System backup is an important part to keep your data safe and secure. For Linux systems, there are various backup utilities available that help easily backup data regularly. You can check our top 5 System backup tools for Linux desktops and laptops. In this post, we go through the steps how to install, configure, and use BackInTime to back up your Linux system safely and efficiently. BackInTime is a basic open source backup tool for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It allows you to create snapshots of your system at regular intervals and enables to recover your files and applications in case of data loss or system failure
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What Is the BackInTime Tool?
BackInTime is a simple, lightweight GUI backup tool for Linux that works similarly to Apple’s Time Machine and Windows system restore. It is one of the best open-source backup utilities for Linux that leverages the power of rsync to create incremental backups. It allows users to take snapshots of specific folders and save them to local or external storage. Snapshots are stored as incremental backups, meaning only changes since the last backup are saved. This method saves space and speeds up the process.
BackInTime is lightweight, user-friendly, and supports both graphical and command-line interfaces.
- Incremental Backups: Only changes since the last backup are saved, it reduces storage space and backup time.
- Snapshot-Based: Each backup is a full snapshot of your files, but only new or modified files are copied.
- Scheduling: Automate backups to run daily, weekly, or at custom intervals.
- Easy Restoration: Restore individual files or entire directories with a few clicks.
- Cross-Platform Support: Works with various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and more.
Why Use BackInTime for Linux Backups?
There are several reasons why BackInTime is a preferred choice among Linux users:
- Easy to Use: No need for complex terminal commands.
- Efficient Backups: Only modified files are stored after the initial backup.
- Flexible Scheduling: Automate your backup tasks with cron integration.
- Data Security: Keeps your personal files safe without requiring root privileges.
How to Install BackInTime on Ubuntu Linux
BackInTime is not a default application on Linux distributions. So we need to manually install this. To do this, open the terminal and follow the instructions corresponding to the OS you are using.
BackInTime is available in two flavors: a GNOME version (with a graphical interface) and a Qt version (for KDE and other environments). This guide focuses on the GNOME version but is largely applicable to both.
On Ubuntu/Debian-Based Systems
- Open a Terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal window.
- Run the following command to add the BackInTime PPA (Personal Package Archive) for the latest version:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bit-team/stable
Next, update the Package List: sudo apt-get update
And finally, to install Back-In-Time: sudo apt-get install backintime-gnome
That’s it! You can launch the utility from ‘Applications’
If you are using Fedora Linux and need to install the BackInTime backup application? If so, launch a terminal session and enter the DNF command
sudo dnf install backintime-gnome
If you’d like to install it on Arch Linux/Manjaro, open a Terminal, then run the following command:
sudo pacman -S backintime-gnome
Manual Installation (Optional)
If BackInTime is not available in your distribution’s repositories or you want the latest version, you can install it from source. Visit the BackInTime GitHub page for instructions. This typically involves downloading the source code, installing dependencies (e.g., rsync, python3), and running the setup script.
Use and Configure BackInTime
Once installed, configure BackInTime to suit your backup needs. Launch the application by searching for “BackInTime” in your application menu or running backintime-gnome (or backintime-qt) in the terminal.
The first time you open BackInTime, it will prompt you to configure a backup profile.
Select Settings from the main window. In the General tab, specify where backups will be stored. Common options include
- External Drive: Connect an external USB drive and select its mount point (e.g., /media/username/backup).
- Network Location: Use a network share (e.g., NFS, Samba). Ensure the share is mounted and accessible.
- Local Directory: Choose a folder on your system (e.g., /home/username/backups).
Example: For an external drive, browse to /media/username/MyBackupDrive and select it.
Once you’ve set up the backup folder, return to the app’s user interface and locate the “Include” tab. Then, click the “Add folder” button and add /home/username as the folder to backup.
Now select the “Exclude” tab, here select “Add folder” and add the “snapshots” directory we created earlier to save snapshots.
Also, BackInTime allows you to configure when your backups are automatically removed.
- Keep all snapshots for a set period (e.g., 7 days).
- Keep one snapshot per day/week/month for older backups.
- Example: Keep snapshots for 30 days, then keep one per month for a year.
Click “OK” to save the configuration when finished.
Create a Backup Using BackInTime
It’s simple and easy to create a backup using BackInTime Simply open the app.
Inside the app’s UI, locate the “Snapshot” menu at the top of the window and click on it. Then select “take snapshot” to create a new backup.
BackInTime will copy the included files to the backup location, creating a snapshot with a timestamp (e.g., 20250720-082400).
The main window shows the backup progress, including files being copied and estimated time remaining.
If you’ve enabled a schedule, BackInTime will automatically create snapshots at the specified intervals.
Restoring Files
Restoring files with BackInTime is straightforward, thanks to its snapshot-based system.
- Launch the application and navigate to the main window.
- In the left pane, you’ll see a list of available snapshots (by date and time).
- Select a snapshot to view its contents in the right pane.
- Right-click a file or folder and select Restore to copy it back to its original location.
- Alternatively, choose Restore to to save it to a different location.
To revert an entire directory, select the snapshot and restore all included files.
Tip: If you accidentally delete a file, check the most recent snapshot before the deletion to recover it.
To keep your backups organized and efficient, periodically manage your snapshots:
- Delete Old Snapshots: Manually delete unneeded snapshots from the main window or rely on the auto-remove settings.
- Check Storage Space: Ensure your backup location has enough free space. If not, adjust the retention policy or move backups to a larger drive.
- Test Restores: Periodically test restoring a few files to ensure your backups are functional.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Permission Errors: Ensure you have write permissions for the backup location. Run BackInTime as root (sudo backintime-gnome) if necessary.
- Backup Fails to Start: Verify that rsync is installed (sudo apt install rsync or equivalent).
- Snapshots Not Appearing: Check if the backup drive is mounted and accessible.
- High CPU Usage: Incremental backups should be lightweight, but large initial backups may take time. Schedule backups during off-hours.
For additional help, consult the BackInTime documentation or the BackInTime GitHub issues page.
That’s all, I hope this post helps to Backup and restore Linux PC using the BackIn Time utility.
