---
id: backups.can-i-open-backup-files-in-finder
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/can-i-open-backup-files-in-finder
category: "Backups & restore points"
subcategory: "Versions and restoring"
question: "Can I open my backed-up files directly in Finder?"
alt_questions:
  - "browse backup folder Finder"
  - "Why can't I read the backup files on the drive?"
  - "backup folder looks scrambled"
  - "open Data Backup files without the app"
  - "backup files unreadable"
short_answer: "No. Backups are stored as encrypted, compressed pieces, not ordinary copies. Browse them with Versions… and Browse Files… in Data Backup, and never edit the backup folder by hand."
tags: ["finder", "encryption", "browse"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/are-backups-to-a-drive-encrypted", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-restore-a-single-file-from-a-backup"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can I open my backed-up files directly in Finder?

No — and that's by design. Backups are stored as encrypted, compressed pieces, not as ordinary copies, so the folder on the destination isn't something you can browse or open file by file.

To see what's in a backup, use **Versions…** in Data Backup and **Browse Files…** on any version. To get files out, use **Restore…** or **Export…**. Don't move, rename or delete anything inside the backup folder by hand; that can damage the backup.