SourceTree Clone and restored backup repository path

Goal: Confirm whether SourceTree automatically recognizes a repository restored from a backup clone without requiring manual re-registration, and whether commit history and branch references remain consistent after the restore.

SourceTree stores repository entries in .strepo metadata, so restoring only the .git directory may not repopulate the application's repository list. Behavior may differ between SourceTree 3.x and earlier releases, and between Windows and macOS path handling. The application does not automatically detect a moved or restored repository location.

Does SourceTree automatically re-point to a restored repository path after cloning from a backup location? Must the .strepo file be restored alongside the .git directory for the repository to reappear in the UI? Are commit SHAs and branch references preserved identically when loading from a backup clone compared to the original repository?