On this page:

• Moodle backup files FAQ
• Create a Moodle backup file (.mbz)
• Manage backup files stored on Moodle
• Request to restore a course from a backup file

 

Moodle backup files FAQ

What is a .mbz file?

• A Moodle backup file (.mbz) is a compressed archive of a Moodle course that can be used to restore a course within Moodle. The file preserves course contents, structure, and settings, but does not include student work or grades.
• The contents of the .mbz cannot be accessed from your computer (outside of Moodle). For example, you cannot extract PDFs from the backup file, but if the course is restored on a Moodle server, files that were uploaded into the original course (and links to files stored elsewhere) will appear in the restored course.
• Instructors can create and download an .mbz file of any course they teach to archive course Resources, Activities, and Settings for safekeeping.

What is included in an .mbz file?

Moodle backup files include:

• Resources (e.g., Files, Folders, Pages, etc.)
• Activities (e.g., Assignments, Quizzes and Quiz questions, Questionnaires)
• Settings (e.g., Course Format, Theme, Course Completion settings, and settings for Assignments and Quizzes)

Moodle backup files do NOT include:

• Student enrollment
• Groups
• Guest Access settings
• Contributions to collaborative activities (Wiki, Forum, Glossary, Database, etc.) made by any course member, including the instructor.

Why download a Moodle backup file (.mbz)?

• An .mbz file can be used to restore a course on a different Moodle server (e.g., at a different institution or on open.umass.edu).
• Because courses are removed from the UMass Amherst Moodle server 18 months after the end of the semester taught, it is a good idea to create a backup at the end of each semester you teach a course. If a course has been removed from Moodle, our Moodle administrators can restore the course contents from an .mbz file you provide.
  Note: When a course from a previous semester is still on Moodle, you can reuse its contents using the Import tool (see Reuse a Moodle Course Using Import).

Why should I also back up course content and student work, in addition to downloading an .mbz?

Manually backing up your course content can help you reuse course materials in future semesters and keep a record of your students' work. Because .mbz files cannot be used outside of Moodle and do not include student data, you should also manually back up course content, grades, and student submissions in a form you can easily access on your own computer. For more details, see Back Up a Moodle Course.

Create a Moodle backup file (.mbz)

You must have the Teacher role in a course to create and download a Moodle backup file. To create a Moodle backup file:

1. Log in to Moodle and open the course you want to back up.
2. Select Course Management (black gear icon , top right). The Course Management panel opens.
3. On the Course Management panel, under Course Settings, select Backup course. The first of several backup pages opens.
4. On the Initial settings page, select which content to include and click Next. The Schema settings page opens.
5. The Schema settings page lists content to be exported. Make any desired changes and click Next. The Confirmation and review page opens.
6. In the File name field, you can rename the backup file (optional), then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Perform backup. When the backup is complete, you will see a confirmation message: "The backup file was successfully created."      
7. Click Continue. The Manage Backups page opens.  
8. Under User private backup area, click Manage Backup files. Select the file icon for a file and choose to Download, Rename, Move, or Delete the file.

Manage backup files stored on Moodle

As described above, when you first create a backup, you can download the file or find more options on the Manage backups page. To access backup files at a later date:

1. Log in to Moodle and open the course you want to backup, for which an .mbz has already been created.
2. Select Course Management (black gear icon , top right). The Course Management panel opens.
3. On the Course Management panel, under Course Settings, select Manage backups. The Manage backups page opens.         
4. Under User private backup area, click Manage Backup files. Select the file icon for a file and choose to Download, Rename, Move, or Delete the file.

Request to restore a course from a backup file

Note: If a course is present on Moodle at UMass Amherst, you can use the Import tool to copy it into an empty course for a new semester without creating an .mbz backup. For details, see Reuse a Moodle Course Using Import.

Instructors cannot restore their own courses from an .mbz file on Moodle at UMass Amherst, but we will be happy to do it for you! If you have a .mbz file you want to restore into a Moodle course, contact the Instructional Media Lab at (413) 545-2823 or instruct@umass.edu.

If you are moving the course to another institution, contact their Instructional Technology team.

If you are ask to restore an .mbz for a course created at another institution, please be aware that Moodle at UMass Amherst may not have all the same features enabled.