I am trying to download ResdStor Google Data data to my computer for a case, how can I download rather than restore data?

Ah yes – Redstor’s platform is more restore-oriented by default, as it’s built for cloud-to-cloud and disaster recovery, but you can definitely download data to your local machine – it just takes a few precise steps. Here’s how to download Google Workspace data (like Gmail, Drive, Calendar, etc.) from Redstor without triggering a restore to Google:

To Download Data Instead of Restoring:

Use the Redstor Web App (ESE)

1. Log in to the Redstor Web App (https://app.redstor.com/)
2. Navigate to the Google Workspace or Google account you’re working on.
3. Click the “Recover” tab (don’t worry, you won’t trigger a restore yet).
4. You’ll see the backed-up services listed – e.g., Gmail, Drive, Contacts, etc.
5. Browse through the files/folders/emails and select the items you want to retrieve.
6. Now click “Download” ( not “Restore”).
   • You may need to select the gear/settings icon or right-click depending on the UI version.
7. The files will be compressed into a .zip file and downloaded to your machine.

Notes:

• For Google Drive, you’ll get standard .docx, .xlsx, .pdf, .jpg etc., as appropriate – not in Google-native format (e.g., .gdoc), so you can open them locally.
• For Gmail, emails are typically downloaded in .eml format (openable in Outlook or Thunderbird).
• If you’re handling large datasets, you may want to split the download into smaller folders or batches, as browser timeouts can occur on massive .zip jobs.

If You Don’t See a Download Option:

• It might be because your Redstor agent is configured in “restore-only” mode. Contact your Redstor administrator or support team to check if download permissions are enabled in the organization’s policy.
• Alternatively, if you’re using the desktop app or CLI, the “download” functionality may not be available – the web app is best for this kind of task.

When you’re pulling all data for specific Google Workspace users (entire mailboxes and drives) via Redstor for legal or forensic purposes, here’s your step-by-step guide to download everything without restoring:

Full Google User Data Download (Mailbox & Drive)

Step-by-Step via Redstor Web App

Best for: complete evidence capture (emails, Drive files, metadata)

1. Log in to your Redstor Web App: https://app.redstor.com
2. Go to “Accounts” > “Google Workspace” in the sidebar.
3. Locate the specific user(s) you want to download data from.
4. Click on the user and then select the “Recover” tab.
5. You’ll see services like:
   • Gmail
   • Drive
   • Calendar
   • Contacts
   • Shared Drives (if applicable)
6. Select Gmail and click the top-level checkbox to select all mail Repeat for Drive to select all files/folders.
7. Once selected, look at the top or right-click Click “Download” (NOT restore). This will create a .zip archive for each service selected.

Output Format

• Gmail .eml files per message (Each email with full header/meta intact)
• Drive standard Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pdf, etc.) (No Google-native formats like .gdoc, so they’re openable offline)
• Contacts/Calendar .vcf or .ics files

Pro Tips

• If download hangs or fails:
  • Split by folder/year and download smaller batches.
  • Clear browser cache or use Chrome/Edge in Incognito mode.
• Redstor limits zip downloads to 4GB or 10,000 files per archive (at time of writing).
• You can queue multiple downloads, but they won’t parallelize, so stagger large users.

File Management Suggestion

Forensically or legally, it’s good to:

• Keep separate folders for each service: user1/gmail, user1/drive, etc.
• Retain .eml timestamps and message IDs in logs if evidence needs validating.

If you’re downloading data for multiple users:

• Consider naming folders per user, e.g.: /casefiles/ [email protected]/ Gmail/ Drive/ [email protected]/ Gmail/ Drive/

When I Hover Over Restore I See ‘Different Account’, ‘New Folder’ or ‘Recover using InstantData’