Carbonite Support Knowledge Base

Selecting Files for Backup

Carbonite automatically selects the data associated with your computer profiles. You can select additional data by right-clicking on the file or folder and selecting Carbonite; Back this up.

Selecting Files for Backup (Mac 2x)

You can use the Carbonite application to add files and folders to your Carbonite backup.

File Types Excluded from Backup for Carbonite Safe

Carbonite does not automatically select files larger than 4GB (Gigabyte) for backup. Files that may cause conflicts with your programs or operating system when restored are excluded from being backed up.

Moving Carbonite Safe to Another Windows Computer

You can transfer your Carbonite Safe subscription from your old computer to your new or repaired computer to restore your files or start a new backup.

Installing Carbonite Safe and Initial Backup Selections

After you set up your Carbonite Safe account, you can install Carbonite to start backing up your files.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe

Carbonite automatically backs up the files that are most important to you, such as your pictures, documents and music. By intelligently scanning your computer, Carbonite does not include unnecessary files, which improves backup and restore speeds. Less common types of files can be manually added to your Carbonite backup. Review this article to understand what is and is not included in your backup.

Selecting Excluded File Types for Backup

You can select excluded file types for backup in the Carbonite Properties menu.

Known Issue: Unable to Select Files for Back Up

Some files such as pictures and .PDFs can occasionally be marked as temporary files due to the nature of the software used to create or import them. Files with the temporary attribute cannot be backed up by Carbonite. In most cases, a new copy of the file can be created that would remove this attribute and allow Carbonite to select it for backup. This can be done by zipping the file with the Windows compression tool, and then unzipping it.

Carbonite Post-Restore Checklist

This checklist will assist you with performing post restore functions to get your data where it needs to be and resume your backup.

Important Things to Know About Carbonite Safe as You Get Started

This article contains information about Carbonite Safe that you may not be aware of when first installing the software.

Getting Started with Carbonite Safe

You can use the Carbonite application to back up your files to Carbonite’s secure servers. When you need to get your files back, you can use Carbonite to restore your files at any time.

Importing Your iTunes Music

You can import your iTunes data by downloading the backed up copy and moving it into the correct location. After you finish restoring and moving the files, you may have to assign songs that were not originally located within the iTunes Media folder.

Backing Up an Important File Right Away

By default, Carbonite backs up the first changes made to a file within 10 minutes of the file changing in each 24-hour period. Any changes made after 10 minutes will be scheduled for back up within 24 hours. You can manually instruct Carbonite to back up those changes immediately to ensure they are safe and secure on Carbonite's servers.

Restoring Previous File Versions

Carbonite keeps up to 12 versions of your changed files, so that you have multiple points in time to restore from in the event of a disaster. Review this article for more details on how Carbonite handles previous versions of your files, and how you can restore them with the Carbonite software.

Windows Firewall

Computer security programs (anti-virus and/or firewall) may block the installation and normal operations of programs like Carbonite. Fixing these issues is easy and allows Carbonite to run at peak performance. Configuring Windows Firewall to allow Carbonite access to the Internet will decrease the chance of slow/erroneous backups and faulty installations.

Backing Up Dropbox Files

You can select files in your Dropbox folder by right-clicking on them and selecting Carbonite; Back this up.

Removing Files From Your Backup (Mac 1x)

You can remove files and folders through the Carbonite System Preferences pane and the data will be removed from Carbonite within 72 hours.

The Backup Settings Page / Settings Tab for Carbonite Safe

You can configure Carbonite's settings so that system resources are used more efficiently. The Settings tab of the Carbonite InfoCenter (or the Backup settings page of the Carbonite application) allows you to toggle Carbonite's default backup selections, control how Carbonite uses Internet bandwidth, toggle Carbonite's colored status dots on or off, and set a backup schedule.

Removing Backed Up Files from Carbonite (Mac 2x)

You can remove files and folders through the Carbonite interface and the data will be removed from Carbonite within 72 hours.

Backing Up Your Google Chrome Bookmarks

Your Google Chrome bookmarks will be backed up by default if you chose to let Carbonite manage your backup selections during installation

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe (Mac 2x)

Carbonite is designed to back up all the unique and irreplaceable files on your computer. Included in your backup are your text documents, spreadsheets, financial documents, photos, music, etc. With the Carbonite Safe Basic plan, video files are not selected for back up by default. They need to be added to your backup manually.

Backing Up Files on an External Hard Drive (Mac 1x)

You can use Carbonite to back up files on an external hard drive from Carbonite within the Apple System Preferences.

Stuck Backup and Backup Errors (Mac 1x)

If your backup appears slow or stuck on your Mac, there are steps you can take to resolve the issue.

Carbonite Safe Backup Pro Dashboard

As an administrator, you can view the backup status, review alerts, view the billing information and billing history, invite users and administrators, add computers, and perform other actions through the Dashboard. As a Billing Owner, you can perform all the same actions as an administrator as well as manage the billing information for your account.

Backing up Microsoft Outlook 2016

With Microsoft Outlook for Mac, Microsoft recommends exporting your information from within the Outlook application before trying to back them up.

Backing Up Microsoft Edge Favorites

Microsoft Edge favorites reside in a folder that Carbonite Safe cannot back up. This article contains instructions on how to export your Microsoft Edge favorites to an HTML file that you can then select for backup.

Managing Your Private Encryption Key for Carbonite Safe

During the initial installation, Carbonite Safe allows you to manage your own encryption key for Windows computers.

Stuck Backup and Backup Errors

Carbonite backs up your computer automatically. However, there may be some instances that prevent Carbonite from backing up your computer properly.

Downloading Your Carbonite Safe Files with Anytime Anywhere Access

You can log into your Carbonite Safe account from any computer to view and download your files with Anytime Anywhere Access.

Opening the Carbonite Interface

The Carbonite interface displays information about your backup, subscription and account. The Carbonite interface allows you to set a backup schedule, restore files, manage your Carbonite account, and instruct Carbonite to use less of your Internet bandwidth.

Importing Peachtree Data

Peachtree uses several different file types and directories to store information on your computer. If you need to restore your Peachtree data, Carbonite recommends restoring these files to your Desktop. You can import your restored Peachtree data with these instructions.

Restoring Files

You can browse and restore files from your backup within the Carbonite application.

Transferring Your Carbonite Safe Subscription to Restore Files (Mac 2x)

You can transfer your Carbonite Safe subscription to restore your files to another computer.

Transferring Your Carbonite Safe Subscription to Restore Files

You can transfer your Carbonite Safe subscription to restore your files to another computer.

Switching from Manual to Automatic Backup

When you first install Carbonite, you'll be given the choice between an Automatic or Advanced setup. The Automatic setup includes your user folders in your backup. If you initially selected the Advanced setup to start with nothing in your backup, you can switch to the Automatic setup from within the Carbonite InfoCenter / application.

Viewing Hidden Files and Folders

Windows hides some files and folders by default. You can un-hide hidden files and folders if you need to select additional user-created data for backup.

Installing Carbonite Safe and Initial Backup Selections (Mac 2x)

After you set up your Carbonite Safe account, you can install Carbonite to start backing up your files.

Encryption Key Password

You can choose an optional password for your encryption key during the initial installation

Pausing and Resuming Carbonite

Pausing Carbonite causes it to stop uploading your files to the Carbonite servers. Carbonite will continue to scan your computer for changes while paused. You can pause Carbonite for an increment of time. Carbonite can be paused to free up system resources for immediate use by another service or delay back up until a later time.

Entering and Exiting Recover Mode (Mac 1x)

Recover Mode prevents changes from being made to your backup so you can perform a restore. If you transfer your Carbonite subscription to a new computer or replace the hard drive on your current computer, Carbonite will automatically start up in Recover Mode. Recover Mode can be enabled through the Carbonite Preference pane.

Starting Your Backup Over (Mac 2x)

You can remove all your files from your backup through the Carbonite interface and the data will be removed from Carbonite within 72 hours. After you do so, you can select only what you want to select for backup.

Getting Started with Carbonite Safe (Mac 2x)

Carbonite is an online backup application that backs up your files to our secure servers and helps you restore the files back to your computer at any time.

Restoring Files (Mac 2x)

You can restore files and folders through the Carbonite application.

Reinstalling Carbonite Safe (Mac 2x)

You can reinstall Carbonite Safe on the same computer to update Carbonite to the latest version.

Carbonite Release Notes (Mac 2x)

You can view the latest Carbonite release notes in this article.

Starting Your Backup Over

You can start your backup over by deselecting all files from within your Carbonite Backup Drive and reselecting only the locations you wish to back up. Any file not reselected for back up will be removed from our servers within 72 hours.

Storage of Data After Deleting Files from Your Computer

When Carbonite scans for files to back up, it also removes deleted files from the backup to keep it up-to-date. Depending on your plan, Carbonite removes deleted files after 30 or 60 days from the date they were deleted from the computer.

Removing Files From Your Backup

You can remove files, folders, and drives from the computer that has Carbonite installed and the deselected files will be removed from Carbonite backup within 72 hours.

Manually Uninstalling Carbonite

If possible, we recommend using your computer's default service for uninstalling programs when uninstalling Carbonite. If you aren't able to uninstall Carbonite normally, the instructions in this article can be used to uninstall Carbonite manually. If an incomplete installation is preventing either a reinstall or an uninstall of Carbonite, we suggest you follow the steps below to remove the Carbonite program files manually.

Transferring Carbonite Safe Between Windows and Mac

You can transfer your existing Carbonite Safe subscription from Windows to a Mac computer.

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