How to fix PointInTimeRecoveryUnavailableException: Point in time recovery is not enabled on the table in DynamoDB

# Using AWS CLI
aws dynamodb describe-continuous-backups   --table-name YourTableName   --query 'ContinuousBackupsDescription.PointInTimeRecoveryDescription'

# Expected output if PITR is enabled:
# {
#   "PointInTimeRecoveryStatus": "ENABLED",
#   "EarliestRestorableDateTime": "2025-12-10T10:30:00.000Z",
#   "LatestRestorableDateTime": "2025-12-12T10:30:00.000Z"
# }

# If PITR is disabled, you'll see:
# {
#   "PointInTimeRecoveryStatus": "DISABLED"
# }

# Enable PITR using AWS CLI
aws dynamodb update-continuous-backups   --table-name YourTableName   --point-in-time-recovery-specification     'PointInTimeRecoveryEnabled=true'

# Verify it's enabled
aws dynamodb describe-continuous-backups   --table-name YourTableName   --query 'ContinuousBackupsDescription.PointInTimeRecoveryDescription.PointInTimeRecoveryStatus'

# Should return "ENABLED"

# Check PITR status until it shows ENABLED with restore times
while true; do
  result=$(aws dynamodb describe-continuous-backups     --table-name YourTableName     --query 'ContinuousBackupsDescription.PointInTimeRecoveryDescription')

  status=$(echo $result | jq -r '.PointInTimeRecoveryStatus')
  earliest=$(echo $result | jq -r '.EarliestRestorableDateTime // empty')

  if [[ "$status" == "ENABLED" && -n "$earliest" ]]; then
    echo "PITR is active. Earliest restore time: $earliest"
    break
  fi

  echo "Waiting for PITR to become active... (status: $status)"
  sleep 30
done

# Restore table to a specific point in time
aws dynamodb restore-table-from-point-in-time   --source-table-name YourTableName   --target-table-name YourTableName-restored   --restore-date-time "2025-12-12T10:30:00.000Z"   --use-latest-restorable-time

# Using --use-latest-restorable-time to restore to the latest possible time
aws dynamodb restore-table-from-point-in-time   --source-table-name YourTableName   --target-table-name YourTableName-latest   --use-latest-restorable-time

# Monitor restore progress
aws dynamodb describe-table   --table-name YourTableName-restored   --query 'Table.TableStatus'

# Enable PITR during table creation
aws dynamodb create-table   --table-name NewCriticalTable   --attribute-definitions 'AttributeName=id,AttributeType=S'   --key-schema 'AttributeName=id,KeyType=HASH'   --billing-mode PAY_PER_REQUEST   --point-in-time-recovery-specification 'PointInTimeRecoveryEnabled=true'

# Using CloudFormation (YAML)
Resources:
  MyTable:
    Type: AWS::DynamoDB::Table
    Properties:
      TableName: MyTable
      # ... other properties
      PointInTimeRecoverySpecification:
        PointInTimeRecoveryEnabled: true

# Using Terraform
resource "aws_dynamodb_table" "example" {
  name = "example"
  # ... other attributes

  point_in_time_recovery {
    enabled = true
  }
}

// AWS SDK v3 for JavaScript
import { DynamoDBClient, RestoreTableFromPointInTimeCommand, DescribeContinuousBackupsCommand } from '@aws-sdk/client-dynamodb';

const client = new DynamoDBClient({ region: 'us-east-1' });

async function restoreTableWithFallback(sourceTable, targetTable, restoreTime) {
  try {
    const command = new RestoreTableFromPointInTimeCommand({
      SourceTableName: sourceTable,
      TargetTableName: targetTable,
      RestoreDateTime: restoreTime
    });

    return await client.send(command);
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.name === 'PointInTimeRecoveryUnavailableException') {
      console.error('PITR not enabled on ' + sourceTable + '. Checking status...');

      // Check PITR status
      const describeCmd = new DescribeContinuousBackupsCommand({
        TableName: sourceTable
      });

      const backupInfo = await client.send(describeCmd);
      const pitrStatus = backupInfo.ContinuousBackupsDescription?.PointInTimeRecoveryDescription?.PointInTimeRecoveryStatus;

      if (pitrStatus === 'DISABLED') {
        console.error('PITR is disabled. You need to enable it first.');
        // Optionally: Automatically enable PITR here
        // Or provide instructions to the user
      }

      throw new Error('Cannot restore: PITR is ' + (pitrStatus || 'not configured'));
    }
    throw error;
  }
}