---
slug: "azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement"
title: "Azure App Service: linked databases in custom backups retirement"
summary: "From 31 Mar 2028, the Azure App Service custom backup feature no longer backs up linked databases. Microsoft recommends the native backup and restore tools of each database instead."
cloud: "azure"
service: "Azure App Service"
service_slug: "app-service"
category: "feature"
type: "retirement"
announced_date: "2025-03-31"
effective_date: "2028-03-31"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: "Native backup and restore tools of the respective databases"
affected_versions: []
source_url: "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485047"
extra_source_urls: ["https://aka.ms/AppSvcDBBkp","https://aka.ms/ServicesRetirementWorkbook"]
vendor_ref: "485047"
last_checked_at: "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z"
created_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
updated_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/9d"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement.json"
source_note: null
---

# Azure App Service: linked databases in custom backups retirement

From 31 Mar 2028, the Azure App Service custom backup feature no longer backs up linked databases. Microsoft recommends the native backup and restore tools of each database instead.

- Effective date: 31 Mar 2028
- Cloud: [Azure](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/azure.md)
- Service: [Azure App Service](https://eolwatch.dev/services/azure/app-service.md)
- Type: Retirement
- Category: [Feature](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/features.md)
- Replacement: Native backup and restore tools of the respective databases
- Announced: 31 Mar 2025
- Official source: [azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485047)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

From 31 Mar 2028, the Azure App Service custom backup feature no longer backs up linked databases. App Service web applications with existing custom backups that already include linked databases keep backing up those databases until that date. Before that date, the option to include linked databases in new custom backup configurations is removed: November 2025 for linked MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, and April 2026 for linked Azure SQL and SQL Server databases.

## What to do

1. Implement a backup strategy for the databases linked to your App Service web applications before the retirement date.
2. Use the native backup and restore tools available with the respective databases.
3. For further information, see the [Microsoft guidance](https://aka.ms/AppSvcDBBkp).

## Replacement

Native backup and restore tools of the respective databases

## Sources

- [Official source](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485047) (azure.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://aka.ms/AppSvcDBBkp) (aka.ms, Official)
- [Additional source](https://aka.ms/ServicesRetirementWorkbook) (aka.ms, Official)

Last checked against the first source in this list on 12 Nov 2026.

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-app-service-custom-backup-linked-databases-retirement.json

The text on this page is drafted with AI assistance from the vendor's text, checked against the official source and approved by a person before it is published.