{"id":"settings.what-is-self-backup","url":"/faq/settings/what-is-self-backup","category":{"id":"settings","title":"Settings & keep-time"},"subcategory":{"id":"advanced","title":"Advanced, self-backup and Demo Mode"},"question":"What is Self-backup in Storage Studio's Advanced settings?","alt_questions":["Storage Studio self-backup","Backup now button Storage Studio","Does Storage Studio back up its settings?","storage studio config backup"],"short_answer":"It's a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings and records on your external drive — never your files. Settings → Advanced → Self-backup lists them, with Backup now and Restore buttons.","answer_markdown":"Self-backup is a daily copy of Storage Studio's **own** settings, transfer history and rule state, kept on your external drive so a Mac reinstall or a problem doesn't lose them. It never includes your files.\n\nIn **Settings → Advanced → Self-backup** you'll see every backup it has kept, with its date. Click **Backup now** to make one immediately, **Restore** on a row to bring back that copy, or **Open backup folder** to see them in Finder. If the drive isn't connected, the pane says so — connect it and click **Refresh**.","answer_html":"

Self-backup is a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings, transfer history and rule state, kept on your external drive so a Mac reinstall or a problem doesn't lose them. It never includes your files.

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In Settings → Advanced → Self-backup you'll see every backup it has kept, with its date. Click Backup now to make one immediately, Restore on a row to bring back that copy, or Open backup folder to see them in Finder. If the drive isn't connected, the pane says so — connect it and click Refresh.

","answer_text":"Self-backup is a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings, transfer history and rule state, kept on your external drive so a Mac reinstall or a problem doesn't lose them. It never includes your files.\n\nIn Settings → Advanced → Self-backup you'll see every backup it has kept, with its date. Click Backup now to make one immediately, Restore on a row to bring back that copy, or Open backup folder to see them in Finder. If the drive isn't connected, the pane says so — connect it and click Refresh.","tags":["self-backup","advanced","settings"],"related":[{"id":"backups.how-do-i-restore-storage-studios-own-settings-backup","question":"How do I restore one of Storage Studio's daily settings backups?","url":"/faq/backups/how-do-i-restore-storage-studios-own-settings-backup"},{"id":"settings.how-many-self-backups-does-storage-studio-keep","question":"How many backups of its own settings does Storage Studio keep?","url":"/faq/settings/how-many-self-backups-does-storage-studio-keep"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What is Self-backup in Storage Studio's Advanced settings? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It's a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings and records on your external drive — never your files. Settings → Advanced → Self-backup lists them, with Backup now and Restore buttons.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Settings & keep-time","path":"/faq/settings/"},{"name":"What is Self-backup in Storage Studio's Advanced settings?","path":"/faq/settings/what-is-self-backup"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-is-self-backup","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Self-backup in Storage Studio's Advanced settings?","alternateName":["Storage Studio self-backup","Backup now button Storage Studio","Does Storage Studio back up its settings?","storage studio config backup"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Self-backup is a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings, transfer history and rule state, kept on your external drive so a Mac reinstall or a problem doesn't lose them. It never includes your files.\n\nIn Settings → Advanced → Self-backup you'll see every backup it has kept, with its date. Click Backup now to make one immediately, Restore on a row to bring back that copy, or Open backup folder to see them in Finder. If the drive isn't connected, the pane says so — connect it and click Refresh.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-is-self-backup"}}]},"fragment":"
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Settings & keep-time · Advanced, self-backup and Demo Mode

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What is Self-backup in Storage Studio's Advanced settings?

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Short answer: It's a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings and records on your external drive — never your files. Settings → Advanced → Self-backup lists them, with Backup now and Restore buttons.

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Self-backup is a daily copy of Storage Studio's own settings, transfer history and rule state, kept on your external drive so a Mac reinstall or a problem doesn't lose them. It never includes your files.

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In Settings → Advanced → Self-backup you'll see every backup it has kept, with its date. Click Backup now to make one immediately, Restore on a row to bring back that copy, or Open backup folder to see them in Finder. If the drive isn't connected, the pane says so — connect it and click Refresh.

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