> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.devolutions.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.devolutions.net/unigetui/guides/new-computer/backup.md).

# Back up your app list automatically

Let UniGetUI save the list of your installed apps automatically, to a folder or to your GitHub account, so you can reinstall them anytime.

If your computer dies tomorrow, you'll want to know which apps were on it. Turn on backups once, and UniGetUI keeps an up-to-date list of your installed apps, ready to [restore on a new computer](/unigetui/guides/new-computer/restore.md).

A backup contains the list of your installed apps, their install options, and the updates you chose to ignore or skip. It doesn't contain the apps themselves or your data, so it's tiny, usually under 1 MB.

## Choose where to keep it

You can use one location or both.

<table><thead><tr><th width="250"></th><th>LOCAL BACKUP</th><th>CLOUD BACKUP</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Where</strong></td><td>A <code>.ubundle</code> file in a folder you choose</td><td>A private GitHub Gist on your GitHub account</td></tr><tr><td><strong>You need</strong></td><td>Nothing</td><td>A GitHub account</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Survives a dead disk</strong></td><td>Only if the folder is synced (OneDrive, Dropbox…) or on a network share</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Keeps several versions</strong></td><td>Yes, if you ask it to</td><td>No, each backup replaces the previous one</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Back up to a folder

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Turn it on

1. Go to ***Settings*** – ***Package backup***.
2. Under ***Local package backup***, turn on ***Periodically perform a local backup of the installed packages***.
3. Click ***Backup*** beside ***Perform a local backup now*** to create the first backup right away.

By default, the file is saved in `Documents\UniGetUI` and named *\<computer name> installed packages.ubundle*.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Pick a safer folder (recommended)

1. Click ***Select*** beside ***Change backup output directory***.
2. Choose a folder synced to the cloud or on a network share.

To change the file name, type it in ***Set a custom backup file name***. Leave it empty to keep the default.

{% hint style="info" %}
A backup kept on the same disk as your apps won't help if that disk fails. A synced folder gives you an off-computer copy for free.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Keep a history (optional)

By default, each backup replaces the previous one. To go back in time, for example to before you uninstalled a batch of apps:

1. Turn on ***Keep a separate file for each backup***. The date and time are added to each file name.
2. In ***Maximum number of local backups to keep***, choose how many to keep, for example ***Keep the last 10 backups***. Choose ***Custom...*** to enter your own number.

When the limit is reached, UniGetUI deletes the oldest backup.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Back up to GitHub

1. Go to ***Settings*** – ***Package backup***.
2. Under ***Cloud package backup***, click ***Log in with GitHub***.
3. Sign in to GitHub in the browser window that opens and authorize UniGetUI. Your GitHub account name appears in UniGetUI.
4. Turn on ***Periodically perform a cloud backup of the installed packages***.
5. Click ***Backup*** beside ***Perform a cloud backup now*** to create the first backup.

UniGetUI stores the backup in a private Gist described as *UniGetUI package backups - DO NOT RENAME OR MODIFY*. Each computer and user gets its own file in it, so one GitHub account can back up all your machines.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Don't rename, edit or delete that Gist on GitHub, or UniGetUI may no longer find your backups.
{% endhint %}

To stop, turn off the periodic cloud backup, then click ***Log out from GitHub***.

## Choose when backups run

Backups run each time UniGetUI starts, by default. To change that:

1. Go to ***Settings*** – ***Scheduled maintenance***.
2. Find ***Local package backup*** or ***Cloud package backup***. Their toggles are the same as on the ***Package backup*** page.
3. In ***Repeat***, choose ***When UniGetUI starts***, ***Every day*** or ***On selected days***, then set the ***Start time*** and ***Days*** if needed.
4. In ***If the scheduled time is missed***, choose whether UniGetUI catches up later or waits for the next time.

{% hint style="info" %}
Scheduled backups only run while UniGetUI is running, including when it's minimized to the notification area. See [Run updates on a schedule](/unigetui/guides/updates/schedule.md) for how the schedule works.
{% endhint %}

## If it doesn't work

* **No backup file appears.** Click ***Backup*** beside ***Perform a local backup now*** and check the folder shown under ***Change backup output directory***.
* **Scheduled backups don't run.** Make sure UniGetUI stays open in the notification area. See [Scheduled updates don't run](/unigetui/help/troubleshooting/scheduled-updates-dont-run.md).
* **GitHub login fails.** Check your internet connection and proxy in ***Settings*** – ***Internet connection settings***, then try again.

## Next

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Set up a new computer</strong></td><td>Reinstall your apps from a backup.</td><td><a href="/unigetui/guides/new-computer/restore.md">Set up a new computer</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Create a bundle</strong></td><td>Hand-pick apps to share or reuse.</td><td><a href="/unigetui/guides/new-computer/create-a-bundle.md">Create a bundle of your apps</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.devolutions.net/unigetui/guides/new-computer/backup.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.