Retain Backups During Extended Leaves

If you go on vacation or your computer is going to be shut off for an extended period, you may wonder what happens to your backed-up data.

Leaving your Computer

While files are expunged from the servers after 30 days if you remove them from a computer, your most recent backup snapshot is retained until the next time that the backup is updated. Typically, this period of the "most recent backup snapshot" is short because the backup is updated so frequently. But if your backup is not updated for some time (the computer is powered off, the internet connection is severed, or the backup's schedule is set to Only When I Click), this snapshot continues to be available.

It is important to note that the "most recent backup snapshot" contains only the data that is found on the computer at the time of the last update; data that may have been previously backed up but has since been deleted, overwritten, or otherwise removed from the computer is NOT included in the "most recent backup snapshot." External drives that you selected for backup, but they are not properly mounted are not included. Enabling Extended Version History is the easiest and most effective way to ensure that all data remains available long-term, including files that may not have been included in the most recent update to the backup.

Before you leave your computer, ensure that Backblaze is up to date, all external or secondary drives are connected, and the Backblaze control panel or system preference reports 0 files remaining to back up. After you verify those items, leave any external or secondary drives connected, and completely shut down your computer so it no longer contacts Backblaze servers while you are away. You can disconnect external or secondary drives while the computer is powered off.

"Missing computer" email reminders are sent 14, 21, 28, 60, and 90 days after a backup was last seen by Backblaze servers. If you intentionally pause Backblaze, you can safely disregard these messages, but be aware of the rules regarding the "most recent backup snapshot."

When you return to your computer, ensure that all external or secondary hard drives are connected before you power on the computer to ensure that the data on them is not expunged due to the 30-day window.

If you are on a monthly account, you may want to switch to a yearly or bi-yearly account for billing if you plan on being away for extended periods without access to a computer to make sure you continue to maintain your paid account.

Taking your Computer Without Hard Drives

While Backblaze is designed to retain data for 30 days from the last time data was scanned by the Backblaze software on your computer, you can effectively stop Backblaze from scanning and noting missing external drives by temporarily pausing it. However, the simplest way to avoid the 30-day limit for your files if you are going on vacation is to turn on Extended Version History. This allows you to extend your backup time to a year or forever. If you choose not to use this feature, continue reading.

Before you leave your external drives, ensure that Backblaze is up to date, all external or secondary drives are connected, and the Backblaze control panel or system preference reports zero files remain to back up. After you verify those items, leave external or secondary drives connected, and open the Backblaze control panel/system preference. Click Settings > Schedule, and change the schedule to Backup only when I click <backup now>. While you are away from your external or secondary drives, do not click the Backup Now button or begin any backups.

That setting prevents forward progress on your backup while you are away (so newly created data while you are away is *not* backed up), but disconnected drives will not be purged from the servers.

"Missing computer" email reminders are sent 14, 21, 28, 60, and 90 days after a backup was last seen by Backblaze servers. If you intentionally have Backblaze paused, you can safely disregard these messages, but be aware of the rules regarding the "most recent backup snapshot."

When you return to your external or secondary drives, connect them and verify that they are working and include all of your files. Then you can change Backblaze's schedule back to Continuously and allow Backblaze to recheck the data on the external drives and transmit any new or changed files since the last time it backed up.