# Using s3: "backup with uploads" settings
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 27, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388 "2021-01-27T01:41:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ghufransyed](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ghufransyed)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/1 "2021-01-27T01:41:17Z")
I just followed the instructions to [configure automatic backups](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-automatic-backups-for-discourse/14855?replies_to_post_number=1) and [set up file and image uploads to s3](https://meta.discourse.org/t/setting-up-file-and-image-uploads-to-s3/7229)
I am a little confused about the following setting:
`backup with uploads include uploads in scheduled backups. Disabling this will only backup the database.`
So if I have separate buckets for upload and backup, should I check this or not? I wasn’t sure if this would somehow try to store my uploads in the backup bucket…?
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### Author:  [@gerhard](https://meta.discourse.org/u/gerhard)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/2 "2021-01-28T12:55:27Z")
By default backups do not include uploads stored on S3 as it’s usually a waste of bandwidth a disk space. You need to enable the hidden `include_s3_uploads_in_backups` setting in order to change this behavior.
But if I understand your question correctly you don’t want your backups to contain uploads stored on S3, so you don’t have to change any settings.
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### Author:  [@ghufransyed](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ghufransyed)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/3 "2021-01-31T17:56:10Z")
Thanks! I wonder if it’s worth putting an explanatory note on that setting to that effect?
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/4 "2021-01-31T18:44:58Z")
What explanatory note are you proposing? Can you write it out?
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### Author:  [@alexmas](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alexmas)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/5 "2023-04-10T00:45:57Z")
Hi
I have the same question, and I confirm it is not so obvious.
Now in 2023, the setting “backup with uploads” is selected by default.
I have two buckets on S3 for backups and uploads, and I wonder what happen if I restore or migrate a backup with that setting activated or not.
If not activated, will all my upload files correctly match with the uploads on S3 ?
If activated, will my uploads be overwrited or duplicate on S3 ?
Maybe a bit of answer in this file :
`line 351 "# when the backup is restored to a site with s3 uploads, it will upload the items to the bucket" https://github.com/discourse/discourse/blob/main/script/bulk_import/discourse_merger.rb`
Would you advice to always select “backup with uploads” as it a more resilient way if any problem occur ?
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### Author:  [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-s3-backup-with-uploads-settings/177388/6 "2023-07-03T12:10:49Z")
The hidden site setting `include_s3_uploads_in_backups` is still disabled by default.
I believe the setting `backup with uploads` will only include local uploads if you have it enabled but don’t have `include_s3_uploads_in_backups` enabled as well.