Last updated on January 31, 2026
In the smart home world, true peace of mind doesn’t just come from automated lights; it comes from knowing that if disaster strikes, your entire configuration is safe and sound. For years, the process for backing up Home Assistant has evolved. The old-school method—manually creating Google API credentials—is officially obsolete. Today, the undisputed gold standard for managing Home Assistant Google Drive backups is the community-developed Add-on. This article has been completely rewritten to walk you through the modern, dead-simple, and rock-solid method for 2026.
Why the ‘Home Assistant Google Drive Backup’ Add-on is the Gold Standard
Before we dive into the setup, it’s crucial to understand why this add-on has completely replaced the manual process. Fumbling around with Google API credentials was a complex, error-prone nightmare that required constant upkeep. This home assistant backup add-on streamlines everything into an intuitive GUI, right inside your Home Assistant instance.
- One-Click Install: No more navigating the labyrinthine Google Cloud Console.
- Seamless & Secure Authentication: Forget copying and pasting cryptic ‘Client IDs’ or ‘Secrets’. A simple, guided authentication flow handles everything for you.
- Built-in Automation: Set up advanced retention policies (daily, weekly, monthly) without writing a single line of YAML.
- Transparent Restoration: Your cloud backups appear in the Home Assistant UI just like local ones, making the recovery process incredibly straightforward.
Step-by-Step Installation and Configuration Guide (2026)
Let’s get your backup system configured from scratch. The whole process shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes.
Step 1: Install the Add-on from the Store
First things first, head over to your Home Assistant Settings panel. You can get there by navigating to Settings > Add-ons.
- Click on the blue “Add-on Store” button in the bottom right corner.
- In the search bar, type “Google Drive Backup”. The official name is “Home Assistant Google Drive Backup”.
- Click on it and hit the “Install” button. The process will take a few minutes.
- Once it’s installed, toggle on “Start on boot” and “Watchdog” to ensure the add-on is always running when you need it.
[Screenshot: Home Assistant Add-on store UI showing the Google Drive Backup add-on ready to be installed.]
Step 2: Authenticate with Your Google Account
With the add-on installed and running, the next step is to grant it access to your Google Drive.
- Open the add-on’s Web UI by clicking the “Open Web UI” button.
- You’ll see a clear prompt asking you to authenticate. Click the “Authenticate with Google Drive” link.
- A new tab will pop open in your browser, asking you to choose a Google account and grant the necessary permissions. This is a standard, completely secure OAuth 2.0 process.
- After granting permission, you’ll be given an authorization string. Copy it to your clipboard.
- Go back to the add-on’s UI in Home Assistant and paste that string into the provided field. Click “Save”.
That’s it! Your Home Assistant is now connected to your Google Drive. This process is infinitely simpler than the old method of manually creating Google API credentials.
Step 3: Configure Your Retention Policy & Automation
This is where the real power lies. In the “Settings” tab of the add-on, you can define exactly how many backups you want to keep. Here’s the retention strategy I personally use and recommend for a perfect balance of safety and storage space:
- Days to keep: 7 (Keeps a daily backup for the last week).
- Weeks to keep: 4 (Keeps a weekly backup for the last month).
- Months to keep: 6 (Keeps a monthly backup for the last six months).
- Years to keep: 1 (Keeps a yearly backup).
While you’re on this screen, do not forget to set a password for your backups. This encrypts your backups, adding a critical layer of security. No one can access your configuration, even if they somehow gain access to your Google Drive account!
To automate your Home Assistant backups, simply adjust the “Backup Time of Day”. The add-on will handle the rest, running the task at your specified time every day.
[Screenshot: Add-on’s settings tab showing the retention policy fields (Days, Weeks, Months) and the password field.]
How to Restore a Backup from Google Drive
A great backup system is useless if you don’t know how to restore from it. Thankfully, the process is a breeze.
- Go to Settings > System > Backups.
- In the main view, you’ll see all available backups, including those stored on Google Drive (the add-on syncs them automatically).
- Click on the backup you want to restore.
- You can choose between a full restore or a partial one (for instance, restoring just a specific add-on or folder).
- Select your option and click “Restore”. The system takes care of the rest.
This process is a lifesaver, especially if an update goes wrong and you need to revert to a previous stable version. For a more visual guide, check out my video on how to restore Home Assistant from scratch using Google Drive.
Backup Alternatives: A Quick Comparison
While Google Drive is my top recommendation, it’s not the only option. Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose the best fit for your needs.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive Add-on | Easy setup, robust automation, off-site storage (protects against local disasters), built-in encryption. | Requires an internet connection and depends on your Google account’s storage space. |
| Samba/Network Backup (Local) | Very fast, no internet required, full control over data on your local network (NAS, PC). | Does not protect against physical disasters (fire, theft, etc.) since it’s in the same location. Requires a separate network share. |
| Dropbox Backup Add-on | Similar to Google Drive, offers a cloud alternative if you prefer Dropbox’s ecosystem. | Less popular in the community, which could mean slower development. Limited free storage tier. |
Common Troubleshooting (FAQ)
Auth Error or Expired Token
Occasionally, Google might invalidate the access token for security reasons. The fix is simple: go to the add-on’s Web UI and click the re-authenticate button. Follow the process again, and you’ll be back in business.
Backups Are Failing or Incomplete
First, check the “Log” tab in the add-on to see the specific error message. The most common culprits are: running out of space in your Google Drive, an unstable internet connection during the upload, or a temporary issue with Google’s servers.
My Google Drive Backups Aren’t Showing Up in HA
Go to Settings > System > Backups and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Select “Reload”. This forces Home Assistant to rescan for all available backups, including remote ones.
Is Storing My Backups on Google Drive Secure?
Absolutely, *if* you take one critical precaution: encrypt your backups by setting a password in the add-on’s configuration. This way, even if someone were to gain access to your Google account, the contents of your backup files would be unreadable gibberish to them. Your overall Home Assistant security posture depends on smart practices like this.
Final Thoughts
The ability to automate Home Assistant Google Drive backups via this add-on is a genuine game-changer. It transforms a critical but often-neglected task into a true “set-it-and-forget-it” process that provides immense peace of mind. There’s really no excuse not to have a robust, off-site backup system in place.
In my experience, this is one of the very first must-have add-ons I install on any new system. The 10-minute investment in setting it up can save you hours, or even days, of rebuilding in the event of an SD card failure or a catastrophic configuration error.
Do you use this method for your backups? Have you had any experiences—good or bad—that you’d like to share? Drop a comment below; your feedback helps the entire community build more resilient smart homes!