Schedules And Automation
Choose when a plan runs in the When row of the plan page. Automatically (recommended) is selected for new plans: an external backup drive triggers a backup when connected, at most once a day; other destinations use a daily schedule at 18:00 with missed runs caught up. Select Edit… to change this.
Choose Only when I start it for manual backups. With an automatic plan, Run the first backup now lets you create the first backup immediately as well as save the schedule.
Schedule Types
| Type | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Once | Runs at the selected date and time. |
| Daily | Runs every selected number of days at the chosen time. |
| Weekly | Runs on selected weekdays, with an optional interval of several weeks. |
| Monthly | Runs on the day of the month given by the start date. In shorter months it runs on the last day. |
| Hourly | Runs at the chosen interval, starting at the selected time. |
| Continuous | Starts another backup after the previous run and the configured interval. |
| When the backup drive is connected | Runs when the configured drive becomes available. |
Time-based and drive-triggered schedules are alternatives for the same plan. The start and end dates limit when a schedule is active.
Hourly And Continuous Backups
Frequent backups suit small datasets that change often. Allow time for the backup and any second copy to finish, and check the storage estimate. Full backups at short intervals can fill a destination quickly.
Drive-Triggered Backups
The notification-area application detects the configured drive and asks the background service to run the backup. Keep that application running; the plan page warns if it is closed.
Drive matching uses available identity information, such as serial number, volume name, size, and model, rather than only the drive letter. You can set a delay after connection and a minimum interval between runs.
Missed And Overlapping Runs
Enable Run the backup as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed to catch up after the PC was unavailable. A missed backup to an external drive can run when that drive is reconnected.
Scheduled network backups wait up to three minutes for the destination to become reachable, allowing time for a sleeping NAS or network connection to recover. If it remains unavailable, review the failure report.
Backups that would conflict with another backup, restore, or clone wait until the active operation finishes. A manual start from the notification area can instead be refused with an explanation. The report distinguishes the scheduled time from the actual start.
Wake From Sleep
Wake the computer from sleep to run this backup is off by default. Enable it in the schedule if needed, and allow wake timers in the active Windows power plan. This option does not wake a shut-down PC or a PC in hibernation.
The computer is kept awake during backups and transfers. Letting the display turn off is a separate option under Settings > General.
Background Service And Notification Area
Time-based schedules run through the background service even when the main window is closed. The notification-area menu shows progress and lets administrators start plans or cancel operations without opening an elevated main window.
If the application and service versions are incompatible, schedules are suspended and the application shows update guidance. Where available, a manual backup can run in the application until the service is updated.
Automatic shutdown is skipped after cancellation and for backups started from the notification-area menu.