btrfs-restore

Salvage files from a damaged btrfs filesystem

TLDR

Restore all files from a btrfs device

$ sudo btrfs restore [path/to/btrfs_device] [path/to/target_directory]

List files (dry run) without writing

$ sudo btrfs restore -D [path/to/btrfs_device] [path/to/target_directory]

Restore files matching a regex pattern

$ sudo btrfs restore --path-regex [regex] -c [path/to/btrfs_device] [path/to/target_directory]

Restore using a specific root tree

$ sudo btrfs restore -t [bytenr] [path/to/btrfs_device] [path/to/target_directory]

Restore with metadata, xattrs, and symlinks

$ sudo btrfs restore -m -x -S -o [path/to/btrfs_device] [path/to/target_directory]

SYNOPSIS

btrfs restore [options] device target

btrfs restore attempts to salvage files from a damaged btrfs filesystem that cannot be mounted normally. It reads filesystem structures directly from the device and copies recoverable files to a target directory.This is a data recovery tool for when other methods fail. It does not repair the filesystem; it extracts data to a healthy location.

PARAMETERS

-D, --dry-run

List files without extracting

--path-regex regex

Only restore files matching pattern

-c

Case-insensitive regex matching

-t bytenr

Use specific root tree (see btrfs-find-root)

-m, --metadata

Restore metadata (permissions, times)

-x, --xattr

Restore extended attributes

-S, --symlinks

Restore symbolic links

-o, --overwrite

Overwrite existing files in target

-v

Verbose output

CAVEATS

Does not fix the filesystem; only extracts data. May not recover all files from severely damaged filesystems. Regex must match full path including parent directories. Target directory should be on a different filesystem.