---
title: "Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile"
description: "Downloads backup files from the capacity tier to the performance tier. Platform: VMware, Hyper-V Product Edition: Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets: This cmdlet starts the"
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/powershell/start-vbrdownloadbackupfile.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam PowerShell Reference > Veeam PowerShell Reference > Backup > Managing Backups > Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile"
dateModified: "2026-08-19"
---

# Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile

## Short Description
Downloads backup files from the capacity tier to the performance tier.

**Platform**: VMware, Hyper-V

**Product Edition**: Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License

## Syntax

This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets:

<ul class="syntax-sets">
  <li>
    <p><code>ThisBackup (Default)</code></p>

```
Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile -BackupFile <VBRBackupFile[]> [-ThisBackup] [-RunAsync] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
  <li>
    <p><code>ThisBackupAndIncrements</code></p>

```
Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile -BackupFile <VBRBackupFile[]> [-ThisBackupAndIncrements] [-RunAsync] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
</ul>

## Detailed Description
This cmdlet starts the rehydration procedure. Veeam Backup & Replication will download the backup files from the capacity tier to the performance tier. You can use the following scenarios for downloading the backup files:

- Download full backup files only.
- Download full backup files with all incremental backup files.
- Download the incremental backup files with all other increments related to it and the full backup file.

## Parameters

<table style="width:100%;" class="Blue_Table">
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Parameter</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Description</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Type</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Required</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Position</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Accept Pipeline Input</p>
        </th>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">BackupFile</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies an array of backup files that you want to download.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbrbackupfile.md"><code>VBRBackupFile[]</code></a> object. To create this object, run the <a href="get-vbrbackupfile.md"><code>Get-VBRBackupFile</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbrbackupfile.md"><code>VBRBackupFile[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">RunAsync</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the command returns immediately without waiting for the task to complete.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">ThisBackup</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the cmdlet will download full backup files only.</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: This parameter is not applicable for the backups created with Veeam Plug-in for SAP HANA and Veeam Plug-in for Oracle RMAN. If you provide this parameter, the cmdlet will download full backup files.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">ThisBackupAndIncrements</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the cmdlet will download full backup files and all backup files that are related to it.</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: This parameter is not applicable for the backups created with Veeam Plug-in for SAP HANA and Veeam Plug-in for Oracle RMAN. If you provide this parameter, the cmdlet will download full backup files.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>

`<CommonParameters>`

This cmdlet supports Microsoft PowerShell common parameters. For more information on common parameters, see [ Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_commonparameters?view=powershell-7).

## Examples

::: example
### Example 1. Downloading Full Backup File from Capacity Tier

This example shows how to download a full backup file from the capacity tier.

```
$backup = Get-VBRBackup -Name "Exchange backups"
$files = Get-VBRBackupFile -Backup $backup
Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile -BackupFile $files -ThisBackup
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VBRBackup`](get-vbrbackup.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$backup` variable.
2. Run the [`Get-VBRBackupFile`](get-vbrbackupfile.md) cmdlet. Set the `$backup` variable as the `Backup` parameter value. Save the result to the `$files` variable.
3. Run the `Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile` cmdlet. Set the `$files` variable as the `BackupFile` parameter value. Provide `ThisBackup` parameter.

:::

::: example
### Example 2. Downloading Full Backup File with all Increments

This example shows how to download a full backup file with all increments related to it from the capacity tier.

```
$backup = Get-VBRBackup -Name "Exchange backups"
$files = Get-VBRBackupFile -Backup $backup
Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile -BackupFile $files -ThisBackupAndIncrements
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VBRBackup`](get-vbrbackup.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$backup` variable.
2. Run the [`Get-VBRBackupFile`](get-vbrbackupfile.md) cmdlet. Set the `$backup` variable as the `Backup` parameter value. Save the result to the `$files` variable.
3. Run the `Start-VBRDownloadBackupFile` cmdlet. Set the `$files` variable as the `BackupFile` parameter value. Provide the `ThisBackupAndIncrements` parameter.

:::

## Related Commands

- [`Get-VBRBackup`](get-vbrbackup.md)
- [`Get-VBRBackupFile`](get-vbrbackupfile.md)