File versions and Trash explained
A file version is an earlier saved state of a file, and versions are what let you undo a bad edit, not only recover a deleted file. In Tornova Backup, versioning is optional and off by default; you can keep 3, 10 or 50 versions, and they use storage. Deleted cloud data waits in Trash for 1 day before it is permanently deleted. This guide explains how both work and how Smart Cleanup keeps you in control.
What a file version is
Suppose you open a report on Monday, change it on Tuesday and save over it by mistake on Wednesday. If your backup only holds the latest copy, it holds the mistake. With versioning, the backup also keeps earlier states of the file, so you can go back to Tuesday's.
Versions answer a different problem from deletion. Deleting a file is obvious. Corrupting, overwriting or damaging a file can go unnoticed for days, and that is when earlier versions matter. They are also useful if a file is changed by a program or damaged by malware.
How versioning works in Tornova Backup
- Versioning is optional and off by default.
- You choose how many versions to keep: 3, 10 or 50.
- Stored versions use backup storage, so they count against your plan.
- Versions exist only from the time versioning is on. A change made before you turned it on has no earlier copy.
When you restore, you can select the version you want on the website before you start the restore, if versioning is enabled and earlier versions are available. The steps are in How to restore files from a cloud backup.
How many versions should you keep?
There is no single right number. It depends on how often a file changes and how far back you may need to look. As a rule of thumb, more versions give more protection and use more storage.
Choosing a number of versions
| Setting | Suits | Trade-off |
|---|
| Off | Archives and files that rarely change | Only the latest backed-up copy is kept |
|---|
| 3 versions | Everyday documents with occasional edits | Short history; the lowest storage use of the three |
|---|
| 10 versions | Files you edit often, such as reports and spreadsheets | A longer history, with more storage used |
|---|
| 50 versions | Files that change a lot and where mistakes are costly | The longest history; the most storage |
|---|
Large files that change often cost the most storage, because each kept version takes space. Check your storage figures first. See How much cloud backup storage do I need? and Pricing.
How Trash works
When backup data is deleted from the cloud side, it is not removed at once. It goes to Trash, where it stays for 1 day. During that day you can restore it from Trash. After that, it is permanently deleted.
Your storage is freed when the data is permanently deleted. You can also empty items from Trash straight away if you are sure. Treat that as final.
Why only 1 day? Trash is a short safety window against a mistaken click, not a long-term archive. It is not a replacement for versions. If you want to be able to go back weeks, use versioning and keep the data in your backup.
Four different things that are easy to confuse
- Deleting a file on your PC: the cloud copy stays. Tornova does not turn a local mistake into a cloud deletion.
- Removing an item from the Backup Set: future backups of it stop. Nothing is deleted.
- Smart Cleanup: you review files deleted from your PC that still have a cloud copy, and you choose which cloud copies go to Trash.
- Delete from Tornova Cloud: you move chosen cloud copies to Trash yourself.
Keeping these apart avoids most worries. Removing a folder from the Backup Set to free space does not free any, and do not remove the Backup Set just to use or test Smart Cleanup.
Smart Cleanup: freeing storage without losing safety
Over time, files you deleted from your PC still occupy cloud storage. Smart Cleanup helps you review them. Nothing is deleted until you tick files, type CLEAN UP and confirm. Cleaned files then go to Trash, so you still have 1 day to restore them.
- On the Tornova website, open Smart Cleanup and choose Check Now
- Review the list: file name, folder, PC and when it was found missing
- Tick only the files you are sure about
- Choose Clean Up Selected, type CLEAN UP and confirm Move to Trash
- Or choose Keep in backup to leave the cloud copy as it is
A file appears in the list only if it was backed up before it was deleted. Files on a disconnected drive are never listed, and a file you keep in backup is not listed again, unless it is backed up again later. In an Organization you need the Delete permission to clean up; without it you can review the list only.
Practical advice
- Turn versioning on for the folders where you edit documents, not for photo archives that never change.
- Use Smart Cleanup with a small test first, as the product's own guide suggests.
- If you delete cloud data by mistake, restore it from Trash within the day.
- Check the free space in your plan now and then. Quota warnings appear at 90% and 95%.
- Remember the limits: versions and Trash are not a full history of every change forever.
For the steps when you have lost a file, see How to restore deleted files. For setting a schedule, see How to set up automatic backup on Windows. The Tornova features page lists what is included.
Frequently asked questions
Is versioning on by default in Tornova?
No. Versioning is optional and off by default. You can choose to keep 3, 10 or 50 versions.
Do versions use my storage?
Yes. Stored versions consume backup quota, so more versions mean more storage used.
How long does Trash keep deleted data?
1 day. You can restore items from Trash during that time. After that they are permanently deleted.
Does Smart Cleanup delete my cloud copies automatically?
No. It lists files you deleted from your PC and deletes nothing until you tick files, type CLEAN UP and confirm. Cleaned files go to Trash.
Can I restore an older version of a file?
Yes, when versioning is enabled and earlier versions are available. Select the version you want on the website before you start the restore.
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