---
title: Backup and Restore
slug: api-docs/backup-and-restore
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-05-11T22:13:10.881Z
---

# Backup and Restore an Edge Device from LEM

**UI trigger**: LEM -> Edge Lifecycle Management -> Edge Devices -> select device -> Backups -> *Make Backup* / *Restore*.

Backups are stored in LEM-managed S3 and accessed via pre-signed URLs (no further auth needed on the URL itself). The backup target on restore can be a different device than the source, which enables configuration cloning across devices.

## Step table

| Step                       | Name in Collection               | Method | Endpoint                                                                                                                              | Body / Notes                                                             | Output                                                      |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1                          | Make Device Backup               | `POST` | `{{LEM_URL}}/api/v1/backup/init-backup?projectId={{project_id}}&deviceId={{edge_device_id}}`                                          | No body. Asynchronous - backup runs on the device.                       | `{ "code": "200", "content": null }`                        |
| 2                          | List Backups                     | `GET`  | `{{LEM_URL}}/api/v1/backup/list?projectId={{project_id}}&deviceId={{edge_device_id}}`                                                 | Poll until the new entry appears                                         | List with `timestamp` and `backupType` (typically `MASTER`) |
| 3                          | Get Pre-signed S3 URL to Backup  | `POST` | `{{LEM_URL}}/api/v1/backup/get?projectId={{project_id}}&deviceId={{edge_device_id}}&backupType=MASTER&timestamp={ts}`                 | --                                                                       | Pre-signed S3 GET URL valid 7 days                          |
| 4 (optional, cross-tenant) | Save Backup to Pre-signed S3 URL | `POST` | `{{LEM_URL}}/api/v1/backup/put?...`                                                                                                   | Used only when relocating the `.dat` to a different S3 location          | New pre-signed PUT URL                                      |
| 5                          | Restore from Backup              | `POST` | `{{LEM_URL}}/api/v1/backup/init-restore?projectId={{project_id}}&deviceId={{target_edge_device_id}}&backupType=MASTER&timestamp={ts}` | `deviceId` query param can target a **different** device than the source | Restore initiated on target device                          |

## Distinct from "LEM Backup"

This chain backs up a **single edge device** (`/api/v1/backup/...`). To back up the LEM instance itself, use Admin Console -> Admin Console Settings -> Backup (`/admin/v1/lem-backup/...`).

## Auth

All calls use `X-AuthToken: {{LEM_AdminApiToken}}`. The pre-signed S3 URL from step 3 carries SigV4 query params and needs **no** auth header.