{
  "id": "backup-start",
  "title": "BACKUP START",
  "url": "https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-start/",
  "summary": "Start a new backup into the configured 'backupdirname'.",
  "tags": [
    "docs",
    "develop",
    "stack",
    "oss",
    "rs",
    "rc",
    "oss",
    "kubernetes",
    "clients"
  ],
  "last_updated": "2026-07-30T08:54:30-07:00",
  "page_type": "content",
  "content_hash": "417d8e1327ff933a796ef47f63346c5275288b0f74bd8380100dc73a79182ad2",
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "overview",
      "title": "Overview",
      "role": "overview",
      "text": "Starts a new backup, opening a backup window and producing a fresh BASE snapshot in the directory named by the `backupdirname` configuration setting."
    },
    {
      "id": "examples",
      "title": "Examples",
      "role": "example",
      "text": "[code example]"
    },
    {
      "id": "details",
      "title": "Details",
      "role": "content",
      "text": "`BACKUP START` moves the backup state machine from `idle` to `snapshotting` and begins producing a fresh BASE snapshot through an append-only file rewrite (AOFRW). It works whether or not AOF persistence is enabled:\n\n* If AOF is enabled, Redis reuses the existing [multi-part AOF](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/oss_and_stack/management/persistence#append-only-file) directly.\n* If AOF is disabled, Redis temporarily starts the AOF machinery without changing the configured `appendonly` value.\n* If an AOFRW is already active or scheduled and can be reused, the backup attaches to it.\n* If another child process is active, the backup enters the `pending` state and starts when an AOFRW can run.\n\nAfter the snapshot rewrite completes, Redis hard-links the BASE file into the backup directory and enters the `incrementing` state, where it continues to accumulate incremental writes until you call [`BACKUP SEAL`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-seal).\n\nThe backup directory (named by `backupdirname` and resolved under the Redis working directory `dir`) must be empty when you call `BACKUP START`. Only one backup can be in progress at a time.\n\nFor the full workflow and restore procedure, see [Redis persistence](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/oss_and_stack/management/persistence#online-backups-with-the-backup-command-family)."
    },
    {
      "id": "redis-software-and-redis-cloud-compatibility",
      "title": "Redis Software and Redis Cloud compatibility",
      "role": "content",
      "text": "| Redis<br />Software | Redis<br />Cloud | <span style=\"min-width: 9em; display: table-cell\">Notes</span> |\n|:----------------------|:-----------------|:------|\n| <span title=\"Not supported\">&#x274c; Standard</span><br /><span title=\"Not supported\"><nobr>&#x274c; Active-Active</nobr></span> | <span title=\"Not supported\">&#x274c; Standard</span><br /><span title=\"Not supported\"><nobr>&#x274c; Active-Active</nobr></span> |  |"
    },
    {
      "id": "return-information",
      "title": "Return information",
      "role": "returns",
      "text": "**RESP2:**\n\n[Simple string reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#simple-strings): `OK`.\n\n**RESP3:**\n\n[Simple string reply](../../develop/reference/protocol-spec#simple-strings): `OK`."
    },
    {
      "id": "see-also",
      "title": "See also",
      "role": "related",
      "text": "[`BACKUP SEAL`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-seal/) | [`BACKUP STATUS`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-status/) | [`BACKUP LIST`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-list/) | [`BACKUP ABORT`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-abort/) | [`BACKUP CLEANUP`](https://redis.io/docs/latest/commands/backup-cleanup/)"
    },
    {
      "id": "related-topics",
      "title": "Related topics",
      "role": "related",
      "text": "- [Redis persistence](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/oss_and_stack/management/persistence)"
    }
  ],
  "examples": [
    {
      "id": "examples-ex0",
      "language": "plaintext",
      "code": "127.0.0.1:6379> BACKUP START\nOK",
      "section_id": "examples"
    }
  ]
}