To back up your files on Ubuntu 26.04, plug in an external drive, open the Backups app (Déjà Dup), choose the drive as the storage location and click Back Up Now. From the terminal, rsync copies your home folder to the drive in one command.
Below: how to set up automatic backups, restore a file or a whole folder, back up with rsync or tar, and take a Timeshift snapshot of the system before an upgrade. If a step does not work on your machine, leave a comment or contact us and we will help.
Back Up Your Files in 4 Steps
You need an external drive with more free space than your home folder uses. Open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T for the commands.
Restore Files From a Backup
For virtual machines, shut down the guest before copying its complete folder, including snapshots and any externally stored disks. The VirtualBox on Ubuntu guide explains why a VM snapshot is not a separate backup.
Which Backup Method to Use
Use the Backups app for your files and Timeshift for the system. The terminal tools suit people who want plain copies they control.
| Method | Best for | How you restore |
|---|---|---|
| Backups app | Automatic, encrypted backups of your files | Picking a date and dragging files back |
| rsync | A plain copy you can open on any computer | Copying the files back |
| tar | One archive of a few folders to keep or send | Extracting the archive |
| Timeshift | System files, before an upgrade or a driver change | Choosing a snapshot |
A backup made with the Backups app is a locked, encrypted store, not a folder of normal files. You can only read it through the app. If you want files you can open anywhere, use rsync.
Database backups need their own procedure. If you use MongoDB, see how to install and secure MongoDB on Ubuntu and follow MongoDB’s backup guidance rather than relying on a live file copy alone.
Back Up Your Home Folder With rsync
rsync copies your files to the drive as normal files and folders. Run it again later and it only copies what changed.
Make a Compressed Archive With tar
tar packs folders into one file. It suits a one-off copy you want to store or send, not a regular backup.
-c creates the archive, -z compresses it, -f names the file, and -C ~ stores the folders without /home/mike in front. The date in the name keeps each archive separate.
Use your archive’s file name. Extract into a separate folder first, so old files cannot overwrite newer ones. More options are in our tar command cheat sheet.
Snapshot the System With Timeshift
Timeshift saves Ubuntu’s system files, not your documents. Take a snapshot before an upgrade or a driver change, and roll back if it goes wrong.
Open Timeshift from the app grid once to set it up. Choose RSYNC as the snapshot type, which works on any disk, and pick where to keep snapshots. After that you can take one from the terminal:
To roll back, open Timeshift, pick the snapshot and click Restore, or run sudo timeshift --restore. Timeshift leaves your home folder out by default, so keep using the Backups app or rsync for your files. Taking a snapshot is step one in our Ubuntu 26.04 upgrade guide.
If Something Goes Wrong
Helpful Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to back up Ubuntu?
Use the Backups app. Plug in an external drive, choose it as the storage location, set a password and click Back Up Now. Then turn on Back Up Automatically so it keeps running.
Does Ubuntu back up my files automatically?
Not until you set it up. Open Backups, choose a storage location, and turn on Back Up Automatically in Preferences.
How do I back up Ubuntu to an external drive?
Choose the drive as the storage location in the Backups app, or copy your home folder to it with rsync -a ~/ /media/$USER/BackupDrive/home-backup/ using your drive name.
Does Timeshift back up my personal files?
No. By default Timeshift only saves system files, so it can undo a bad update or driver change. Back up your files with the Backups app or rsync.
Can I open a Backups app backup without the app?
No. The backup is stored encrypted, so you restore it through the Backups app with your password. If you want plain files you can open anywhere, use rsync.
How do I restore files from a backup on Ubuntu?
Open Backups, click Browse Backups and pick a date. A file manager window opens, and you drag the files you need back into your home folder.
Updates, codecs, drivers and the settings worth changing on a new Ubuntu 26.04 install.
More guides: Free Backup Software for Ubuntu · Enable or Disable the Root Account · Linux Security Commands
