diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index aa8230b1..8837090e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@
 
 - Updated the logs "real" user IP to check for `Fly-Client-IP` header and changed the `X-Forward-For` header to use the first non-empty leftmost-ish IP as it the closest to the "real IP".
 
+- Added new `archive.Create()` and `archive.Extract()` helpers (_currently works only with zip_).
+
+- Added new `Filesystem.List(prefix)` helper to retrieve a flat list with all files under the provided prefix.
+
+- Added new `App.NewBackupsFilesystem()` helper to create a dedicated fs abstraction for managing app backups.
+
+- (@todo docs) Added new `App.OnTerminate()` hook.
+
 
 ## v0.15.3
 
diff --git a/apis/backup.go b/apis/backup.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bee1d63c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apis/backup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package apis
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/labstack/echo/v5"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/core"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/forms"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/tools/types"
+	"github.com/spf13/cast"
+)
+
+// bindBackupApi registers the file api endpoints and the corresponding handlers.
+//
+// @todo add hooks once the app hooks api restructuring is finalized
+func bindBackupApi(app core.App, rg *echo.Group) {
+	api := backupApi{app: app}
+
+	subGroup := rg.Group("/backups", ActivityLogger(app))
+	subGroup.GET("", api.list, RequireAdminAuth())
+	subGroup.POST("", api.create, RequireAdminAuth())
+	subGroup.GET("/:name", api.download)
+	subGroup.DELETE("/:name", api.delete, RequireAdminAuth())
+	subGroup.POST("/:name/restore", api.restore, RequireAdminAuth())
+}
+
+type backupApi struct {
+	app core.App
+}
+
+type backupItem struct {
+	Name     string         `json:"name"`
+	Size     int64          `json:"size"`
+	Modified types.DateTime `json:"modified"`
+}
+
+func (api *backupApi) list(c echo.Context) error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fsys, err := api.app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to load backups filesystem", err)
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	backups, err := fsys.List("")
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to retrieve backup items. Raw error: \n"+err.Error(), nil)
+	}
+
+	result := make([]backupItem, len(backups))
+
+	for i, obj := range backups {
+		modified, _ := types.ParseDateTime(obj.ModTime)
+
+		result[i] = backupItem{
+			Name:     obj.Key,
+			Size:     obj.Size,
+			Modified: modified,
+		}
+	}
+
+	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, result)
+}
+
+func (api *backupApi) create(c echo.Context) error {
+	if cast.ToString(api.app.Cache().Get(core.CacheActiveBackupsKey)) != "" {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Try again later - another backup/restore process has already been started", nil)
+	}
+
+	form := forms.NewBackupCreate(api.app)
+	if err := c.Bind(form); err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("An error occurred while loading the submitted data.", err)
+	}
+
+	return form.Submit(func(next forms.InterceptorNextFunc[string]) forms.InterceptorNextFunc[string] {
+		return func(name string) error {
+			if err := next(name); err != nil {
+				return NewBadRequestError("Failed to create backup", err)
+			}
+
+			return c.NoContent(http.StatusNoContent)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func (api *backupApi) download(c echo.Context) error {
+	fileToken := c.QueryParam("token")
+
+	_, err := api.app.Dao().FindAdminByToken(
+		fileToken,
+		api.app.Settings().AdminFileToken.Secret,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewForbiddenError("Insufficient permissions to access the resource.", err)
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fsys, err := api.app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to load backups filesystem", err)
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	name := c.PathParam("name")
+
+	br, err := fsys.GetFile(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to retrieve backup item. Raw error: \n"+err.Error(), nil)
+	}
+	defer br.Close()
+
+	return fsys.Serve(
+		c.Response(),
+		c.Request(),
+		name,
+		filepath.Base(name), // without the path prefix (if any)
+	)
+}
+
+func (api *backupApi) restore(c echo.Context) error {
+	if cast.ToString(api.app.Cache().Get(core.CacheActiveBackupsKey)) != "" {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Try again later - another backup/restore process has already been started", nil)
+	}
+
+	name := c.PathParam("name")
+
+	existsCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fsys, err := api.app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to load backups filesystem", err)
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(existsCtx)
+
+	if exists, err := fsys.Exists(name); !exists {
+		return NewNotFoundError("Missing or invalid backup file", err)
+	}
+
+	go func() {
+		// wait max 10 minutes
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Minute)
+		defer cancel()
+
+		// give some optimistic time to write the response
+		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+
+		if err := api.app.RestoreBackup(ctx, name); err != nil && api.app.IsDebug() {
+			log.Println(err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return c.NoContent(http.StatusNoContent)
+}
+
+func (api *backupApi) delete(c echo.Context) error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	fsys, err := api.app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Failed to load backups filesystem", err)
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	name := c.PathParam("name")
+
+	if err := fsys.Delete(name); err != nil {
+		return NewBadRequestError("Invalid or already deleted backup file. Raw error: \n"+err.Error(), nil)
+	}
+
+	return c.NoContent(http.StatusNoContent)
+}
diff --git a/apis/base.go b/apis/base.go
index 0f4610ef..4ee64445 100644
--- a/apis/base.go
+++ b/apis/base.go
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ func InitApi(app core.App) (*echo.Echo, error) {
 	bindFileApi(app, api)
 	bindRealtimeApi(app, api)
 	bindLogsApi(app, api)
+	bindBackupApi(app, api)
 	bindHealthApi(app, api)
 
 	// trigger the custom BeforeServe hook for the created api router
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ func bindStaticAdminUI(app core.App, e *echo.Echo) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-const totalAdminsCacheKey = "totalAdmins"
+const totalAdminsCacheKey = "@totalAdmins"
 
 func updateTotalAdminsCache(app core.App) error {
 	total, err := app.Dao().TotalAdmins()
diff --git a/apis/serve.go b/apis/serve.go
index 5d0e8d33..875b401a 100644
--- a/apis/serve.go
+++ b/apis/serve.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package apis
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"log"
 	"net"
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ func Serve(app core.App, options *ServeOptions) error {
 			GetCertificate: certManager.GetCertificate,
 			NextProtos:     []string{acme.ALPNProto},
 		},
-		ReadTimeout:       5 * time.Minute,
+		ReadTimeout:       10 * time.Minute,
 		ReadHeaderTimeout: 30 * time.Second,
 		// WriteTimeout: 60 * time.Second, // breaks sse!
 		Handler: router,
@@ -119,6 +120,14 @@ func Serve(app core.App, options *ServeOptions) error {
 		regular.Printf(" ➜ Admin UI: %s\n", color.CyanString("%s://%s/_/", schema, serverConfig.Addr))
 	}
 
+	// try to gracefully shutdown the server on app termination
+	app.OnTerminate().Add(func(e *core.TerminateEvent) error {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		serverConfig.Shutdown(ctx)
+		return nil
+	})
+
 	// start HTTPS server
 	if options.HttpsAddr != "" {
 		// if httpAddr is set, start an HTTP server to redirect the traffic to the HTTPS version
diff --git a/core/app.go b/core/app.go
index a6e9e93f..98f2ccd8 100644
--- a/core/app.go
+++ b/core/app.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 package core
 
 import (
+	"context"
+
 	"github.com/pocketbase/dbx"
 	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/daos"
 	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/models/settings"
@@ -69,12 +71,20 @@ type App interface {
 	// NewMailClient creates and returns a configured app mail client.
 	NewMailClient() mailer.Mailer
 
-	// NewFilesystem creates and returns a configured filesystem.System instance.
+	// NewFilesystem creates and returns a configured filesystem.System instance
+	// for managing regular app files (eg. collection uploads).
 	//
 	// NB! Make sure to call `Close()` on the returned result
 	// after you are done working with it.
 	NewFilesystem() (*filesystem.System, error)
 
+	// NewBackupsFilesystem creates and returns a configured filesystem.System instance
+	// for managing app backups.
+	//
+	// NB! Make sure to call `Close()` on the returned result
+	// after you are done working with it.
+	NewBackupsFilesystem() (*filesystem.System, error)
+
 	// RefreshSettings reinitializes and reloads the stored application settings.
 	RefreshSettings() error
 
@@ -92,6 +102,31 @@ type App interface {
 	// (eg. closing db connections).
 	ResetBootstrapState() error
 
+	// CreateBackup creates a new backup of the current app pb_data directory.
+	//
+	// Backups can be stored on S3 if it is configured in app.Settings().Backups.
+	//
+	// Please refer to the godoc of the specific core.App implementation
+	// for details on the backup procedures.
+	CreateBackup(ctx context.Context, name string) error
+
+	// RestoreBackup restores the backup with the specified name and restarts
+	// the current running application process.
+	//
+	// The safely perform the restore it is recommended to have free disk space
+	// for at least 2x the size of the restored pb_data backup.
+	//
+	// Please refer to the godoc of the specific core.App implementation
+	// for details on the restore procedures.
+	//
+	// NB! This feature is experimental and currently is expected to work only on UNIX based systems.
+	RestoreBackup(ctx context.Context, name string) error
+
+	// Restart restarts the current running application process.
+	//
+	// Currently it is relying on execve so it is supported only on UNIX based systems.
+	Restart() error
+
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------
 	// App event hooks
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -118,6 +153,10 @@ type App interface {
 	// It could be used to log the final API error in external services.
 	OnAfterApiError() *hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent]
 
+	// OnTerminate hook is triggered when the app is in the process
+	// of being terminated (eg. on SIGTERM signal).
+	OnTerminate() *hook.Hook[*TerminateEvent]
+
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------
 	// Dao event hooks
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/core/base.go b/core/base.go
index fc841cae..24b5db5f 100644
--- a/core/base.go
+++ b/core/base.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ const (
 	DefaultDataMaxIdleConns int = 20
 	DefaultLogsMaxOpenConns int = 10
 	DefaultLogsMaxIdleConns int = 2
+
+	LocalStorageDirName string = "storage"
+	LocalBackupsDirName string = "backups"
+	LocalTempDirName    string = ".pb_temp_to_delete" // temp pb_data sub directory that will be deleted on each app.Bootstrap()
 )
 
 var _ App = (*BaseApp)(nil)
@@ -55,6 +61,7 @@ type BaseApp struct {
 	onBeforeServe     *hook.Hook[*ServeEvent]
 	onBeforeApiError  *hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent]
 	onAfterApiError   *hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent]
+	onTerminate       *hook.Hook[*TerminateEvent]
 
 	// dao event hooks
 	onModelBeforeCreate *hook.Hook[*ModelEvent]
@@ -192,6 +199,7 @@ func NewBaseApp(config *BaseAppConfig) *BaseApp {
 		onBeforeServe:     &hook.Hook[*ServeEvent]{},
 		onBeforeApiError:  &hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent]{},
 		onAfterApiError:   &hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent]{},
+		onTerminate:       &hook.Hook[*TerminateEvent]{},
 
 		// dao event hooks
 		onModelBeforeCreate: &hook.Hook[*ModelEvent]{},
@@ -338,6 +346,9 @@ func (app *BaseApp) Bootstrap() error {
 	// we don't check for an error because the db migrations may have not been executed yet
 	app.RefreshSettings()
 
+	// cleanup the pb_data temp directory (if any)
+	os.RemoveAll(filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), LocalTempDirName))
+
 	if err := app.OnAfterBootstrap().Trigger(event); err != nil && app.IsDebug() {
 		log.Println(err)
 	}
@@ -471,6 +482,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) NewMailClient() mailer.Mailer {
 }
 
 // NewFilesystem creates a new local or S3 filesystem instance
+// for managing regular app files (eg. collection uploads)
 // based on the current app settings.
 //
 // NB! Make sure to call `Close()` on the returned result
@@ -488,7 +500,54 @@ func (app *BaseApp) NewFilesystem() (*filesystem.System, error) {
 	}
 
 	// fallback to local filesystem
-	return filesystem.NewLocal(filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), "storage"))
+	return filesystem.NewLocal(filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), LocalStorageDirName))
+}
+
+// NewFilesystem creates a new local or S3 filesystem instance
+// for managing app backups based on the current app settings.
+//
+// NB! Make sure to call `Close()` on the returned result
+// after you are done working with it.
+func (app *BaseApp) NewBackupsFilesystem() (*filesystem.System, error) {
+	if app.settings != nil && app.settings.Backups.S3.Enabled {
+		return filesystem.NewS3(
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.Bucket,
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.Region,
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.Endpoint,
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.AccessKey,
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.Secret,
+			app.settings.Backups.S3.ForcePathStyle,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// fallback to local filesystem
+	return filesystem.NewLocal(filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), LocalBackupsDirName))
+}
+
+// Restart restarts (aka. replaces) the current running application process.
+//
+// NB! It relies on execve which is supported only on UNIX based systems.
+func (app *BaseApp) Restart() error {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return errors.New("restart is not supported on windows")
+	}
+
+	execPath, err := os.Executable()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// optimistically reset the app bootstrap state
+	app.ResetBootstrapState()
+
+	if err := syscall.Exec(execPath, os.Args, os.Environ()); err != nil {
+		// restart the app bootstrap state
+		app.Bootstrap()
+
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // RefreshSettings reinitializes and reloads the stored application settings.
@@ -541,6 +600,10 @@ func (app *BaseApp) OnAfterApiError() *hook.Hook[*ApiErrorEvent] {
 	return app.onAfterApiError
 }
 
+func (app *BaseApp) OnTerminate() *hook.Hook[*TerminateEvent] {
+	return app.onTerminate
+}
+
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Dao event hooks
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1084,4 +1147,9 @@ func (app *BaseApp) registerDefaultHooks() {
 
 		return nil
 	})
+
+	app.OnTerminate().Add(func(e *TerminateEvent) error {
+		app.ResetBootstrapState()
+		return nil
+	})
 }
diff --git a/core/base_backup.go b/core/base_backup.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01b81012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/base_backup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+package core
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/daos"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/tools/archive"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/tools/filesystem"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/tools/security"
+	"github.com/spf13/cast"
+)
+
+const CacheActiveBackupsKey string = "@activeBackup"
+
+// CreateBackup creates a new backup of the current app pb_data directory.
+//
+// If name is empty, it will be autogenerated.
+// If backup with the same name exists, the new backup file will replace it.
+//
+// The backup is executed within a transaction, meaning that new writes
+// will be temporary "blocked" until the backup file is generated.
+//
+// By default backups are stored in pb_data/backups
+// (the backups directory itself is excluded from the generated backup).
+//
+// When using S3 storage for the uploaded collection files, you have to
+// take care manually to backup those since they are not part of the pb_data.
+//
+// Backups can be stored on S3 if it is configured in app.Settings().Backups.
+func (app *BaseApp) CreateBackup(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
+	canBackup := cast.ToString(app.Cache().Get(CacheActiveBackupsKey)) != ""
+	if canBackup {
+		return errors.New("try again later - another backup/restore process has already been started")
+	}
+
+	// auto generate backup name
+	if name == "" {
+		name = fmt.Sprintf(
+			"pb_backup_%s.zip",
+			time.Now().UTC().Format("20060102150405"),
+		)
+	}
+
+	app.Cache().Set(CacheActiveBackupsKey, name)
+	defer app.Cache().Remove(CacheActiveBackupsKey)
+
+	// Archive pb_data in a temp directory, exluding the "backups" dir itself (if exist).
+	//
+	// Run in transaction to temporary block other writes (transactions uses the NonconcurrentDB connection).
+	// ---
+	tempPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_backup_"+security.PseudorandomString(4))
+	createErr := app.Dao().RunInTransaction(func(txDao *daos.Dao) error {
+		if err := archive.Create(app.DataDir(), tempPath, LocalBackupsDirName); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+	if createErr != nil {
+		return createErr
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(tempPath)
+
+	// Persist the backup in the backups filesystem.
+	// ---
+	fsys, err := app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	file, err := filesystem.NewFileFromPath(tempPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	file.OriginalName = name
+	file.Name = file.OriginalName
+
+	if err := fsys.UploadFile(file, file.Name); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// RestoreBackup restores the backup with the specified name and restarts
+// the current running application process.
+//
+// NB! This feature is experimental and currently is expected to work only on UNIX based systems.
+//
+// To safely perform the restore it is recommended to have free disk space
+// for at least 2x the size of the restored pb_data backup.
+//
+// The performed steps are:
+//
+//  1. Download the backup with the specified name in a temp location
+//     (this is in case of S3; otherwise it creates a temp copy of the zip)
+//
+//  2. Extract the backup in a temp directory next to the app "pb_data"
+//     (eg. "pb_data/../pb_data_to_restore").
+//
+//  3. Move the current app "pb_data" under a special sub temp dir that
+//     will be deleted on the next app start up (eg. "pb_data_to_restore/.pb_temp_to_delete/").
+//     This is because on some operating systems it may not be allowed
+//     to delete the currently open "pb_data" files.
+//
+//  4. Rename the extracted dir from step 1 as the new "pb_data".
+//
+//  5. Move from the old "pb_data" any local backups that may have been
+//     created previously to the new "pb_data/backups".
+//
+//  6. Restart the app (on successfull app bootstap it will also remove the old pb_data).
+//
+// If a failure occure during the restore process the dir changes are reverted.
+// It for whatever reason the revert is not possible, it panics.
+func (app *BaseApp) RestoreBackup(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return errors.New("restore is not supported on windows")
+	}
+
+	canBackup := cast.ToString(app.Cache().Get(CacheActiveBackupsKey)) != ""
+	if canBackup {
+		return errors.New("try again later - another backup/restore process has already been started")
+	}
+
+	app.Cache().Set(CacheActiveBackupsKey, name)
+	defer app.Cache().Remove(CacheActiveBackupsKey)
+
+	fsys, err := app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(ctx)
+
+	// fetch the backup file in a temp location
+	br, err := fsys.GetFile(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer br.Close()
+
+	tempZip, err := os.CreateTemp(os.TempDir(), "pb_restore")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(tempZip.Name())
+
+	if _, err := io.Copy(tempZip, br); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	parentDataDir := filepath.Dir(app.DataDir())
+
+	extractedDataDir := filepath.Join(parentDataDir, "pb_restore_"+security.PseudorandomString(4))
+	defer os.RemoveAll(extractedDataDir)
+	if err := archive.Extract(tempZip.Name(), extractedDataDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// ensure that a database file exists
+	extractedDB := filepath.Join(extractedDataDir, "data.db")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(extractedDB); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("data.db file is missing or invalid: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// remove the extracted zip file since we no longer need it
+	// (this is in case the app restarts and the defer calls are not called)
+	if err := os.Remove(tempZip.Name()); err != nil && app.IsDebug() {
+		log.Println(err)
+	}
+
+	// make sure that a special temp directory exists in the extracted one
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(extractedDataDir, LocalTempDirName), os.ModePerm); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create a temp dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// move the current pb_data to a special temp location that will
+	// hold the old data between dirs replace
+	// (the temp dir will be automatically removed on the next app start)
+	oldTempDataDir := filepath.Join(extractedDataDir, LocalTempDirName, "old_pb_data")
+	if err := os.Rename(app.DataDir(), oldTempDataDir); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to move the current pb_data to a temp location: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// "restore", aka. set the extracted backup as the new pb_data directory
+	if err := os.Rename(extractedDataDir, app.DataDir()); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set the extracted backup as pb_data dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// update the old temp data dir path after the restore
+	oldTempDataDir = filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), LocalTempDirName, "old_pb_data")
+
+	oldLocalBackupsDir := filepath.Join(oldTempDataDir, LocalBackupsDirName)
+	newLocalBackupsDir := filepath.Join(app.DataDir(), LocalBackupsDirName)
+
+	revertDataDirChanges := func(revertLocalBackupsDir bool) error {
+		if revertLocalBackupsDir {
+			if _, err := os.Stat(newLocalBackupsDir); err == nil {
+				if err := os.Rename(newLocalBackupsDir, oldLocalBackupsDir); err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("failed to revert the backups dir change: %w", err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if err := os.Rename(app.DataDir(), extractedDataDir); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to revert the extracted dir change: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		if err := os.Rename(oldTempDataDir, app.DataDir()); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to revert old pb_data dir change: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// restore the local pb_data/backups dir (if any)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(oldLocalBackupsDir); err == nil {
+		if err := os.Rename(oldLocalBackupsDir, newLocalBackupsDir); err != nil {
+			if err := revertDataDirChanges(true); err != nil && app.IsDebug() {
+				log.Println(err)
+			}
+
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to move the local pb_data/backups dir: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// restart the app
+	if err := app.Restart(); err != nil {
+		if err := revertDataDirChanges(false); err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to restart the app process: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/core/base_test.go b/core/base_test.go
index 91750658..b4ce31ec 100644
--- a/core/base_test.go
+++ b/core/base_test.go
@@ -236,3 +236,33 @@ func TestBaseAppNewFilesystem(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected nil s3 filesystem, got %v", s3)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestBaseAppNewBackupsFilesystem(t *testing.T) {
+	const testDataDir = "./pb_base_app_test_data_dir/"
+	defer os.RemoveAll(testDataDir)
+
+	app := NewBaseApp(&BaseAppConfig{
+		DataDir:       testDataDir,
+		EncryptionEnv: "pb_test_env",
+		IsDebug:       false,
+	})
+
+	// local
+	local, localErr := app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if localErr != nil {
+		t.Fatal(localErr)
+	}
+	if local == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Expected local backups filesystem instance, got nil")
+	}
+
+	// misconfigured s3
+	app.Settings().Backups.S3.Enabled = true
+	s3, s3Err := app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if s3Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Expected S3 error, got nil")
+	}
+	if s3 != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected nil s3 backups filesystem, got %v", s3)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/events.go b/core/events.go
index e29b323f..ac8c0715 100644
--- a/core/events.go
+++ b/core/events.go
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ type BootstrapEvent struct {
 	App App
 }
 
+type TerminateEvent struct {
+	App App
+}
+
 type ServeEvent struct {
 	App    App
 	Router *echo.Echo
diff --git a/forms/backup_create.go b/forms/backup_create.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0cabaabb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/forms/backup_create.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package forms
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"regexp"
+
+	validation "github.com/go-ozzo/ozzo-validation/v4"
+	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/core"
+)
+
+var backupNameRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-z0-9_-]+\.zip$`)
+
+// BackupCreate is a request form for creating a new app backup.
+type BackupCreate struct {
+	app core.App
+	ctx context.Context
+
+	Name string `form:"name" json:"name"`
+}
+
+// NewBackupCreate creates new BackupCreate request form.
+func NewBackupCreate(app core.App) *BackupCreate {
+	return &BackupCreate{
+		app: app,
+		ctx: context.Background(),
+	}
+}
+
+// SetContext replaces the default form context with the provided one.
+func (form *BackupCreate) SetContext(ctx context.Context) {
+	form.ctx = ctx
+}
+
+// Validate makes the form validatable by implementing [validation.Validatable] interface.
+func (form *BackupCreate) Validate() error {
+	return validation.ValidateStruct(form,
+		validation.Field(
+			&form.Name,
+			validation.Length(1, 100),
+			validation.Match(backupNameRegex),
+			validation.By(form.checkUniqueName),
+		),
+	)
+}
+
+func (form *BackupCreate) checkUniqueName(value any) error {
+	v, _ := value.(string)
+
+	fsys, err := form.app.NewBackupsFilesystem()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer fsys.Close()
+
+	fsys.SetContext(form.ctx)
+
+	if exists, err := fsys.Exists(v); err != nil || exists {
+		return validation.NewError("validation_backup_name_exists", "The backup file name is invalid or already exists.")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Submit validates the form and creates the app backup.
+//
+// You can optionally provide a list of InterceptorFunc to further
+// modify the form behavior before creating the backup.
+func (form *BackupCreate) Submit(interceptors ...InterceptorFunc[string]) error {
+	if err := form.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return runInterceptors(form.Name, func(name string) error {
+		return form.app.CreateBackup(form.ctx, name)
+	}, interceptors...)
+}
diff --git a/models/settings/settings.go b/models/settings/settings.go
index e6f582b4..c7bff499 100644
--- a/models/settings/settings.go
+++ b/models/settings/settings.go
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ type Settings struct {
 	Smtp SmtpConfig `form:"smtp" json:"smtp"`
 	S3   S3Config   `form:"s3" json:"s3"`
 
+	// @todo update tests
+	Backups BackupsConfig `form:"backups" json:"backups"`
+
 	AdminAuthToken           TokenConfig `form:"adminAuthToken" json:"adminAuthToken"`
 	AdminPasswordResetToken  TokenConfig `form:"adminPasswordResetToken" json:"adminPasswordResetToken"`
 	AdminFileToken           TokenConfig `form:"adminFileToken" json:"adminFileToken"`
@@ -94,7 +97,7 @@ func New() *Settings {
 		},
 		AdminFileToken: TokenConfig{
 			Secret:   security.RandomString(50),
-			Duration: 300, // 5 minutes
+			Duration: 120, // 2 minutes
 		},
 		RecordAuthToken: TokenConfig{
 			Secret:   security.RandomString(50),
@@ -110,7 +113,7 @@ func New() *Settings {
 		},
 		RecordFileToken: TokenConfig{
 			Secret:   security.RandomString(50),
-			Duration: 300, // 5 minutes
+			Duration: 120, // 2 minutes
 		},
 		RecordEmailChangeToken: TokenConfig{
 			Secret:   security.RandomString(50),
@@ -393,6 +396,33 @@ func (c S3Config) Validate() error {
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+type BackupsConfig struct {
+	AutoInterval     BackupInterval `form:"autoInterval" json:"autoInterval"`
+	AutoMaxRetention int            `form:"autoMaxRetention" json:"autoMaxRetention"`
+	S3               S3Config       `form:"s3" json:"s3"`
+}
+
+// Validate makes BackupsConfig validatable by implementing [validation.Validatable] interface.
+func (c BackupsConfig) Validate() error {
+	return validation.ValidateStruct(&c,
+		validation.Field(&c.S3),
+	)
+}
+
+// @todo
+type BackupInterval struct {
+	Day int
+}
+
+// Validate makes BackupInterval validatable by implementing [validation.Validatable] interface.
+func (c BackupInterval) Validate() error {
+	return validation.ValidateStruct(&c,
+		validation.Field(&c.Day),
+	)
+}
+
+// -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 type MetaConfig struct {
 	AppName                    string        `form:"appName" json:"appName"`
 	AppUrl                     string        `form:"appUrl" json:"appUrl"`
diff --git a/pocketbase.go b/pocketbase.go
index 104ae425..01f4ae5e 100644
--- a/pocketbase.go
+++ b/pocketbase.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (pb *PocketBase) Execute() error {
 
 	done := make(chan bool, 1)
 
-	// wait for interrupt signal to gracefully shutdown the application
+	// listen for interrupt signal to gracefully shutdown the application
 	go func() {
 		sigch := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
 		signal.Notify(sigch, os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
diff --git a/tools/archive/create.go b/tools/archive/create.go
index b6a5b76f..8924c9e7 100644
--- a/tools/archive/create.go
+++ b/tools/archive/create.go
@@ -5,10 +5,19 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 // Create creates a new zip archive from src dir content and saves it in dest path.
-func Create(src, dest string) error {
+//
+// You can specify skipPaths to skip/ignore certain directories and files (relative to src)
+// preventing adding them in the final archive.
+func Create(src string, dest string, skipPaths ...string) error {
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), os.ModePerm); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	zf, err := os.Create(dest)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -18,8 +27,8 @@ func Create(src, dest string) error {
 	zw := zip.NewWriter(zf)
 	defer zw.Close()
 
-	if err := zipAddFS(zw, os.DirFS(src)); err != nil {
-		// try to cleanup the created zip file
+	if err := zipAddFS(zw, os.DirFS(src), skipPaths...); err != nil {
+		// try to cleanup at least the created zip file
 		os.Remove(dest)
 
 		return err
@@ -29,7 +38,7 @@ func Create(src, dest string) error {
 }
 
 // note remove after similar method is added in the std lib (https://github.com/golang/go/issues/54898)
-func zipAddFS(w *zip.Writer, fsys fs.FS) error {
+func zipAddFS(w *zip.Writer, fsys fs.FS, skipPaths ...string) error {
 	return fs.WalkDir(fsys, ".", func(name string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -39,6 +48,14 @@ func zipAddFS(w *zip.Writer, fsys fs.FS) error {
 			return nil
 		}
 
+		// skip
+		for _, ignore := range skipPaths {
+			if ignore == name ||
+				strings.HasPrefix(name+string(os.PathSeparator), filepath.Clean(ignore)+string(os.PathSeparator)) {
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		info, err := d.Info()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/tools/archive/create_test.go b/tools/archive/create_test.go
index 7a51f708..e22849ac 100644
--- a/tools/archive/create_test.go
+++ b/tools/archive/create_test.go
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ func TestCreateSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	zipPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), zipName)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(zipPath)
 
-	// zip testDir content
-	if err := archive.Create(testDir, zipPath); err != nil {
+	// zip testDir content (excluding test and a/b/c dir)
+	if err := archive.Create(testDir, zipPath, "a/b/c", "test"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create archive: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestCreateSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected zip with name %q, got %q", zipName, name)
 	}
 
-	expectedSize := int64(300)
+	expectedSize := int64(405)
 	if size := info.Size(); size != expectedSize {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected zip with size %d, got %d", expectedSize, size)
 	}
@@ -68,17 +68,53 @@ func createTestDir(t *testing.T) string {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	sub1, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/sub1.txt"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "test"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
 	}
-	sub1.Close()
 
-	sub2, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/b/c/sub2.txt"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "test2"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
+	}
+
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/test"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
+	}
+
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/b/sub1"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
+	}
+
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/b/c/sub2"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
+	}
+
+	{
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a/b/c/sub3"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		f.Close()
 	}
-	sub2.Close()
 
 	return dir
 }
diff --git a/tools/archive/extract_test.go b/tools/archive/extract_test.go
index efb5a213..ce553de4 100644
--- a/tools/archive/extract_test.go
+++ b/tools/archive/extract_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package archive_test
 
 import (
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
@@ -13,15 +14,15 @@ func TestExtractFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(testDir)
 
 	missingZipPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_missing_test.zip")
-	extractPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_zip_extract")
-	defer os.RemoveAll(extractPath)
+	extractedPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_zip_extract")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(extractedPath)
 
-	if err := archive.Extract(missingZipPath, extractPath); err == nil {
+	if err := archive.Extract(missingZipPath, extractedPath); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Expected Extract to fail due to missing zipPath")
 	}
 
-	if _, err := os.Stat(extractPath); err == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Expected %q to not be created", extractPath)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(extractedPath); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected %q to not be created", extractedPath)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -32,26 +33,55 @@ func TestExtractSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	zipPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_test.zip")
 	defer os.RemoveAll(zipPath)
 
-	extractPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_zip_extract")
-	defer os.RemoveAll(extractPath)
+	extractedPath := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "pb_zip_extract")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(extractedPath)
 
-	// zip testDir content
-	if err := archive.Create(testDir, zipPath); err != nil {
+	// zip testDir content (with exclude)
+	if err := archive.Create(testDir, zipPath, "a/b/c", "test", "sub2"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create archive: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := archive.Extract(zipPath, extractPath); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to extract %q in %q", zipPath, extractPath)
+	if err := archive.Extract(zipPath, extractedPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to extract %q in %q", zipPath, extractedPath)
 	}
 
-	pathsToCheck := []string{
-		filepath.Join(extractPath, "a/sub1.txt"),
-		filepath.Join(extractPath, "a/b/c/sub2.txt"),
-	}
+	availableFiles := []string{}
 
-	for _, p := range pathsToCheck {
-		if _, err := os.Stat(p); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to retrieve extracted file %q: %v", p, err)
+	walkErr := filepath.WalkDir(extractedPath, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
+
+		if d.IsDir() {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		availableFiles = append(availableFiles, path)
+
+		return nil
+	})
+	if walkErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to read the extracted dir: %v", walkErr)
+	}
+
+	expectedFiles := []string{
+		filepath.Join(extractedPath, "test2"),
+		filepath.Join(extractedPath, "a/test"),
+		filepath.Join(extractedPath, "a/b/sub1"),
+	}
+
+	if len(availableFiles) != len(expectedFiles) {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected \n%v, \ngot \n%v", expectedFiles, availableFiles)
+	}
+
+ExpectedLoop:
+	for _, expected := range expectedFiles {
+		for _, available := range availableFiles {
+			if available == expected {
+				continue ExpectedLoop
+			}
+		}
+
+		t.Fatalf("Missing file %q in \n%v", expected, availableFiles)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/filesystem/filesystem.go b/tools/filesystem/filesystem.go
index 8abbe757..d39b638b 100644
--- a/tools/filesystem/filesystem.go
+++ b/tools/filesystem/filesystem.go
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ func NewLocal(dirPath string) (*System, error) {
 	return &System{ctx: ctx, bucket: bucket}, nil
 }
 
+// @todo add test
+// SetContext assigns the specified context to the current filesystem.
+func (s *System) SetContext(ctx context.Context) {
+	s.ctx = ctx
+}
+
 // Close releases any resources used for the related filesystem.
 func (s *System) Close() error {
 	return s.bucket.Close()
@@ -109,6 +115,28 @@ func (s *System) GetFile(fileKey string) (*blob.Reader, error) {
 	return br, nil
 }
 
+// List returns a flat list with info for all files under the specified prefix.
+func (s *System) List(prefix string) ([]*blob.ListObject, error) {
+	files := []*blob.ListObject{}
+
+	iter := s.bucket.List(&blob.ListOptions{
+		Prefix: prefix,
+	})
+
+	for {
+		obj, err := iter.Next(s.ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			if err != io.EOF {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			break
+		}
+		files = append(files, obj)
+	}
+
+	return files, nil
+}
+
 // Upload writes content into the fileKey location.
 func (s *System) Upload(content []byte, fileKey string) error {
 	opts := &blob.WriterOptions{
diff --git a/tools/filesystem/filesystem_test.go b/tools/filesystem/filesystem_test.go
index 84666f5a..c2b51bad 100644
--- a/tools/filesystem/filesystem_test.go
+++ b/tools/filesystem/filesystem_test.go
@@ -401,6 +401,67 @@ func TestFileSystemGetFile(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFileSystemList(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := createTestDir(t)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+
+	fs, err := filesystem.NewLocal(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer fs.Close()
+
+	scenarios := []struct {
+		prefix   string
+		expected []string
+	}{
+		{
+			"",
+			[]string{
+				"image.png",
+				"image.svg",
+				"image_! noext",
+				"style.css",
+				"test/sub1.txt",
+				"test/sub2.txt",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			"test",
+			[]string{
+				"test/sub1.txt",
+				"test/sub2.txt",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			"missing",
+			[]string{},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, s := range scenarios {
+		objs, err := fs.List(s.prefix)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("[%s] %v", s.prefix, err)
+		}
+
+		if len(s.expected) != len(objs) {
+			t.Fatalf("[%s] Expected %d files, got \n%v", s.prefix, len(s.expected), objs)
+		}
+
+	ObjsLoop:
+		for _, obj := range objs {
+			for _, name := range s.expected {
+				if name == obj.Key {
+					continue ObjsLoop
+				}
+			}
+
+			t.Fatalf("[%s] Unexpected file %q", s.prefix, obj.Key)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFileSystemServeSingleRange(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := createTestDir(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)