How to Use Timeshift on Linux to Protect Your System: A Complete, Updated Guide

Backing up your Linux system is one of those essential tasks that is often overlooked until it's too late.Losing a lifetime of work, configurations you've spent hours developing, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can roll back any mistakes can be avoided with just a few clicks. Timeshift is one of the most powerful and easy-to-use tools for protecting your Linux system using automatic snapshots., and in this article you'll discover how to get the most out of it, step by step and with all the updated details.

Whether you have previous experience or it's the first time you've heard of this utility, here you'll find an explanatory and easy-to-follow guide.We'll cover installation, initial setup, snapshot types, automatic scheduling, restoration, exclusions, pros and cons—everything you need to secure your system without the technical hassle.

What is Timeshift and why should you use it?

Timeshift is an open source application designed to easily create and restore system backups on Linux systems.. Its operation is reminiscent of the restoration options of Windows (System Restore) or Mac (Time Machine), but adapted to the philosophy and structure of GNU/Linux.

The main purpose of Timeshift is to protect system files and settings, not personal files.. This means that after a disaster, you can return your system to a previously functional state, recovering everything related to the installation, application and system settings, but not your documents, photos, or music (although you'll see later how to include them if you need to). You can learn more about other backup tools at best programs for backups and saved games.

The snapshots that Timeshift creates can be incremental, which saves space and speeds up the process. It uses technologies such as Rsync (for most users) or Btrfs (if your root partition uses that file system). If you want to better understand how it works, you can also check out how to use similar tools in Windows.

Its main function is to act as a lifeline for those experimenting, updating the system, testing new applications, or simply seeking peace of mind from potential errors or loss of critical configuration data..

What does Timeshift support?

One of the key aspects is to understand what is included and what is not included in a Timeshift snapshot.By default, the program backs up system files, global settings, and everything related to the operation of the operating system. It does not include personal data (your /home folder), unless expressly stated in the settings.

This is an advantage for most users, as it allows restore the system without affecting personal filesIf your goal is to also protect your documents and photos, there are specific tools like Back In Time, although Timeshift allows you to include your personal folder by selecting the option in its wizard.

Advantages and limitations of Timeshift

The main advantage is the Ease of use and the ability to schedule automatic copiesIt also stands out for its speed when restoring a snapshot, the small space it takes up with rsync, and its integration with popular distros such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu (from its software center or official repositories).

Among the limitations, It is not a tool of backup for personal data by default. In addition, snapshots must be stored in Linux partitions (not in NTFS, FAT, or remote drives) and, if you use btrfs, the copies are saved on the same root drive, which is less secure if that drive physically fails. If you want to understand other forms of protection, you can also explore how Windows bypass on laptops.

Installing Timeshift on Linux

Installing Timeshift is a quick and easy process on most distributions.It is currently available in the repositories for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Manjaro, and derivatives, and for Arch systems via the AUR.

• On Ubuntu and derivatives: open one terminal and runs:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures your system is up to date before installing Timeshift. Then, install the application with:

sudo apt install timeshift

• Software centers: You can also search for “Timeshift” in the software center and proceed to install.

For other distributions or older versions, you can use Official PPA or the page of GitHub, but nowadays it is often unnecessary.

First start and basic configuration

When launching Timeshift for the first time, the system will prompt administrator permission (password) as you need to make system changes. The system will then be started initial setup wizard, essential to adapt the snapshots to your needs.

• Choose the snapshot type:

– rsync: Recommended method for most. It allows incremental backups, stores only what has changed since the last snapshot, and can save backups to any drive with a Linux file system.

– btrfs: Only if the system root uses this file system. Backups are very fast and efficient, but they are only stored on the same root partition, which poses risks if the primary disk fails.

The wizard will analyze the disks and their file systems, showing where snapshots can be saved.

Then select the location of the copies: by default, they are stored in /timeshift from the chosen partition, but you can decide which disk to save them to if you use rsync (remember: disks with Linux file system, not NTFS or FAT).

Scheduling automatic backups

One of the biggest attractions of Timeshift is allowing the automation of snapshots to forget tedious tasksYou can decide how often and how many copies of each type to keep.

Programming options include:

• Snapshots every hour
• Daily
• Weekly
• Monthly
• When starting the system

For each type, you can define the maximum number of copies you want to keepFor example, the last 5 daily, 3 weekly, etc. When that number is reached, the oldest ones are automatically deleted.

Automatic backups do not always occur at exact times.: An internal task checks every hour whether a snapshot should be run according to the configuration. Those scheduled at Boot They take about 10 minutes after starting the system, preventing the boot load from slowing down.

Important! The more copies you keep, the more space they will take up.. Adjust the schedule and number of copies based on available space and the importance of your system.

Customizing what is included in the copies

By default, Timeshift only creates system copies, excluding personal folders.If you need to, you can customize which users and folders to include:

• “Users” tab: Check the corresponding box to include /home of the users you want. Don't forget that this can substantially increase the size of your snapshots.
• Filters tab: Define specific directories or files that you want to manually exclude or include in backups.

This way, you can tailor the protection provided by Timeshift to your priorities: keep only the system, include hidden configurations (dotfiles), or opt for a more comprehensive backup.

Manually creating a snapshot

You can generate on-demand copies at any time by clicking on Create from the main Timeshift window. This procedure is useful before performing a major update, installing new software, or making extensive changes to system settings.

The first snapshot is usually slower because it copies the entire system involved. Subsequent snapshots will be much faster, as only modified files are recorded.

Restoring from a backup

If something goes wrong, Timeshift allows you to return the system to the state saved in a previous snapshot.The process is intuitive and secure:

• Select the desired snapshot and press Restore.
• Follow the instructions, reviewing the changes that will be applied.
• The computer will restart after the restore, leaving it in the exact state of the backup.

Important: Personal files will not be modified unless you have included them in the snapshots. The restore affects only the system and its protected settings.

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Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.