How to properly set up Quicken Backup How to make Quicken create a backup for you automatically every time you close Quicken What Quicken backups are available where?
For the sake of this discussion it is assumed that your Quicken data file is located in the Default (and recommended) place: C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken
Review the backup settings available in Quicken (under Edit / Preferences / Backup).
In there you will find two types of backup: Automatic and Manual Backup.
Automatic Backup should be enabled and by default goes to a \Backup folder that's part of the folder which contains your current Quicken data file, e.g. \Documents\Quicken\Backup. Set it to create a backup after running Quicken [1] times and to keep [9] (or more, your choice) backup copies. The file name for Automatic Backup files contains a date and time stamp as part of the file name, e.g. QDATA-2020-03-22.PM03.45.QDF-backup
To create a Manual Backup copy of your Quicken data file on an external device (USB-hard drive or USB memory stick recommended), put a checkmark at "Manual Backup Reminder" to enable the function and set "Remind me after running Quicken [xx] times" to [1].
Click OK to save the changes.
From now on, when you close Quicken using the red X button, you will get a popup window.
When you get this window for the first time, on some versions click the radio button for "Backup on my computer". Change the Backup File name's drive letter and path to point to your external device so that it looks something like this: E:\Quicken Backup\QDATA-2019-04-01.QDF-backup or use the Change button and work your way through the dialog.
Do not change the filename portion! Just overtype the drive letter and choose a backup folder name. If the folder does not exist, it will be created.
Also choose the option to "Add date to backup file name".
Every day when you run Backup or close Quicken, an additional backup file is created. Without the Add Date option you only have 1 backup copy which is overwritten every day ... and that may prove bad in a problem recovery situation.
Allow this backup to run to save the changes made on the screen.
Of course, once in a while you will have to go in and delete some of the oldest backup files, at your discretion, to avoid filling up your USB device.
One can never have enough backups of a Quicken data file. BTDTGTS!
I just discovered this. (A little late to the game, I know.) I know how to back up in Quicken - that's not my issue. I just want to save the current open file in its regular location. If Quicken does not allow this and does not save periodically on its own, then the only current copy of my data is in RAM. This is not reliable. real It seems to me that removing the File→Save option to "prevent connection problems" is not fixing the problem. This is a basic function that every computer program I've ever used has had.
"File → Save" is not necessary because Quicken automatically writes all transaction changes and anything else you change in Quicken back to disk as soon as it happens.
You can always initiate a manual backup of your data file (keyboard shortcut: CTRL-B) to, for example, make sure you have a "checkpoint" to which you can fall back in case of problems.
Also do review my earlier comment on how to set up Quicken Backup. You do want to ensure that you create a backup of your Quicken data file every time you exit Quicken, at least once a day.
This is not the action I am seeing. Like I said, I know how to do a backup. I do them often.
I recently moved my files to a new folder on a new, faster drive. There are only 3 files in that folder - <myname>.QDF, <myname>OFXLOG.DAT, and <myname>_SyncLog.DAT. When I do a One Step Update, the 2 DAT files get updated immediately. My QDF file never gets updated. When I exit, my QDF is updated, so I know that I am looking where Quicken is pointing. And I also know to refresh the Windows Explorer window to make sure I am seeing up to date information.
Are you, by any chance, using Quicken Classic, any version? If so, can you confirm either what I am seeing or what you describe? And, just to cover all bases, I have Quicken R67.7 and Windows 11 Home, Version 25H2, OS Build 26200.8457.
With Q open, what files are showing at the bottom of the FILE menu? Is the file you referenced above in the 1 position with a check-mark next to it? Because that's the file that you're currently updating.
If your desired file isn't in the 1 position, click on it to open it.
When you start Q, it automatically opens the last file used … until you change to make another file "current"
When I do a One Step Update, the 2 DAT files get updated immediately. My QDF file never gets updated.
You're looking at the timestamp in Windows File Explorer, aren't you? The timestamp of a file's directory entry only gets updated when the program issues a File Close command to the operating system.
During OSU, the helper DAT files are closed when OSU is finished, but the QDF file remains open (and will remain open until you or a process in the Quicken program issues File Close).
Hi UKR. So you're saying that what I'm seeing is the normal, expected operation? And there is no way to force a save to the QDF other than by exiting the current file? I'm becoming convinced, but this is not like any computer program I've ever used behaves. And I've been using computers at work and at home since the mid 80s. I'm not disagreeing, just astounded. I guess I use CTRL-B even more frequently now.
And thanks a bunch for working me through this .
As I stated earlier, every transaction update, every change you make to the QDF file or other auxiliary configuration files is written to disk immediately. The only thing that does not get updated immediately is the timestamp in the QDF file's directory (or folder) entry. That only happens when the file is closed.
When you perform actions like Edit / Find/Replace or something else which changes many transactions you will find that the Quicken moderators and the Superusers recommend that you perform a Backup of your data file. This creates a copy of your data file. Should something bad happen while you make a change, in order to undo those bad changes you need to be able to restore from the backup copy. Remember that every change you initiate is immediately written to the currently open data file … and the Quicken database file structure does not have an Undo Rollback function to recover from bad changes.
