BackMeUp Documentation

Your Intelligent Backup Solution

Getting Started

Installation

  1. Download BackMeUp from our website
  2. Run the installer and follow the prompts
  3. Launch BackMeUp from your Start Menu or Desktop

First-Time Setup Wizard

When you first launch BackMeUp, you'll be guided through a simple setup wizard:

Setup Wizard Welcome Screen

Welcome screen - Choose your folders to back up

1Welcome & Introduction

The setup wizard welcomes you and explains what BackMeUp can do for you.

Select Folders to Backup

Select which folders you want to protect

2Select Folders to Backup

Choose which folders you want to protect. Common choices include:

You can check individual folders or entire drives. The wizard shows how many files will be backed up.

Choose Backup Location

Choose where to store your backups

3Choose Backup Location

Select where your backups will be stored:

Warning: Don't store backups on the same drive you're backing up! If that drive fails, you'll lose both your files and backups.
Configure Backup Schedule

Set up automatic backups

4Configure Backup Schedule

Decide when backups should run automatically:

Setup Complete

Setup complete - ready to protect your files

5Complete Setup

Review your settings and click "Finish" to complete setup. Your first backup will run immediately!

License Activation

License Activation Dialog

Enter your license key and activation code

Trial License (7 Days Free)

When you first install BackMeUp, you can start a 7-day free trial:

  1. Click "Start 7-Day Trial" button
  2. Trial activates immediately - no credit card required
  3. Full access to all PRO features
  4. Upgrade to a full license anytime

Full License Activation

After purchasing a license, follow these steps:

1Get Your Machine ID

Your Machine ID is shown in the activation dialog. This uniquely identifies your computer.

2Visit the Activation Website

Go to the activation page (link provided in your purchase email) and enter:

3Get Activation Code

The website generates your unique Activation Code. Copy it.

4Enter in BackMeUp

Paste the activation code into BackMeUp and click "Activate License".

Tip: Your license is locked to your Machine ID. If you upgrade your computer or reinstall Windows, you'll need to deactivate the license first, then reactivate on the new system.

License Types

Using BackMeUp

Backup Dashboard

Main backup dashboard - your command center

Backup Dashboard

The Backup tab is your command center. Here you can:

Status Section

Control Buttons

Backup Log

The log panel shows real-time progress during backups:

Recent Backups Table

Shows history of all backup runs:

How Backups Work

BackMeUp is smart about backups:

Incremental Backups

Only changed files are copied:

Version History

Every time a file changes, BackMeUp keeps the old version:

Automatic Scheduling

Set it and forget it:

File Recovery

Recovery Dashboard

Browse and recover files with full version history

Using the Recovery Tab

The Recovery tab lets you browse all backed up files and restore any version.

File Structure Browser

On the left, you'll see a Windows Explorer-style tree:

Search Function

Can't find a file? Use the search bar:

Version History

When you click a file, the right panel shows all versions:

Restoring Files

Two restore options are available:

Restore to Original Location

  1. Select the file in the tree
  2. Choose which version you want from the version history
  3. Click "Restore to Original Location"
  4. File is restored to where it was originally (e.g., C:\Users\Matthew\Documents\report.docx)
Warning: Restoring to original location will overwrite any existing file with the same name!

Restore to Custom Location

  1. Select the file and version
  2. Click "Restore to Custom Location..."
  3. Choose where to save the file (e.g., Desktop for review)
  4. File is copied to your chosen location
Tip: Use "Custom Location" if you want to compare the old version with the current file before deciding which to keep.

Common Recovery Scenarios

Accidentally Deleted a File

  1. Open the Recovery tab
  2. Navigate to where the file used to be
  3. Find the file in the tree (it may show [DELETED] in red)
  4. Select the most recent version
  5. Restore to original location

Need an Older Version

  1. Find the file in the tree
  2. Look at version history - you'll see multiple entries
  3. Each entry shows when that version was backed up
  4. Click the version from the date you need
  5. Restore to custom location to review it first

Recover After Computer Crash

  1. Install BackMeUp on new/repaired computer
  2. Point it to your backup location (external drive, network, etc.)
  3. All files appear in Recovery tab
  4. Restore entire folders or individual files

Compare File Versions (Diff Tool) - PRO Feature

File Comparison Tool

Compare backed up versions with current files using professional diff tools

BackMeUp Pro includes a file comparison feature that lets you compare any backed up version with your current file to see exactly what changed.

How to Use the Compare Feature

  1. Go to the Recovery tab
  2. Navigate to and select a file in the file tree (must still exist in its original location)
  3. In the version history panel, select an older backup version
  4. Click the "Compare with Current 🔍" button (purple button at the bottom)
  5. BackMeUp will open both versions in an external comparison tool

Required Diff Tools

BackMeUp automatically detects and uses one of these professional comparison tools (in order of preference):

Recommended: Install WinMerge (free) for the best comparison experience. BackMeUp will automatically detect it and use it for file comparisons.

Understanding the Comparison

Once the diff tool opens, you'll see:

When to Use File Comparison

Important Notes

No Diff Tool Installed? If no comparison tool is found, BackMeUp will offer to open both files in their default application so you can compare them manually.

Settings

Settings Panel

Configure BackMeUp to work exactly how you want

General Settings

Backup Schedule

Application Behavior

Backup Configuration

Source & Destination

Warning: Changing these creates a new backup set. Old backups remain on disk but won't be visible in BackMeUp until you point it back to them.

Exclusions

Tell BackMeUp to skip certain files or folders:

Common exclusions already configured:

Advanced Options

Database Maintenance

Logging

Windows Context Menu Integration

PRO feature: Right-click any file in Windows Explorer to view all backed up versions!

Installing Context Menu

Important: You must run BackMeUp as Administrator to install the context menu.
  1. Right-click BackMeUp and select "Run as administrator"
  2. Go to Settings tab
  3. Scroll to "PRO Features" section
  4. Click "Install Context Menu"
  5. Wait for success message
  6. Context menu is now active system-wide!

Using Context Menu

Context Menu in Windows Explorer

Right-click any file to access BackMeUp

After installation:

  1. Right-click any file in Windows Explorer
  2. Look for "View All Versions (BackMeUp)"
  3. Click it to open BackMeUp Recovery tab with that file selected
BackMeUp opens showing file versions

BackMeUp opens directly to that file's version history

Benefits

Uninstalling Context Menu

If you ever want to remove it:

  1. Run BackMeUp as Administrator again
  2. Go to Settings → PRO Features
  3. Click "Uninstall Context Menu"
  4. Confirm the removal

Backup and Shutdown Integration

PRO feature: Add "BackMeUp and Shutdown" to Windows menus for quick access before shutting down!

Three Installation Options

BackMeUp offers three ways to add "Backup and Shutdown" to your Windows system:

Option 1: Desktop Right-Click Menu

Right-click anywhere on your desktop background to see "BackMeUp and Shutdown"
  1. Run BackMeUp as Administrator
  2. Go to Settings → PRO Features → Shutdown Menu Integration
  3. Click "Install" for Desktop Menu
  4. Right-click your desktop background to test

Option 2: Win+X Menu

Press Win+X (or right-click Start button) to access shutdown options
  1. Run BackMeUp as Administrator
  2. Go to Settings → PRO Features → Shutdown Menu Integration
  3. Click "Install" for Win+X Menu
  4. Press Win+X to see the new option

Option 3: Start Menu Shortcut

Appears in your Start Menu apps list - no admin required!
  1. Go to Settings → PRO Features → Shutdown Menu Integration
  2. Click "Install" for Start Menu
  3. Open Start Menu and search for "BackMeUp and Shutdown"
  4. Pin it to Start for quick access

Bonus: System Tray Option

PRO users also get "Backup and Shutdown" in the system tray icon menu automatically!

  1. Look for BackMeUp icon in system tray (bottom-right)
  2. Right-click the icon
  3. Select "Backup and Shutdown"

How It Works

When you click "BackMeUp and Shutdown":

  1. BackMeUp window opens and starts backup immediately
  2. You can watch the progress in real-time
  3. When backup completes, a 30-second countdown appears
  4. Computer shuts down automatically (or click Cancel to abort)

Perfect For

Uninstalling Shutdown Menus

Each option has its own Uninstall button in Settings. Simply:

  1. Go to Settings → PRO Features → Shutdown Menu Integration
  2. Click "Uninstall" next to the option you want to remove
  3. Desktop and Win+X menus require Administrator privileges to uninstall
  4. Start Menu shortcut can be removed without admin rights

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

How does BackMeUp work?

BackMeUp creates incremental backups of your files. The first backup copies everything, then subsequent backups only copy files that have changed. Every version of every file is kept, so you can restore any previous version.

Where are my backups stored?

You choose the backup location during setup. It can be an external drive, network location, or cloud storage. Check Settings → Backup Configuration to see your current location.

How much disk space do I need?

Plan for at least 2-3 times the size of your source data. For example, if you're backing up 100 GB of documents, allocate 200-300 GB for backups. This provides room for multiple versions.

Can I backup to cloud storage?

Yes! You can backup to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or any folder that appears as a drive letter. Note: Cloud backups may be slower than local drives.

Backup Questions

How long does a backup take?

First backup: Depends on data size and destination speed. 100 GB might take 30-60 minutes to an external drive, or several hours to cloud storage.

Subsequent backups: Usually very fast - seconds to minutes - because only changed files are copied.

What happens if a backup is interrupted?

The backup is marked as IN_PROGRESS in the history. Next backup will continue from where it left off and copy any missing files.

Can I backup while using my computer?

Yes! Backups run in the background. You can continue working normally. Performance impact is minimal.

Why did my backup skip some files?

Files may be skipped if they're:

Check the backup log for specific reasons.

Recovery Questions

How do I restore all my files after a crash?

  1. Install BackMeUp on the new/repaired computer
  2. Connect your backup drive
  3. In Settings, point "Backup Directory" to your backup location
  4. Go to Recovery tab - all files will appear
  5. Select folders/files and restore

Can I restore files to a different computer?

Yes! Install BackMeUp on any computer, point it to your backup location, and restore files. Your license can be deactivated from the old computer and activated on the new one.

How far back in time can I restore?

As far back as your backups go! BackMeUp keeps all versions indefinitely unless you manually delete old backup sessions.

What if I accidentally overwrote a file?

No problem! Go to Recovery, find the file, and you'll see all versions including the one from before you overwrote it. Restore the version you need.

License Questions

What's included in the trial?

Everything! The 7-day trial includes all PRO features with no limitations. No credit card required.

Can I transfer my license to a new computer?

Yes! Deactivate the license on the old computer (Settings → License → Deactivate), then activate it on the new computer using the same license key.

What happens when my trial expires?

BackMeUp switches to read-only mode. You can still recover files from existing backups, but can't create new backups until you purchase a license.

Do I need an internet connection to use BackMeUp?

No! After activation, BackMeUp works completely offline. Internet is only needed for initial license activation.

Troubleshooting

Backup is very slow

Check these common causes:

Context menu not appearing

  1. Did you run BackMeUp as Administrator when installing?
  2. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the context menu
  3. Restart Windows Explorer (Task Manager → Windows Explorer → Restart)
  4. Check Settings to confirm status shows "✓ Installed"

Can't find a file in Recovery tab

Database errors

If you see database errors:

  1. Go to Settings → Advanced
  2. Click "Optimize Database"
  3. If problems persist, click "Vacuum Database"
  4. Restart BackMeUp

Getting low disk space warnings

Your backups are growing! Options:

Support & Contact

Need Help?

We're here to help! If you can't find the answer in this documentation:

Reporting Issues

When reporting a problem, please include:

Feature Requests

Have an idea to make BackMeUp better? We'd love to hear it!