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Backup Modes

FolderRewind provides three core backup modes powered by the 7-Zip engine: Full, Smart Incremental, and Overwrite.

Upgrade compatibility note

If you upgraded from an older version, revalidate backup chains and restore results with test data before using them in production.

Quick recommendation​

  • Beginner default: Full Backup + enable "Skip when no changes"
  • Frequent daily use: Smart Incremental + chain limit + safe delete
  • Temporary rolling state: Overwrite (keep only the latest archive)

Mode comparison​

ModeDescriptionAdvantageBest for
FullCreates a complete new archive every timeSimple and stable restoreBeginners, milestones
Smart IncrementalPacks only changed files and builds an improved incremental chainFaster, saves spaceLarge folders with frequent backups
OverwriteUpdates the latest archive instead of creating many history filesMinimal storage, simple workflowTemporary sync or cache-like folders
Note

"Smart Incremental" in product wording corresponds to Incremental/Smart behavior in code.

Across major updates, chain generation, truncation, and restore behavior may change, so upgraded configs should always be revalidated once.

How to configure​

  1. Open Config Settings for the target config.
  2. Go to Backup Policy.
  3. Select mode from Backup Mode:
    • Full backup (new file each run)
    • Smart incremental (changed files only)
    • Overwrite backup (update latest backup)
  4. Save and run one manual backup for validation.

Backup mode dropdown with three options

Backup Policy tab in Config Settings

Choosing tips​

  • Minecraft saves: Smart Incremental (saves more space for large, frequently backed up folders)
  • Work docs/projects: Smart Incremental or Full (based on disk and restore preference)
  • Important archives: Full + encrypted config
  • Temporary/cache folders: Overwrite

In Config Settings -> Backup Policy, also check:

  • Skip backup when no changes: avoids creating meaningless backups.
  • Keep latest backup count: 0 means unlimited.
  • Smart chain length limit: only applies to Smart Incremental; triggers a Full backup to truncate the chain when the threshold is reached.

Chain truncation behavior:

When the number of backups in a smart incremental chain reaches MaxSmartBackupsPerFull (default 5), the next backup automatically switches to Full, creating a new baseline. The old chain is not deleted, but new backups no longer depend on it.

Benefits:

  • Controls the length of the restore chain, avoiding the need to merge too many incremental packages during restore

  • Limits the blast radius if an incremental chain breaks

  • Safe delete: helps avoid broken restore chains during cleanup of incremental archives.

  • Remote forced full backup: in automation/integration scenarios, you can temporarily bypass the current mode and run one Full backup via a remote command.

Compression and performance​

FolderRewind supports 7z/zip compression with tunable level, method, and threads:

  • Compression level: higher = smaller size but slower speed.
  • CPU threads: 0 means automatic; limit threads if performance is insufficient.
  • File-type rules: use lower compression for already-compressed files like *.zip/*.mp4 to reduce processing time.
    • Note: enabling file-type rules automatically disables 7z solid compression, because solid compression requires all files to use the same compression settings, while file-type rules allow different levels for different files.
  • Low-priority compression: enabling RunCompressionAtLowPriority lowers the CPU priority of the compression process, so it does not interfere with other tasks running during backup.

Starter presets​

  • General office files: Full + skip-no-change + keep 30
  • Dev projects: Smart Incremental + chain limit 20 + safe delete + keep 60
  • Large game saves: Smart Incremental + skip-no-change + automation + periodic restore validation