diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0efc5d4..1daf6f7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 .env
-tmp
\ No newline at end of file
+tmp
+migration/accounts.csv
+migration/accounts-plan.ndjson
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1577e28..08eee94 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,9 +48,15 @@ On Windows PowerShell:
 
 Put the generated 24-character value in `RC_DES_KEY` in `.env`.
 
-## Prepare Linux data directories
+## Persistent Stalwart data
 
-The Stalwart container runs as uid/gid `2000`. Create the bind-mounted directories and set the required ownership before starting the stack:
+Stalwart configuration, mail, and certificates are stored in Docker-managed volumes. This avoids host filesystem ownership problems after Docker Desktop or WSL restarts. The `stalwart-data-init` service assigns the ownership Stalwart requires before it starts.
+
+Do not use `docker compose down --volumes` or `docker volume rm` for this project unless you intend to permanently delete Stalwart's configuration and mail data.
+
+To protect against laptop loss, disk failure, or a Docker Desktop reset, back up the three `eternitymail-stalwart-*` volumes to storage outside Docker Desktop. Docker volumes protect data across normal container recreation, not a destroyed Docker data disk.
+
+The legacy Linux bind-mount preparation command applies only to deployments which still use `DATA_ROOT` bind mounts:
 
 ```bash
 chmod +x scripts/setup-data-dirs.sh
@@ -104,6 +110,38 @@ docker compose down
 
 Persistent data is stored under `DATA_ROOT` in the `stalwart`, `roundcube-db`, and `roundcube-config` directories.
 
+## Backup, restore, and server migration
+
+Backups include Stalwart configuration, certificates, mailboxes, Roundcube's database/configuration, `.env`, and `docker-compose.yml`. The backup stops the mail services briefly so the RocksDB and MariaDB files are consistent, then starts them again.
+
+On Linux, create a backup outside Docker Desktop or the server's Docker data disk:
+
+```bash
+chmod +x scripts/backup-server.sh scripts/restore-server.sh
+./scripts/backup-server.sh /mnt/backup/eternitymail
+```
+
+On Windows PowerShell:
+
+```powershell
+.\scripts\backup-server.ps1 -Destination D:\Backups\EternityMail
+```
+
+Restore that backup to Docker Desktop with:
+
+```powershell
+.\scripts\restore-server.ps1 -Archive D:\Backups\EternityMail\eternitymail-<timestamp>.tar.gz
+```
+
+Copy the resulting `.tar.gz` archive, this repository, and the `ep-roundcube-skin` checkout to the new Linux server. Install Docker Engine with the Compose plugin, then restore from the repository root:
+
+```bash
+sudo ./scripts/restore-server.sh /mnt/backup/eternitymail/eternitymail-<timestamp>.tar.gz
+docker compose ps
+```
+
+Restore refuses to replace an existing deployment unless `--force` (Linux) or `-Force` (PowerShell) is supplied. That option stops the stack and permanently replaces its Stalwart volumes and Roundcube bind-mount data. Keep the same `.env` from the archive, particularly `RC_DES_KEY`, passwords, hostname, and recovery administrator setting. Before moving production traffic, update the new server's DNS, firewall, and TLS configuration, then verify IMAPS and SMTP.
+
 ## Network ports
 
 The host bindings are configurable in `.env`:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 2b9d5b7..dc6e47e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 services:
+  stalwart-data-init:
+    image: alpine:3.21
+    container_name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}-stalwart-data-init
+    restart: "no"
+
+    command: ["sh", "-c", "chown -R 2000:2000 /etc/stalwart /var/lib/stalwart /etc/stalwart/certs"]
+
+    volumes:
+      - stalwart-etc:/etc/stalwart
+      - stalwart-data:/var/lib/stalwart
+      - stalwart-certs:/etc/stalwart/certs
+
   stalwart:
     image: stalwartlabs/stalwart:v0.16@sha256:93c574e52249c1ebf90061da2c4c0756a7b72abfcc1fec34506a03c2e38b5977
     container_name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}-stalwart
@@ -16,6 +28,10 @@ services:
     environment:
       STALWART_RECOVERY_ADMIN: ${STALWART_RECOVERY_ADMIN}
 
+    depends_on:
+      stalwart-data-init:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
+
     ports:
       - "${STALWART_SMTP_PORT:-25}:25/tcp"
       - "${STALWART_SUBMISSION_PORT:-587}:587/tcp"
@@ -23,9 +39,9 @@ services:
       - "${STALWART_ADMIN_BIND-127.0.0.1}:${STALWART_ADMIN_PORT:-8081}:8080/tcp"
 
     volumes:
-      - ${DATA_ROOT:-/opt/eternitymail}/stalwart/etc:/etc/stalwart
-      - ${DATA_ROOT:-/opt/eternitymail}/stalwart/data:/var/lib/stalwart
-      - ${DATA_ROOT:-/opt/eternitymail}/stalwart/certs:/etc/stalwart/certs:ro
+      - stalwart-etc:/etc/stalwart
+      - stalwart-data:/var/lib/stalwart
+      - stalwart-certs:/etc/stalwart/certs
 
     networks:
       eternitymail:
@@ -111,4 +127,13 @@ services:
 
 networks:
   eternitymail:
-    name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}
\ No newline at end of file
+    name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}
+
+
+volumes:
+  stalwart-etc:
+    name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}-stalwart-etc
+  stalwart-data:
+    name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}-stalwart-data
+  stalwart-certs:
+    name: ${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}-stalwart-certs
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/README.md b/scripts/README.md
index 5d5c6c8..02a1f6b 100644
--- a/scripts/README.md
+++ b/scripts/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 These scripts support the EternityMail Docker Compose deployment. Run them from the repository root.
 
+## Full server backup and restore
+
+`backup-server.sh` and `backup-server.ps1` create a portable `.tar.gz` backup containing all Stalwart named volumes, Roundcube database/configuration, and deployment settings. They stop the mail services for a consistent backup and start them after completion.
+
+`restore-server.sh` and `restore-server.ps1` restore that archive to Linux or Docker Desktop. They refuse to overwrite a deployment unless passed `--force` or `-Force`; that option permanently replaces current mail and Roundcube data. See the repository README for migration steps and commands.
+
 ## `install-stalwart-cli.sh`
 
 Installs the latest official `stalwart-cli` release on Linux. The upstream installer places the binary in the system executable path, normally `/usr/local/bin`.
diff --git a/scripts/backup-server.ps1 b/scripts/backup-server.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9f5c41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/backup-server.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#requires -Version 5.1
+param([string]$Destination = (Join-Path (Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent) "backups"))
+
+$root = Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
+$project = (Get-Content (Join-Path $root '.env') | Where-Object { $_ -match '^PROJECT_NAME=' } | Select-Object -First 1) -replace '^PROJECT_NAME=', ''
+if (-not $project) { $project = 'eternitymail' }
+$timestamp = (Get-Date).ToUniversalTime().ToString('yyyyMMddTHHmmssZ')
+$staging = Join-Path ([IO.Path]::GetTempPath()) "$project-backup-$timestamp"
+$archive = Join-Path $Destination "$project-$timestamp.tar.gz"
+
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $staging, $Destination | Out-Null
+try {
+    Push-Location $root
+    docker compose stop
+    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$staging\volumes", "$staging\bind-mounts" | Out-Null
+    Copy-Item '.env', 'docker-compose.yml' -Destination $staging
+    foreach ($volume in 'stalwart-etc', 'stalwart-data', 'stalwart-certs') {
+        docker run --rm -v "${project}-${volume}:/source:ro" -v "${staging}:/backup" alpine:3.21 tar -C /source -czf "/backup/volumes/$volume.tar.gz" .
+        if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw "Failed to back up volume $volume" }
+    }
+    foreach ($directory in 'roundcube-db', 'roundcube-config') {
+        docker run --rm -v "/opt/eternitymail/${directory}:/source:ro" -v "${staging}:/backup" alpine:3.21 tar -C /source -czf "/backup/bind-mounts/$directory.tar.gz" .
+        if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw "Failed to back up $directory" }
+    }
+    docker run --rm -v "${staging}:/backup" alpine:3.21 sh -c 'cd /backup && sha256sum .env docker-compose.yml volumes/*.tar.gz bind-mounts/*.tar.gz > SHA256SUMS && tar -czf /backup/archive.tar.gz .env docker-compose.yml volumes bind-mounts SHA256SUMS'
+    Move-Item "$staging\archive.tar.gz" $archive
+    Write-Output "Backup created: $archive"
+} finally {
+    docker compose start 2>$null
+    Pop-Location -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $staging -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/backup-server.sh b/scripts/backup-server.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8b2fee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/backup-server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Creates a consistent, portable backup of Stalwart, Roundcube, and deployment settings.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+root=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)
+destination=${1:-"$root/backups"}
+project=${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}
+timestamp=$(date -u +%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ)
+staging=$(mktemp -d)
+archive="$destination/${project}-${timestamp}.tar.gz"
+
+cleanup() {
+  rm -rf "$staging"
+  docker compose -f "$root/docker-compose.yml" --env-file "$root/.env" start >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+}
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+[[ -f "$root/.env" ]] || { echo "Missing $root/.env" >&2; exit 1; }
+mkdir -p "$destination"
+
+docker compose -f "$root/docker-compose.yml" --env-file "$root/.env" stop
+mkdir -p "$staging/volumes" "$staging/bind-mounts"
+cp "$root/.env" "$root/docker-compose.yml" "$staging/"
+
+for volume in stalwart-etc stalwart-data stalwart-certs; do
+  docker run --rm -v "${project}-${volume}:/source:ro" -v "$staging:/backup" alpine:3.21 \
+    tar -C /source -czf "/backup/volumes/${volume}.tar.gz" .
+done
+
+for directory in roundcube-db roundcube-config; do
+  docker run --rm -v "/opt/eternitymail/${directory}:/source:ro" -v "$staging:/backup" alpine:3.21 \
+    tar -C /source -czf "/backup/bind-mounts/${directory}.tar.gz" .
+done
+
+sha256sum "$staging"/.env "$staging"/docker-compose.yml "$staging"/volumes/*.tar.gz "$staging"/bind-mounts/*.tar.gz > "$staging/SHA256SUMS"
+tar -C "$staging" -czf "$archive" .
+echo "Backup created: $archive"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/restore-server.ps1 b/scripts/restore-server.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3969e53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/restore-server.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#requires -Version 5.1
+param(
+    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Archive,
+    [switch]$Force
+)
+
+$root = Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
+if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Archive -PathType Leaf)) { throw "Backup archive not found: $Archive" }
+if ((Test-Path (Join-Path $root '.env')) -and -not $Force) {
+    throw 'Refusing to overwrite an existing deployment without -Force.'
+}
+
+$staging = Join-Path ([IO.Path]::GetTempPath()) "eternitymail-restore-$([guid]::NewGuid())"
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $staging | Out-Null
+try {
+    docker run --rm -v "${Archive}:/backup/archive.tar.gz:ro" -v "${staging}:/restore" alpine:3.21 tar -C /restore -xzf /backup/archive.tar.gz
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw 'Could not extract backup archive.' }
+    docker run --rm -v "${staging}:/restore:ro" alpine:3.21 sh -c 'cd /restore && sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS'
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw 'Backup checksum verification failed.' }
+
+    if ($Force) {
+        Push-Location $root
+        docker compose down
+        docker volume rm eternitymail-stalwart-etc eternitymail-stalwart-data eternitymail-stalwart-certs 2>$null
+        docker run --rm -v /opt/eternitymail:/data alpine:3.21 sh -c 'rm -rf /data/roundcube-db /data/roundcube-config'
+        Pop-Location
+    }
+
+    Copy-Item "$staging\.env" (Join-Path $root '.env') -Force
+    $project = (Get-Content (Join-Path $root '.env') | Where-Object { $_ -match '^PROJECT_NAME=' } | Select-Object -First 1) -replace '^PROJECT_NAME=', ''
+    if (-not $project) { $project = 'eternitymail' }
+    foreach ($volume in 'stalwart-etc', 'stalwart-data', 'stalwart-certs') {
+        docker volume create "${project}-${volume}" | Out-Null
+        docker run --rm -v "${project}-${volume}:/destination" -v "${staging}:/restore:ro" alpine:3.21 tar -C /destination -xzf "/restore/volumes/$volume.tar.gz"
+        if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw "Could not restore volume $volume" }
+    }
+    foreach ($directory in 'roundcube-db', 'roundcube-config') {
+        docker run --rm -v /opt/eternitymail:/data -v "${staging}:/restore:ro" alpine:3.21 sh -c "mkdir -p /data/$directory && tar -C /data/$directory -xzf /restore/bind-mounts/$directory.tar.gz"
+        if ($LASTEXITCODE) { throw "Could not restore $directory" }
+    }
+    Push-Location $root
+    docker compose up -d
+    Pop-Location
+    Write-Output 'Restore complete. Verify with: docker compose ps'
+} finally {
+    Pop-Location -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $staging -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/restore-server.sh b/scripts/restore-server.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b07d809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/restore-server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Restores an archive produced by backup-server.sh. Existing server state requires --force.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+root=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)
+archive=${1:-}
+force=${2:-}
+project=${PROJECT_NAME:-eternitymail}
+staging=$(mktemp -d)
+
+cleanup() { rm -rf "$staging"; }
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+[[ -n "$archive" && -f "$archive" ]] || { echo "Usage: $0 /path/to/backup.tar.gz [--force]" >&2; exit 1; }
+[[ "$force" == "--force" || ! -e "$root/.env" ]] || { echo "Refusing to overwrite an existing deployment without --force." >&2; exit 1; }
+
+tar -C "$staging" -xzf "$archive"
+(cd "$staging" && sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS)
+
+if [[ "$force" == "--force" ]]; then
+  docker compose -f "$root/docker-compose.yml" --env-file "$root/.env" down || true
+  docker volume rm "${project}-stalwart-etc" "${project}-stalwart-data" "${project}-stalwart-certs" 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm -rf /opt/eternitymail/roundcube-db /opt/eternitymail/roundcube-config
+fi
+
+cp "$staging/.env" "$root/.env"
+project=$(sed -n 's/^PROJECT_NAME=//p' "$root/.env" | head -n1)
+project=${project:-eternitymail}
+for volume in stalwart-etc stalwart-data stalwart-certs; do
+  docker volume create "${project}-${volume}" >/dev/null
+  docker run --rm -v "${project}-${volume}:/destination" -v "$staging:/backup:ro" alpine:3.21 \
+    tar -C /destination -xzf "/backup/volumes/${volume}.tar.gz"
+done
+
+for directory in roundcube-db roundcube-config; do
+  mkdir -p "/opt/eternitymail/${directory}"
+  docker run --rm -v "/opt/eternitymail/${directory}:/destination" -v "$staging:/backup:ro" alpine:3.21 \
+    tar -C /destination -xzf "/backup/bind-mounts/${directory}.tar.gz"
+done
+
+docker compose -f "$root/docker-compose.yml" --env-file "$root/.env" up -d
+echo "Restore complete. Verify with: docker compose ps"
\ No newline at end of file