How do I keep a copy of my Kontuly books off the computer?
Set up off-site copies in Kontuly's Settings → Backups, and once a day it copies every business to a folder you choose: a USB drive, a network drive (NAS) in your office, or a folder your own sync or backup software copies elsewhere. Nothing is sent to us or to any online service.
- Plug in the drive, if you're using one.
- Open Settings and scroll to Backups.
- Click Choose a folder… under Off-site copies, and pick the folder.
The first copy is made straight away, and you'll see "Copied N businesses to the off-site folder".
How does it work?
- Each business gets its own folder inside the one you chose, and each copy is a
.kontulyfile named with the date and time. - A copy is made about once a day while Kontuly is open. If the drive isn't plugged in, nothing is copied; the next check after you plug it in catches up.
- Each copy is checked before it's kept. A copy cut short, for example because the drive was pulled out, is thrown away.
- The newest 30 copies of each business are kept.
Copy now makes a copy straight away, for example before you take the drive home. Show folder opens it, and Stop copying turns copies off (existing copies stay).
Why is the panel amber?
The folder can't be found, a copy failed, or there hasn't been a copy for a week. Plugging the drive back in is usually all it takes. The Dashboard shows an amber banner for the same reasons.
If it says the folder is on the same disk as your books, that's fine for a folder your sync software copies elsewhere; otherwise choose a folder on another drive.
Should I protect the copies?
Yes. The copies contain your full books. Set a backup password so they're encrypted if a drive is lost. Two drives swapped weekly, one kept away from the office, protect you even from a fire or burglary.
Do copies run with Kontuly closed?
Only while Kontuly is running. Turn on running in the background to keep it going with the window closed.
To restore from an off-site copy, see How do I restore a Kontuly backup?
Related questions
- How does Kontuly back up my books?Kontuly backs up every business automatically each day and keeps the last 14, plus one before updates and deletes. How to see backups and take one now.
- How do I password-protect my Kontuly backups?Set a backup password in Kontuly's Settings → Security and every off-site copy and exported backup is encrypted (AES-256). Keep the password safe.
- How do I restore a Kontuly backup?Restoring a backup in Kontuly always adds it as a new, separate business, so your current books are never overwritten. How to restore a listed backup or a file.
More about backups, data and security
- Where does Kontuly store my books on my computer?Kontuly keeps each business as a file in its data folder on your Mac, Windows or Linux computer. The folder paths, and why to use the backup buttons instead.
- How do I export a backup of my Kontuly books?In Kontuly, open Settings → Backups and click Export… to save the open business as one .kontuly file you can keep on a USB drive or send to someone.
- How do I move Kontuly to a new computer?Export a backup of each business, deactivate the licence on the old computer, then install Kontuly on the new one, activate and restore. Step by step.
- Is Kontuly secure? How are my books protected?Your Kontuly books stay on your computer. Protect them with disk encryption, an optional app password and a backup password that encrypts copies.
- How do I set an app password in Kontuly?Set an app password in Kontuly's Settings → Security so it asks for it on opening, after idle time and on sleep. A forgotten password can't be recovered.