To restore Navicat backup files, use the Navicat tool. 1. Confirm that the backup file is in .nbf format, not ordinary SQL file; 2. Open Navicat and connect to the target database server; 3. Right-click to select "Restore Database from Backup" and select the .nbf file to start recovery; 4. When encountering problems, check whether the database exists, whether the character set matches, and whether the file is corrupt; 5. If there is no Navicat, convert .nbf to .sql file first and then import it. The entire process needs to pay attention to version compatibility and configuration consistency.
Restoring a database from a Navicat backup file is straightforward once you understand the format and process involved. Navicat typically saves backups in its own .nbf
format, which isn't a raw SQL dump but rather a proprietary compressed file. To restore it, you'll need to use Navicat itself — not just any SQL tool.
Understand the Backup File Type
Before trying to restore, confirm that your backup was created using Navicat's native backup feature. These files usually have a .nbf
extension. Unlike regular .sql
dumps, .nbf
files can't be restored directly through command-line tools like mysql
or phpMyAdmin.
- If you're unsure what kind of file you have, check the file size and extension.
- Try opening it in a text editor: if it's unreadable or shows binary data, it's likely an
.nbf
file.
Knowing this helps avoid confusion later when standard import methods don't work.
Use Navicat to Restore the Backup
Once confirmed as a .nbf
file, open Navicat and follow these steps:
Connect to your target database server
Make sure the connection details are correct and the database exists (or will be created during restore).Right-click on the connection or specific database
Choose “Restore Database from Backup.”Locate and select your
.nbf
file
Navigate to where the backup is stored, then click “Start” to begin the restore process.
- If the backup includes multiple databases, ensure they are compatible with your current server setup.
- Watch for errors during the restore — Navicat will usually show them in the log window.
This method handles all the internal unpacking and importing automatically.
Handle Common Issues During Restore
Sometimes things don't go smoothly. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them:
- Database doesn't exist: Some backups expect a specific database name. Create it manually before restoring if needed.
- Character set mismatch: If the original and target databases use different character sets, you might see warnings or failed imports. Match the settings if possible.
- File corruption: If the
.nbf
file is damaged, restoration may fail. Try opening it in Navicat to verify integrity before proceeding.
Also, make sure you're using a version of Navicat compatible with the backup file. Older versions may not support newer formats.
Alternative: Convert .nbf
to .sql
First (If Needed)
If you don't have access to Navicat but still need to restore the backup, one workaround is to convert the .nbf
file into a readable .sql
dump first.
- Open the
.nbf
file in Navicat on another machine or a trial version. - Go to “Tools > Restore Backup,” select the file, and instead of restoring directly, choose “Export to SQL File.”
- Then, you can use that
.sql
file with other tools like MySQL Workbench or command line.
This method gives you more flexibility if Navicat isn't available long-term.
Basically that's it. Just confirm the backup file type and use the right tools and methods to restore the database, but it is easy to get stuck due to file format or version problems.
The above is the detailed content of How to restore a database from a Navicat backup file?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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