Learn how to recover a deleted DigitalOcean droplet. Our DigitalOcean Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

Recover a Deleted DigitalOcean Droplet Like a Pro

If you are panicking over a deleted DigitalOcean droplet, you can relax!

Our Experts have put together this guide to help you recover the droplet in no time.

Depending on your backup strategy, there are multiple ways to bring your Droplet back to life.

Today, we will discuss the different options, from snapshot recovery to automated backups, and how to restore using the control panel, command line, or API.

Recovering Using Snapshots

Snapshots are point-in-time disk images of the Droplet. They’re created manually and capture the full state of the server, including data, applications, and configurations.

Snapshots are taken on demand, so let us capture changes before major updates or deployments.

Furthermore, they store the exact condition of the Droplet at the time of creation.

If we had a snapshot before the deletion, we could use it to restore the Droplet to that precise moment. For more on handling related DigitalOcean issues, check out our guide on DigitalOcean No Detected Components.

Recovering Using Enabled Backups

DigitalOcean also offers automated backup services, which are handy as set-it-and-forget-it solutions. Depending on the configuration, these backups can be daily or weekly.

• Daily Backups:
  • Retains the seven most recent backups.
  • Stored for 7 days.
  • Created automatically.
  • Cost is about 30% of Droplet’s monthly price.
• Weekly Backups:
  • Retains the four most recent backups.
  • Stored for 4 weeks.
  • Cost is about 20% of Droplet’s monthly price.
• Technical Highlights:
  • Uses incremental backups (only stores changed data).
  • Offers up to 6.5x faster backup speeds.
  • Ensures crash-consistent backups.
• Customization Options:
  • Set custom 4-hour backup windows.
  • Choose between daily or weekly backups.
  • Automatically protects the entire Droplet without manual input.

Need help troubleshooting failed access issues? Take a look at how we solve DigitalOcean Droplet Server Refused Our Key.

Droplet Restoration Methods

Once we have identified an available backup or snapshot, we can restore it using one of these methods:

1. Control Panel Restoration

1. First, log in to the DigitalOcean Control Panel.
2. Then, head to the Images section.
3. Now, click on Snapshots and then choose the Droplets tab.
4. Next, locate the snapshot or backup.
5. Then, click the More menu and select Restore Droplet.

This method maintains the original IP address and the exact server configuration. Additionally, it is a beginner-friendly option.

2. Command-Line Restoration with `doctl`

Most system admins and DevOps pros prefer `doctl` to manage Droplets and automate tasks.

1. First, install doctl from this link.
2. Then, authenticate with the DigitalOcean account.
3. Next, run the restore command:
   

   doctl compute droplet-action restore DROPLET_ID --image-id SNAPSHOT_IDCopy Code

This option is great for scripting, automation, and bulk operations. Furthermore, it offers direct control over infrastructure.

3. API-Based Restoration

According to our Experts, the DigitalOcean REST API is the best option for building cloud automation workflows or managing large-scale infrastructure.

Here is a sample API Request:

curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $DIGITALOCEAN_TOKEN" \
-d '{"type":"restore", "image": IMAGE_ID}' \
"https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/DROPLET_ID/actions"
Copy Code

This option enables automation of complex workflows and supports integration with CI/CD pipelines. Additionally, it scales easily for multi-Droplet environments.

If you’re seeing authentication errors here, our blog on DigitalOcean 401 Unable to Authenticate can help resolve the issue quickly.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

We can easily recover a droplet via snapshots, automated backups, or API-driven solutions.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to recover a deleted DigitalOcean droplet.