Download and install the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent from the Recovery Services vault (Backup > Backup goal > On-premises > Files and folders/System State > Prepare infrastructure > Download Agent for Windows Server or Windows Client).
    • Use the vault credentials file from the same vault to register the client machine.
  1. Start a recovery session on the Windows client
  • On the Windows client, open the Microsoft Azure Backup snap-in (search for “Microsoft Azure Backup”).
  • In the Actions pane, select Recover Data to start the Recover Data wizard.
  • When prompted for where to recover from, choose Another server (the failed server is the source; the client is the target).
  • Provide the vault credential file for the vault that contains the backups of the failed server.
  • Select the failed server as the Source machine when prompted.
  • On Select Recovery Mode, choose Individual files and folders (or System State if recovering system state to another server, but for file access use files/folders).
  1. Mount a recovery point and access files
  • On the Select Volume and Date page:
    • Select the volume that contains the data to recover.
    • Choose a date/time (recovery point). Dates in bold have at least one recovery point.
    • Select Mount.
  • Azure Backup mounts the selected recovery point as a recovery volume on the client.
  • On the Browse and Recover Files page, select Browse to open Windows Explorer.
  • In Windows Explorer, navigate the mounted recovery volume, then copy the required files and folders and paste them to any local folder on the client.
    • Files can be opened directly from the recovery volume to verify content before copying.
  1. Unmount the recovery volume
  • After copying the needed data, return to the Browse and Recover Files page and select Unmount.
  • Confirm Yes to unmount the recovery volume.
    • If not unmounted manually, the recovery volume remains mounted for up to 6 hours (or up to 7 days if file copy is ongoing), and no backup jobs will run while it is mounted.
  1. (Optional) Recover System State to an alternate server
  • If the goal is to rebuild a new Windows Server using the old server’s System State:
    • On the new server (target), install and register the MARS agent to the same vault.
    • Open Microsoft Azure Backup > Recover Data > Another server.
    • Provide the vault credentials, select the failed server as Source machine.
    • On Select Recovery Mode, choose System State and follow the System State restore workflow.

This process allows temporary access to all backed-up files and folders from a Windows client until a replacement server is deployed.

References:

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