Getting started

Open Abbild and click + to create a backup.

Give it a name and choose the folder you want to protect.

Add one or more destinations, such as an external drive.

Pick Standard (full copies) or Smart (one folder kept in sync), then set a schedule.

Click Create. Abbild runs the first backup and then follows your schedule.

Click Back Up Now at any time.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Standard and Smart?

Standard saves a new, dated full copy every time, so you can go back to an earlier version. Files that haven't changed are shared between copies to save space. Smart keeps a single copy that matches your folder, copying only new or changed files. Use Standard for history and Smart for an always-current mirror.

Does Smart delete files?

Not unless you ask it to. By default, files you delete from the source are kept in the backup. Turn on Remove deleted files if you want the backup to match the source exactly. Smart mode only ever updates folders that Abbild created itself, never an existing folder that belongs to something else.

My external drive wasn't connected. What happens?

Abbild backs up to every destination that's available and marks the missing one as offline. Scheduled backups retry a few times. Once the drive is connected again, the next backup brings it up to date.

How do I restore my files?

There's nothing special to do. Every backup is a normal folder. Open the destination in Finder (or use Reveal in Finder in Abbild) and copy back the files you need.

How do I free up space on a backup drive?

For Standard backups, set Keep to the number of copies you want and Abbild removes older ones after each successful run. You can also delete individual copies from the destination manager.

Backups aren't running on schedule.

Make sure schedules aren't paused, from the menu bar icon or in Settings.

Abbild must be running for scheduled backups to happen. Turn on Open at login in Settings so it starts with your Mac.

If your Mac was asleep, the backup runs once it wakes.

Abbild says it can't access a folder.

macOS only lets Abbild into folders you've chosen. If a folder was moved or renamed, or a drive was reformatted, choose it again with Change in the backup's settings.

I'm not getting notifications.

Check that notifications are on in Abbild's Settings and allowed for Abbild in System Settings › Notifications.

Does Abbild collect my data?

No. Abbild works entirely on your Mac and never connects to the internet. See our Privacy Policy.

Need help with Abbild? Email support@alexanderstarkdesign.com and we'll get back to you, usually within 2 business days. Please include your macOS version, your Abbild version (in Abbild › About Abbild) and what you were trying to do.