How to Back Up Your Files on Linux Mint

If you use Linux Mint for everyday tasks, your computer may contain years of documents, photos, downloads, and other important files. Learning how to backup Linux Mint files is a simple way to protect those items if your computer stops working or you accidentally delete something.

Linux Mint includes a tool called Backup Tool that can help copy personal files from your home folder. You can also use Timeshift to save snapshots of the operating system itself. The important thing is to understand that these tools do different jobs.

What you’ll need

• An external USB hard drive or USB flash drive with enough free space.
• Your Linux Mint computer.
• A safe place to store the backup drive when you are not using it.

An external hard drive is usually a better choice than a small USB flash drive if you have lots of photos or videos. Choose a drive with more free space than the files you plan to copy.

Step 1: Decide which files you want to protect

Before starting a backup, take a moment to think about what you would miss if your computer stopped working. Personal files are usually stored in your home folder, which is named after your Linux Mint account.

1. Open the Home folder from the desktop or file manager.
2. Look through folders such as Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, and Downloads.
3. Identify any other folders where you keep important personal files.
4. Check whether you have files saved outside your home folder, such as on another drive.
5. Remove nothing just to make the backup smaller unless you are certain you no longer need it.

You may also want to preserve certain hidden files and folders. Hidden items are files whose names begin with a dot; they can contain personal application settings. Linux Mint’s Backup Tool provides an option to include hidden items.

Tip: Make a short list of the folders that matter most to you. It is easy to overlook a folder you use only occasionally, such as scanned documents or files saved by a particular app.

Step 2: Connect an external backup drive

A backup should be stored somewhere other than the computer’s main drive. That way, it is still available if the computer’s internal drive fails.

1. Connect your external USB drive to the computer.
2. Wait a moment for Linux Mint to recognize it.
3. Open the file manager and look for the drive in the sidebar.
4. Click the drive to open it.
5. Check that it has enough free space for your backup.

If the drive contains files you want to keep, do not format it. Formatting erases the drive. If Linux Mint asks whether to format the drive and you are not certain what to choose, cancel and ask for help before continuing.

Careful: Do not save your only backup on the same internal drive as your original files. A computer or drive failure could affect both copies.

Step 3: Open Linux Mint Backup Tool

Linux Mint includes a graphical utility called Backup Tool. It can create a backup of personal files from your home folder and save a list of installed software.

1. Click the Menu button.
2. Open Administration.
3. Select Backup Tool.
4. If you cannot see it, open the Menu search field and type Backup Tool.
5. Open the result when it appears.

The Backup Tool window has separate options for personal data and software selection. For this guide, start with the personal data backup.

Step 4: Choose the personal files to back up

The personal data section lets you choose the files and folders to include. The exact wording or layout can vary slightly between Linux Mint releases.

1. In Backup Tool, find the Personal data section.
2. Choose Back Up Now.
3. When asked where to save the backup, browse to your external drive.
4. Choose a folder on that drive, or create a new folder named something easy to recognize, such as Mint Backup.
5. Continue through the prompts using Forward where shown.
6. Review the file and folder selection before starting the backup.

You can use the options to exclude files or folders you do not need. If you want hidden personal settings included, review the hidden-files option. In newer Linux Mint releases, an Include All button may be available to add hidden files and folders to the selection.

Good to know: Hidden files can contain application settings, but not everyone needs to copy all of them. If you are unsure, back up your important documents and photos first, and include hidden items if you also want to preserve more of your personal desktop configuration.

Step 5: Start the backup and wait for it to finish

Once you have chosen the destination and files, review the summary before continuing. Make sure the external drive is selected rather than a folder on the computer’s internal disk.

1. Check the destination path shown in the Backup Tool.
2. Confirm that the folders you want are included.
3. Click Forward or Apply when the tool presents the confirmation.
4. Wait while Linux Mint copies the files.
5. Keep the external drive connected until the tool reports that the backup is complete.
6. Close the Backup Tool when it has finished.

The time required depends on how many files you have and how quickly your external drive can transfer them. A large photo or video collection may take longer than a folder of documents.

Step 6: Check that your backup is usable

A backup is only useful if the files are really there and can be opened. Take a minute to check the result before disconnecting the drive.

1. Open the external drive in the file manager.
2. Find the folder or archive created by Backup Tool.
3. Check that the backup has a sensible file size and a recent date.
4. If the backup is stored as an archive, open it with the archive manager to inspect its contents.
5. If practical, restore or open a copy of one unimportant test file in a separate folder.

Do not move or delete your original files just because the backup appears to have completed. Keep the originals in place until you are confident the backup contains what you need.

Step 7: Create system snapshots with Timeshift too

Backing up personal files is not the same as protecting the operating system. Linux Mint also includes Timeshift, a tool that creates system snapshots. A snapshot is a saved state of system files and settings that can help you undo a problem caused by an update or system change.

1. Click Menu and open Administration.
2. Select Timeshift.
3. Follow the setup wizard.
4. Choose the recommended RSYNC method for a typical installation unless you know your system uses a supported BTRFS setup.
5. Select a suitable location for snapshots and review the schedule.
6. Finish the setup and create a first snapshot.

Important: Timeshift is designed to protect system files and settings. It excludes personal files in your home folder by default, so it does not replace the personal-file backup you made with Backup Tool. Keep both protections separate.

Troubleshooting: If the backup does not work

• The external drive is missing: Unplug it, reconnect it, and check the file manager sidebar. Try another USB port if necessary.
• There is not enough space: Choose a larger drive or review which folders you need to include. Do not delete files from the backup drive unless you know what they are.
• Backup Tool is not in the menu: Search the Menu for Backup Tool. If it is still missing, check the Software Manager or Linux Mint documentation for your release.
• The backup takes a long time: Large photo and video collections can take a while. Keep the computer powered on and the drive connected until the process finishes.
• You cannot open the backup: Check whether it was saved as an archive or as a directory, and use the appropriate file manager or archive tool to inspect it.

Make backups part of your routine

A backup does not need to be complicated. Use Linux Mint’s Backup Tool to copy your important personal files to an external drive, and use Timeshift separately for system snapshots. Repeat your personal backup regularly, check that the files can be opened, and store the external drive somewhere safe when you are finished.