Manually start a backup

Overview

The CrashPlan app backs up files automatically based on your backup schedule. But you might want to back up on demand, regardless of when your next backup is scheduled. This article describes how to manually start a backup, so you can immediately back up new files and file changes.

Considerations

The CrashPlan app backs up new files and changes based on your backup schedule’s frequency setting. Between these scheduled backups, the CrashPlan app creates a To do list of all the new files and file changes.

In most cases, let the CrashPlan app run its automated backup schedule to back up recent changes. This helps to ensure a good balance between file version history and computer performance.

However, there may be cases when you want to immediately back up the files in your To do list. For example, you may wish to:

• Ensure all of your files are backed up before going offline (for example, before you board a plane).
• Download files from the web right away.

In these types of situations, you can click Run backup now to manually start a backup in-between your automated backups.

Back up now

To back up on demand:

1. Open the CrashPlan app.
2. Click Run backup now next to the destination to which you want to back up your new or updated files.
   • The Run backup now option is unavailable when the status message is "Preparing to back up" or "Synchronizing".