Backups and scheduling
Manual and scheduled backups use the same operation pipeline. Every run reports progress and records a result in Notifications.
Run a manual backup
- Select the repository on the Repositories page.
- Confirm that its configured source folders are available.
- Click Backup.
- Follow percentage, speed, ETA, and elapsed time in the detail panel.
- Confirm the Completed result in Notifications and check that a new archive appears.
You can cancel from the progress panel. BorgMate stops the Borg process and records the operation as Cancelled. A cancelled run should not be treated as a usable new backup.
After a successful manual or scheduled backup, BorgMate refreshes the archive list when the repository is selected and automatic archive loading is enabled. A backup completed for another repository is refreshed when you next select it. When automatic prune is enabled, the refresh waits for the configured prune and compact workflow to finish.
Configure a schedule
- Edit the repository and open the Schedule tab.
- Select Scheduled.
- Choose every N hours, daily, weekly, or monthly and set the required time or day.
- Keep Run missed backups on startup enabled if a run should catch up after the computer was off.
- Optionally enable Prune after each backup after configuring at least one retention rule.
- Save and check the displayed next run time.
Closing the window normally leaves BorgMate in the system tray. Fully quitting stops in-app scheduling unless wake scheduling starts BorgMate for the next run.
Practical starting point
For a laptop, start with one daily backup, run missed backups on startup, and keep scheduled runs on AC power. Add retention only after the first backup and test restore succeed.
Wake and power behavior
These options are in Settings → General → Startup.
| Platform | Wake mechanism | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Task Scheduler | Borg must be installed inside WSL. |
| macOS | System power event | Enabling wake asks once for administrator permission. |
| Linux | systemd user timer | Wake requires systemd 254+ and a desktop session that exports its display environment. |
Run scheduled backups only on AC power defers scheduled work while the computer is on battery. The run becomes eligible when AC power returns according to the missed-run rules. Linux and macOS may still wake briefly, but BorgMate does not start the backup on battery.
Understand operation results
- Completed
- Borg finished successfully and the archive list can be refreshed.
- Failed
- Open the Notification detail for the classified error and Borg output.
- Cancelled
- The operation was stopped by the user or during shutdown.
- Deferred
- A scheduled run is waiting for a required condition such as AC power.
Operations for different repositories can run in parallel. Modifying operations for the same repository are coordinated so they do not corrupt each other's state.