{"id":"backups.how-do-i-set-up-my-first-backup","url":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-up-my-first-backup","category":{"id":"backups","title":"Backups & restore points"},"subcategory":{"id":"data-backup-basics","title":"Data Backup basics"},"question":"How do I set up my first backup in Storage Studio?","alt_questions":["How do I back up a folder?","Set up a backup Storage Studio","How to protect a folder with Data Backup","start backing up my Documents folder","create a backup set","How do I start a backup on my Mac with Storage Studio?","first time backup setup"],"short_answer":"Open Data Backup, click New backup set, add folders with Add folder or file, then pick a destination — a folder on a drive or a connected cloud account. Press Back up now or let it start on its own.","answer_markdown":"Open Data Backup, add the folders you want protected, and pick a destination. From then on the set looks after itself, saving a new version whenever your files change.\n\n1. Open **More (•••) → Windows → Data Backup**.\n2. Click **New backup set** (or use an existing card).\n3. Click **Add folder or file** and choose what to protect. You can add several.\n4. Open the **Destination** menu and choose **Choose a folder…** for a drive or folder, or one of your connected cloud accounts.\n5. For a cloud destination, set a passphrase when asked — and keep it safe.\n6. Click **Back up now** to start the first backup straight away, or let it start on its own.\n\nThe first backup is the biggest; later ones only save what changed. More in the [Data Backup manual](/manual/data-backup).","answer_html":"

Open Data Backup, add the folders you want protected, and pick a destination. From then on the set looks after itself, saving a new version whenever your files change.

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  1. Open More (•••) → Windows → Data Backup.
  2. Click New backup set (or use an existing card).
  3. Click Add folder or file and choose what to protect. You can add several.
  4. Open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder… for a drive or folder, or one of your connected cloud accounts.
  5. For a cloud destination, set a passphrase when asked — and keep it safe.
  6. Click Back up now to start the first backup straight away, or let it start on its own.
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The first backup is the biggest; later ones only save what changed. More in the Data Backup manual.

","answer_text":"Open Data Backup, add the folders you want protected, and pick a destination. From then on the set looks after itself, saving a new version whenever your files change.\n\n1. Open More (•••) → Windows → Data Backup.\n2. Click New backup set (or use an existing card).\n3. Click Add folder or file and choose what to protect. You can add several.\n4. Open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder… for a drive or folder, or one of your connected cloud accounts.\n5. For a cloud destination, set a passphrase when asked — and keep it safe.\n6. Click Back up now to start the first backup straight away, or let it start on its own.\n\nThe first backup is the biggest; later ones only save what changed. More in the Data Backup manual.","tags":["setup","data backup","backup set"],"related":[{"id":"backups.what-is-a-backup-set","question":"What is a backup set?","url":"/faq/backups/what-is-a-backup-set"},{"id":"backups.where-can-i-back-up-to","question":"Where can Storage Studio back up my files to?","url":"/faq/backups/where-can-i-back-up-to"},{"id":"backups.how-do-i-set-a-backup-passphrase","question":"How do I set a passphrase for a cloud backup?","url":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-a-backup-passphrase"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I set up my first backup in Storage Studio? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Open Data Backup, click New backup set, add folders with Add folder or file, then pick a destination — a folder on a drive or a connected cloud account. Press Back up now or let it start on its own.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Backups & restore points","path":"/faq/backups/"},{"name":"How do I set up my first backup in Storage Studio?","path":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-up-my-first-backup"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-up-my-first-backup","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I set up my first backup in Storage Studio?","alternateName":["How do I back up a folder?","Set up a backup Storage Studio","How to protect a folder with Data Backup","start backing up my Documents folder","create a backup set","How do I start a backup on my Mac with Storage Studio?","first time backup setup"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open Data Backup, add the folders you want protected, and pick a destination. From then on the set looks after itself, saving a new version whenever your files change.\n\n1. Open More (•••) → Windows → Data Backup.\n2. Click New backup set (or use an existing card).\n3. Click Add folder or file and choose what to protect. You can add several.\n4. Open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder… for a drive or folder, or one of your connected cloud accounts.\n5. For a cloud destination, set a passphrase when asked — and keep it safe.\n6. Click Back up now to start the first backup straight away, or let it start on its own.\n\nThe first backup is the biggest; later ones only save what changed. More in the Data Backup manual.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-up-my-first-backup"}}]},"fragment":"
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Backups & restore points · Data Backup basics

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How do I set up my first backup in Storage Studio?

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Short answer: Open Data Backup, click New backup set, add folders with Add folder or file, then pick a destination — a folder on a drive or a connected cloud account. Press Back up now or let it start on its own.

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Open Data Backup, add the folders you want protected, and pick a destination. From then on the set looks after itself, saving a new version whenever your files change.

\n
  1. Open More (•••) → Windows → Data Backup.
  2. Click New backup set (or use an existing card).
  3. Click Add folder or file and choose what to protect. You can add several.
  4. Open the Destination menu and choose Choose a folder… for a drive or folder, or one of your connected cloud accounts.
  5. For a cloud destination, set a passphrase when asked — and keep it safe.
  6. Click Back up now to start the first backup straight away, or let it start on its own.
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The first backup is the biggest; later ones only save what changed. More in the Data Backup manual.

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