# When backing up do I need to stop/start bitwarden container?

**URL:** <https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/t/when-backing-up-do-i-need-to-stop-start-bitwarden-container/191>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [July 9, 2020, 8:30am UTC](https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/t/when-backing-up-do-i-need-to-stop-start-bitwarden-container/191 "2020-07-09T08:30:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IOUSiVer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8dc957/32.png) [@IOUSiVer](https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/u/IOUSiVer)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 8:30am UTC](https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/t/when-backing-up-do-i-need-to-stop-start-bitwarden-container/191/1 "2020-07-09T08:30:50Z")

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I read this wiki post: [https://github.com/dani-garcia/bitwarden\_rs/wiki/Backing-up-your-vault](https://github.com/dani-garcia/bitwarden_rs/wiki/Backing-up-your-vault)

Currently I’m backing up the db using the sqlite .backup command as instructed, then I backup the entire bwdata folder which is mapped on the host via:

- $DATADIR/bwdata:/data

In the article you only mention stopping the container for a restore. Does this mean I do not have to stop/start bitwarden container for the backup itself?

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![oop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/vaultwarden.discourse.group/oop/32/49_2.png) [@oop](https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/u/oop)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://vaultwarden.discourse.group/t/when-backing-up-do-i-need-to-stop-start-bitwarden-container/191/2 "2020-07-10T01:12:38Z")

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> Does this mean I do not have to stop/start bitwarden container for the backup itself?

Yes. You don’t have to.