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  • Duplicati Documentation
  • Getting Started
    • Installation
    • Set up a backup in the UI
    • Running a backup
    • Restoring files
  • Detailed descriptions
    • Choosing Duplicati Type
    • Using the secret provider
      • Local providers
      • Cloud providers
      • Advanced configurations
    • Using remote management
      • Using remote control with agent
    • Migrating Duplicati to a new machine
    • Scripts
    • Sending reports
      • Monitoring with Duplicati Console
      • Sending reports with email
      • Sending Jabber/XMPP notifications
      • Sending HTTP notifications
      • Sending Telegram notifications
      • Custom message content
    • Duplicati Access Password
    • Import and export backup configurations
    • Filters in Duplicati
    • The local database
    • The server database
    • Preload settings
    • Retention settings
    • Using Duplicati with Linux
    • Using Duplicati from Docker
    • Using Duplicati with MacOS
    • Using Duplicati with Windows
    • Running a self-hosted OAuth Server
  • Using tools
    • Encrypting and decrypting files
    • Using Duplicati from the Command Line
    • Recovering from failure
    • Disaster recovery
  • Backup destinations
    • Destination overview
    • Standard based destinations
      • File Destination
      • S3-compatible Destination
      • FTP Destination
      • SFTP (SSH) Destination
      • WebDAV Destination
      • OpenStack Destination
      • Rclone Destination
      • CIFS (aka SMB) Destination
    • Provider specific destinations
      • Backblaze B2 Destination
      • Box.com Destination
      • Rackspace CloudFiles Destination
      • IDrive e2 Destination
      • Mega.nz Destination
      • Aliyun OSS Destination
      • Tencent COS Destination
      • Jottacloud Destination
      • pCloud Destination
      • Azure Blob Storage Destination
      • Google Cloud Storage Destination
      • Microsoft Group Destination
      • SharePoint Destination
      • SharePoint v2 (Graph API)
      • Amazon S3 destination
    • File synchronization providers
      • Dropbox Destination
      • Google Drive Destination
      • OneDrive Destination
      • OneDrive For Business Destination
    • Decentralized providers
      • Sia Destination
      • Storj Destination
      • TahoeLAFS destination
  • Duplicati Programs
    • TrayIcon
    • Server
    • Command Line Interface CLI
    • Service and WindowsService
    • Command Line Tools
      • AutoUpdater
      • BackendTester
      • BackendTool
      • RecoveryTool
      • SecretTool
      • SharpAESCrypt
      • Snapshots
      • ServerUtil
    • Agent
    • LICENSE
      • Duplicati Inc & Open Source
      • License Agreement
    • OAuth Server
  • SUPPORT
  • Installation details
    • Release channels and versions
      • Upgrading and downgrading
      • Downgrade from 2.1.0.2 to 2.0.8.1
    • Package options
    • Developer
  • TECHNICAL DETAILS
    • Architecture Premises
    • Understanding Backup
      • How Backup Works
      • Encryption Algorithms
      • Backup size parameters
    • Understanding Restore
      • How Restore Works
      • Disaster Recovery
    • Database versions
    • Server authentication model
    • Option formats
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On this page
  • 1. Basic configuration
  • 2. Storage destination
  • 3. Source data
  • 4. Schedule
  • 5. Retention and miscelaneous

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  1. Getting Started

Set up a backup in the UI

Describes how to configure a backup in Duplicati

PreviousInstallationNextRunning a backup

Last updated 16 days ago

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Once Duplicati is running, you can set up a backup through the UI. If the UI is not showing, you can use the in your system menu bar and choose "Open". If you are asked for a password before logging in to the UI, see .

In the UI, start by clicking "Add backup", and choose the option "Configure a new backup":

If you have an existing backup configuration you want to load in, see the .

To set up a new backup there are some details that are required, and these are divided into 5 steps:

1. Basic configuration

For the basic configuration, you need to provide a name and setup encryption:

The name and description fields can be any text you like, and is only used to display the backup configuration in lists so you can differentiate if you have multiple backups.

The encryption setup allows you to choose an encryption method and a passphrase. Encryption adds a minor overhead to the processing, but is generally a good idea to add. If you opt out of encryption, make sure you control the storage destination and have adequate protections in place.

Be sure to store the chosen or generated passphrase in a safe location as it is not possible to recover anything if this passphrase is lost!

To avoid weak passphrases, Duplicati has a built-in passphrase generator as well as a passphrase strength measurer.

2. Storage destination

The storage destination is arguably the most technical step because it is where you specify how to connect to the storage provider you want to hold your information. Some destinations require only a single setting, where others require multiple.

Each backup created by Duplicati requires a separate folder. Do not create two backups that use the same destination folder as they will keep breaking each other.

When the details are entered, it is recommended that you use the "Test" button which will perform some connection tests that helps reveal any issues with the entered information.

When the destination is configured as desired, click the "Next" button.

3. Source data

In the third step you need to define what data should be backed up. This part depends on your use. If you are a home user, you may want to back up images and documents. An IT professional may want to back up databases.

In the source picker view you can choose the files and folders you would like to back up. If you pick a folder, all subfolders and files in that folder will be included. You can use the UI to uncheck some items that you want to exclude, and they will show up with a red X.

Once you are satisfied with the source view, click the "Next" button to continue to the schedule step.

4. Schedule

Having an outdated backup is rarely an ideal solution, but remembering to run backups is also tedious and easy to forget. To ensure you have up-to-date backups, there is a built-in scheduler in Duplicati that you can enable to have Duplicati run automatically.

Once satisfied with the schedule, click "Next".

5. Retention and miscelaneous

Even though Duplicati has deduplication and compression to reduce the stored data, it is inevitable that old data is stored that will take up space, but is not needed for restore. In this final configuration step you can decide when old versions are removed and what size of files to store on the destination.

For the retention setting, it is inveitable that the backups will grow as new and changed data is added to the backups. If nothing is ever deleted, the backup size will keep growing in size. With the retention settings you can choose how to automatically remove older versions.

The setting "Smart backup retention" is meant to be useful for most users where it keeps one daily backup and then gradually fewer versions going back in time.

Once you are satisfied with the settings, click the "Save" button.

You have now configured your backup! 🎉

(descriptive name, passphrase)

(where to store the backups)

(what data should be backed up)

(automatically run backups)

(when to delete old backups and more)

Due to the number of supported backends, this page does not contain the instructions. Instead, each of the supported destinations is described in detail on the .

For more advanced uses, you can also use the filters to set up rules for what to include and exclude. See the section on if your have advanced needs.

If you prefer to run the backups manually, disable the scheduler, and you can use to trigger the backups as needed.

The size of remote volumes is meant for a balanced size usable with cloud-storage and a limited network connection. If you have a fast connection or store files on a local network, consider increasing the size of the remote volumes. For more information see .

destination overview page
how filters are evaluated in Duplicati
ServerUtil
this page on the tradeoffs between sizes
Basic configuration
Storage destination
Source data
Schedule
Retention and miscelaneous
TrayIcon
how to access without a password
section on import/export
Configuring a new backup
Basic configuration page
Storage destination list
Selecting source folders
Choosing a schedule to run on
Choosing backup retention