Backing up Calibre

Graham44 · 04-18-2025, 06:09 PM

My external hard drive was making a funny noise earlier, its a spinner and I think it was just sitting funny on top of my computer and was just vibrating - but - it was the push to make me go and get another hard drive tomorrow and make a backup. I do have one question though, if I follow the official backup here - https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...backup-calibre backing up both the library and the config/ plugins to the new hard drive if the worst happened could I point Calibre to this new hard drive and everything would be restored as it is now, i.e all books, metadata, plugins etc?

Just want to clarify this would be the steps to take to create a full backup of everything, any info greatly appreciated

Sirtel · 04-18-2025, 06:17 PM

You'd need to copy and paste the config folder to the location it was in with the previous installation (on Windows, it's User/AppData/Roaming; no idea where it is on Linux). Then open calibre and point it to the library folder if it doesn't find your library automagically.

Graham44 · 04-18-2025, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You'd need to copy and paste the config folder to the location it was in with the previous installation (on Windows, it's User/AppData/Roaming; no idea where it is on Linux). Then open calibre and point it to the library folder if it doesn't find your library automagically.

Ahh ok, yes I wasn't thinking that through! The config file would be 'in' the OS, the main hard drive of the computer, whereas the library is separate. I will have to have a root around to make a note of where the config file is located. Thanks Sirtel!

PeterT · 04-18-2025, 06:52 PM

Within calibre itself, go to Preferences | Miscellaneous; there is a button there Open calibre configuration folder.

04-18-2025, 06:09 PM	#1
Graham44 Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 6426774 Join Date: Sep 2024 Device: Kobo Clara BW	Backing up Calibre My external hard drive was making a funny noise earlier, its a spinner and I think it was just sitting funny on top of my computer and was just vibrating - but - it was the push to make me go and get another hard drive tomorrow and make a backup. I do have one question though, if I follow the official backup here - https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...backup-calibre backing up both the library and the config/ plugins to the new hard drive if the worst happened could I point Calibre to this new hard drive and everything would be restored as it is now, i.e all books, metadata, plugins etc? Just want to clarify this would be the steps to take to create a full backup of everything, any info greatly appreciated

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04-18-2025, 06:17 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,466 Karma: 239219453 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	You'd need to copy and paste the config folder to the location it was in with the previous installation (on Windows, it's User/AppData/Roaming; no idea where it is on Linux). Then open calibre and point it to the library folder if it doesn't find your library automagically.

04-18-2025, 06:52 PM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,510 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Within calibre itself, go to Preferences \| Miscellaneous; there is a button there Open calibre configuration folder.

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