TimeShift – System Restore feature in Windows and the Time Machine tool in Mac OS

Last Updated on March 25, 2023

TimeShift is an open source system restore utility which takes incremental snapshots of the system using rsync and hard-links. These snapshots can be restored at a later date to undo all changes that were made to the system after the snapshot was taken. Snapshots can be taken manually or at regular intervals using scheduled jobs.

It provides functionality similar to the System Restore feature in Windows and the Time Machine tool in Mac OS.

This application is designed to protect only system files and settings. User files such as documents, pictures and music are excluded. This ensures that your files remains unchanged when you restore your system to an earlier date.

Features include:

• Minimal setup.
• Boot snapshots.
• System restore.
• Cross-distribution restore.
• Exclude files.

Website: github.com/linuxmint/timeshift
Support: Launchpad
Developer: Tony George, now maintained by Linux Mint
License: GNU GPL v2

TimeShift is written in Vala. Learn Vala with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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