Backing Up Your Files to Seagate Storage

You can protect your important files by backing them up from your computer to your Dashboard-enhanced storage drive with a single click. You can also customize a plan to back up selected files to your storage drive and to the cloud.

A drive backup plan lets you save multiple versions of files so that you can restore the version you need. A cloud backup plan adds another level of protection when used in conjunction with your drive by keeping the latest copy of your files. Saving to the cloud also lets you retrieve files while away from home.

The backup feature is available on the Windows version of Seagate Dashboard. For Mac users, Seagate recommends that you use Apple Time Machine to back up your system files. Cloud storage works only with specific storage drives. To learn which features your drive supports, visit Seagate Dashboard Support.

Back Up Windows Content to Your Storage Drive

You can back up all your personal files from Windows to your Seagate storage drive with a few clicks or you can back up specific files by creating a customized plan. Your personal files include all non-system files on Windows.

Back up all of your files with a few clicks

This backup method is available if you have not created a custom plan. If you have created a custom plan, you can create a plan that backs up all of your personal files by following the steps in Back up selected files and accepting the default settings.

1. On the Home page, click PC backup.
2. On the PC Backup page, click Protect Now. You do not see Protect Now if you have already created a backup plan.
   
   Seagate Dashboard begins backing up all your personal files and backs up files as soon as they change or are added to Windows.

Back up selected files

1. On the Home page, click PC backup.
2. On the PC Backup page, click New Backup Plan.
3. Select personal folders to copy from the Personal folders tab or select specific folders and files from the Specific folder tab, and then click Continue.
4. Select a storage drive, and then click Continue.
   If you are backing up to a network attached storage drive, you can back up to the Public folder or sign in and back up to your private folder.
5. Select a frequency, and then click Start backup.
   A continuous backup plan saves a file every time you change the file. While this option gives you the most options to restore specific data, it can use more system resources.

Seagate Dashboard begins backing up your selected folders and files and runs at the scheduled time.

For a backup plan to run continuously or at the scheduled time, your PC must be on, the Seagate Dashboard must be running, and your storage drive must be connected to your computer or network and detected by the Dashboard.

Change a Backup Plan

You can change what to back up, the destination, and the schedule of your plan.

1. On the Home page, click PC backup.
2. On the PC Backup page, click  to the right of the plan you want to change.
3. Select personal folders to copy from the Personal folders tab or select specific folders and files from the Specific folder tab, and then click Continue.
4. Select a storage drive, and then click Continue.
   If you are backing up to a network attached storage drive, you can back up to the Public folder or sign in and back up to your private folder.
5. Select a frequency, and then click Start backup.

Your changes are saved, and the Dashboard starts the backup plan.

Manually Start a Backup Plan

1. On the Home page, click PC backup.
2. On the PC Backup page, click to the right of the backup plan you want to start.
   A green bar below the plan name indicates the backup progress.
3. To pause the backup, click .
4. To stop the backup, click and select Stop Backup.

Stop a Backup

You can pause or stop a backup on either the Home page or PC Backup page. The Home page indicates when a backup is in progress. You can click anywhere on the indicator (ex-cept the pause and stop icons) to open the PC Backup page.

• To pause a backup, click on the Home page, or click on the PC Backup page.
• To stop a backup, click on the Home page, or click and select Stop Backup on the PC Backup page.

Restore Content

You can retrieve files that you have backed up to your storage drive or the cloud service through a backup plan.

1. On the Home page, click Restore.
2. Select the backup plan to use for restoring files, and then click .
   
     Note: You can restore files from a plan that is not active or deleted.
3. Select the files to restore, and then click .
4. Indicate where to put the restored files, and then click .
   
     Tip: You can skip this step if you want the files restored to their original folder.

Delete a Backup Plan

1. On the Home page, click PC backup.
2. Click  next to the plan you want to delete and select Delete.
3. If you want to delete the files backed up by this plan, select the box next to Delete backed up files.
4. Click Delete.

Backing Up Your Files to the Cloud

A cloud backup plan offers another layer of protection for your files and gives you access to your files when you are away from home.

Windows and Mac computers can target the cloud as a backup destination. Seagate recommends that you back up content to your Seagate storage drive using Seagate Dash-board (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac OS) as a primary backup, and target the cloud as a secondary backup.

Backing Up Mac OS Files to the Cloud

You can sign into an existing cloud service, add a new cloud service, or add cloud storage while you create a backup plan.

Add a cloud service

1. On the Home page, click Add Cloud in the Storage Devices panel.
2. Select a cloud service.
3. Sign in to your cloud service. Optionally, create a new account with a cloud service and then sign in.

Create a backup plan

1. On the Home page, click Back up to cloud.
2. Select specific folders and files and then click Continue.
3. Select a cloud storage service, and then click Continue.
   
     Important info: Make sure that you have enough space in your cloud storage before you complete your backup plan.
4. Select a frequency, and then click Start backup.

Seagate Dashboard begins backing up your selected folders and files and runs at the scheduled time.

Backing Up Windows Files to the Cloud

You can sign into an existing cloud service, add a new cloud service, or add cloud storage while you create a backup plan.

Add a cloud service

1. On the Home page, click Add Cloud in the Storage Devices panel.
2. Select a cloud service.
3. Sign in to your cloud service. Optionally, create a new account with a cloud service and then sign in.

Create a backup plan

If you have an existing backup plan that is running, you must pause the plan to create a new plan.

1. On the Home page, click PC Backup.
2. Click New Backup Plan to create a custom backup plan.
3. Select personal folders to copy from the Personal folders tab or select specific folders and files from the Specific folder tab, and then click Continue.
4. Select a cloud storage service, and then click Continue.
   
     Important info: Make sure that you have enough space in your cloud storage before you complete your backup plan.
5. Select a frequency, and then click Start backup.

Seagate Dashboard begins backing up your selected folders and files and runs at the scheduled time.