Backup Best Practices

meghane_e · 08-31-2025, 12:11 AM

I've been making an Export backup captures of my Library every few months for several years. I have a few different versions from various devices and different Libraries. I have over 12,000 books. I've been using Calibre since 2016. I think I started earlier, but it all got rolled into 2016.

I've only found recommendations to use "Free File Sync" in prior threads, but nothing on how to actually coordinate the process between Calibre and Free File Sync? Can someone please elaborate on this?

Should we be using the Library Export tool each time, which only works on the full library, and keep multiple copies?

Should we be creating a full backup copy of each Library on a separate physical storage device and use Free File Sync to synchronize files?

Is there some other method recommended?

Thanks!

Karellen · 08-31-2025, 01:06 AM

Others might have different methods, but I backup the following two folders:

The ebook folder (the folder calibre links to to access your ebooks), and
The %appdata%\Roaming\Calibre folder which contains all the Calibre settings. (Windows PC)

If done correctly, you can reinstall Calibre, restore those two folders and the library is up and running quite quickly. All addons and settings exactly as they were at the time of the last backup.

Sirtel · 08-31-2025, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

Others might have different methods, but I backup the following two folders:

The ebook folder (the folder calibre links to to access your ebooks), and
The %appdata%\Roaming\Calibre folder which contains all the Calibre settings. (Windows PC)

If done correctly, you can reinstall Calibre, restore those two folders and the library is up and running quite quickly. All addons and settings exactly as they were at the time of the last backup.

Yes, I do the same.

As to using FreeFileSync:
It's very simple. Create an empty folder where you want your backup. Close Calibre. Open FFS and select the mirror mode (copying changes from the left-hand folder to the right-hand, not two way). For the left-hand folder, navigate to your calibre library and select it; for the right-hand folder, select the new empty folder. Click Sync. Everything in the library folder will now be copied to the new backup folder.

Every time you make changes to your library, repeat the process - close calibre and run FFS in mirror mode between your library folder and your backup folder. As only the changes will be copied after the first time, the process is usually very fast.

meeera · 08-31-2025, 08:23 AM

I back up my entire laptop automatically multiple times a day, alternating between two hard drives.

JSWolf · 08-31-2025, 09:01 AM

What's the best backup software for Windows?

08-31-2025, 12:11 AM	#1
meghane_e Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 38500 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: San Jose, CA Device: Kindle moving to Kobo or Boox	Backup Best Practices I've been making an Export backup captures of my Library every few months for several years. I have a few different versions from various devices and different Libraries. I have over 12,000 books. I've been using Calibre since 2016. I think I started earlier, but it all got rolled into 2016. I've only found recommendations to use "Free File Sync" in prior threads, but nothing on how to actually coordinate the process between Calibre and Free File Sync? Can someone please elaborate on this? Should we be using the Library Export tool each time, which only works on the full library, and keep multiple copies? Should we be creating a full backup copy of each Library on a separate physical storage device and use Free File Sync to synchronize files? Is there some other method recommended? Thanks!

08-31-2025, 01:06 AM	#2
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,628 Karma: 9500498 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Others might have different methods, but I backup the following two folders: The ebook folder (the folder calibre links to to access your ebooks), and The %appdata%\Roaming\Calibre folder which contains all the Calibre settings. (Windows PC) If done correctly, you can reinstall Calibre, restore those two folders and the library is up and running quite quickly. All addons and settings exactly as they were at the time of the last backup.

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08-31-2025, 08:23 AM	#4
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,836 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I back up my entire laptop automatically multiple times a day, alternating between two hard drives.

08-31-2025, 09:01 AM	#5
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