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Instant Recovery to VMware vSphere unavailable for restore points from Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure appliance

  • July 20, 2026
  • 8 comments
  • 19 views
N

Setup:

  • On-prem VBR 12.3.2
  • Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure appliance, connected via External Repository
  • Goal: Instant Recovery to VMware vSphere, restoring Azure VMs back to on-prem vCenter (testing DR failback scenario)

What I've confirmed:

  • Restore points ARE visible in VBR under Home → Backups → External Repository → Failback storage
  • Each VM already shows 5 restore points.
  • Platform shows correctly as Microsoft Azure, repository Failback

The issue:
When I right-click a restore point to start the recovery, "Instant Recovery to VMware vSphere" is not available / grayed out in the menu, even though the restore point is clearly present and shows 5 valid points.

Questions:

  1. What conditions cause Instant Recovery to VMware vSphere to be unavailable even when a valid restore point is shown in the console?
  2. Does an active/running backup job on the same policy (I currently have other jobs running in parallel) block Instant Recovery for these VMs?
  3. Are there specific requirements for restore points imported from a Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure appliance (vs. a normal on-prem backup) to be eligible for Instant Recovery?

Any help appreciated, thanks!

    8 comments

    Tommy O'Shea
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    • Tommy O'Shea
    • Veeam Legend
    • July 20, 2026

    Has your VMware infrastructure already been added to your Veeam server? If not, it might be why the option is greyed out for you.

    Tommy O’Shea, VMCE, VMCE-SP, VMCA
      N
      • Naufal
      • Author
      • Not a newbie anymore
      • July 20, 2026

      Has your VMware infrastructure already been added to your Veeam server? If not, it might be why the option is greyed out for you.

      Yes, I have already added the veeambackupappliance into managed server.

        Tommy O'Shea
        Forum|alt.badge.img+5
        • Tommy O'Shea
        • Veeam Legend
        • July 20, 2026

        I just want to confirm, you added VMware to Veeam? I’m only asking twice because your answer mentioned the veeam backup appliance and not vCenter, ESXI, or vCloud Director.

        Tommy O’Shea, VMCE, VMCE-SP, VMCA
          N
          • Naufal
          • Author
          • Not a newbie anymore
          • July 20, 2026

          I just want to confirm, you added VMware to Veeam? I’m only asking twice because your answer mentioned the veeam backup appliance and not vCenter, ESXI, or vCloud Director.

          I have confirmed that both vCentersare already added under Managed Servers, alongside the VeeamAzureBackup appliance. So i think thats not the gap.
          I'm trying to perform an Instant Recovery to VMware vSphere (vCenter) using a restore point sourced from the Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure appliance (via External Repository -> Failback storage).

            Tommy O'Shea
            Forum|alt.badge.img+5
            • Tommy O'Shea
            • Veeam Legend
            • July 20, 2026

            I don’t believe there are any additional conditions that I’m aware of, and I don’t think running jobs would make that option grey out (though it’s worth stopping them to test that). 

            It might be a good idea at this point to open a case with Veeam support and get their advice on this issue. If you are able to narrow it down with them, please return here and share the result.

            Tommy O’Shea, VMCE, VMCE-SP, VMCA
              coolsport00
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              • coolsport00
              • Veeam Legend
              • July 20, 2026

              The only thing I can think of is something ‘off’ with the Repository type you’re using ​@Naufal . What I recommend doing is, if you haven’t already, go through the Considerations/Limitations for performing IR to VMW and see if you run into something there:

              https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/userguide/instant_recovery_before_you_begin_vm.html?ver=13

              Then go to the Veeam Azure Guide and make sure your Repo meets the requirements there:

              https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbazure/guide/performing_instant_recovery.html?ver=8.1

              If all seems to be well….I agree with Tommy and you should open a case with Support. 

              Let us know how it goes.

              Shane Williford - Veeam VMCA/VMCE | Veeam Legend | VUG Leader | VCP-DCV | Twitter: @coolsport00
              D
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              • ddomask
              • Veeam Product Management
              • July 20, 2026

              Are you doing Azure-native Snapshot backups or image level backups in Veeam Backup for Azure? 

               

              Check the last link from Shane (coolsport00), Instant Recovery is only for image level backups from Veeam Backup for Azure.

              0x0D 0x0A
                eblack
                Forum|alt.badge.img+3
                • eblack
                • Influencer
                • July 20, 2026

                Are you doing Azure-native Snapshot backups or image level backups in Veeam Backup for Azure? 

                 

                Check the last link from Shane (coolsport00), Instant Recovery is only for image level backups from Veeam Backup for Azure.

                This would have been my guess. - 

                Those five restore points may be Azure native snapshots, not image-level backups.

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