Frequently Asked Questions

Updated 7th September 2026 by Simon Fearby · Budgie Backup (alpha)

The long answers live on their own pages, so each one can be shared on its own. The short answers are underneath.

Budgie Backup is unfinished alpha software, every build has a built-in expiry date to ensure you update to get more recent versions. Never rely on the alpha version to backup your data and always test that backups are accessible.

Guides

Article	What it covers	Updated
How to install Budgie Backup	Which installer to pick, the five steps, checking the download hash, the browser and User Account Control prompts you will see, the code signing certificate and how to verify it yourself, and what happens if the .NET 10 runtime is missing.	7 Sep 2026

Planned, not written yet: creating your first backup plan, restoring files from a backup, setting up the optional Backblaze cloud sync, and what to do when a backup reports errors.

Quick answers

What does it cost?

Nothing. Budgie Backup is free while it is in alpha. The one thing that can cost money is the optional cloud sync, and that bill comes from Backblaze for the storage you actually use. You pay them directly, and you can ignore the feature entirely.

What do I need to run it?

Windows 11, 64-bit, and the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime. The full installer includes the runtime; the small one will fetch it if you do not already have it. You also need an account with administrator rights, and enough free space at the destination. Full detail on the installation page.

Why does it need administrator rights?

Four things need elevation: Volume Shadow Copy, System Restore points, drive health queries, and reading files another program currently has open. Without it, anything locked - your Outlook data, an open browser profile - cannot be copied cleanly.

Do I need Budgie Backup installed to get my files back?

No, and that is deliberate. Budgie Backup does not write a proprietary image format that only it can read. A backup opens in Windows Explorer or 7-Zip on any machine. If this project disappeared tomorrow, your backups would still open.

Where does it put the backup?

Wherever you tell it. You choose a primary destination, usually a second internal drive, and optionally a secondary one, usually a removable drive you can unplug and carry away. That second destination is what turns one copy into a real backup.

Why has my build expired?

Every alpha build has a built-in expiry date, on purpose, so that nobody ends up quietly relying on a months-old version. Get the current release from the download page, or let BudgieBackupUpdater do it for you.

How do I know the download really came from you?

Every application and both installers are code-signed, so Windows shows Simon Fearby as the publisher rather than "Unknown publisher". The certificate details, and how to check them yourself before you run anything, are on the installation page. Every release also publishes SHA-256 and MD5 hashes on the download page.

Should this be my only backup?

No. Not this, and not any single thing. Keep three copies of your data, on two different kinds of media, with one of them offsite. Budgie Backup exists to make the two local copies painless. It is also alpha software, so treat it as one part of that and test that your backups actually open.

Something is broken. How do I report it?

Every app in the suite has a built-in bug report tool, and an uncaught error starts one for you. Reports are used to fix the bug and are then deleted. You can also email budgiebackup@fearby.com, or ask to join the alpha at alpha-test-request-budgiebackup@fearby.com.

How to install Download All six apps Installer, bug report, uninstall Known Bugs Change Log Disclaimer Privacy

Help Test Early Builds

This is a work in progress, features will change.

If you wan't to help test Alpha builds reach out here: alpha-test-request-budgiebackup@fearby.com or reach out and suggest a feature here: budgiebackup@fearby.com.

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