Quicken Backup Setting Ignored?

Question

I have automatic backups configured to backup my file every 5 times Quicken is executed and to retain 20 copies. Currently I have 58 backups included 8 of which are created before every Quicken software update. I am fairly confident that Quicken is respecting the backup frequency (5) but my question is how to explain why the retention number (20) is apparently ignored? I believe that there has been a suggestion that the counter is reset after a software version update but I would like an authoritative explanation of what is actually happening.

Snorkle · Answer

* Are all of the backups for the same data file, or are they for different files?

Same

* Are you checking the actual backup directory where Quicken stores its automatic backups?

Yes

* Have you manually saved any backups in the same automatic backup folder?

No

* Have you noticed whether there are five or fewer backup copies of the file after each software update?

If you mean 20 (max retained) then yes. Time between software updates is fairly short so currently the maximum number of backups between 2 consecutive software updates and the minimum is 3 (updates on 7/7 and 7/18)

* Was your automatic backup limit previously set to a higher number, such as 15 or 20, and then changed to 5? If so, did the older backup files remain in the folder after you lowered the limit?

May have been set higher than 20 at some time. I am fairly sure that at some time I have deleted old copies to reduce the number to less than 20 but the retained backups seem to grow without limit.

Quicken Laura · Answer

Hi @Snorkle,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing what you’re experiencing. At this time, we don’t have any official information indicating that Quicken resets the backup count after a software update.

I’d like to gather a little more information to help narrow this down. Could you please confirm the following?

* Are all of the backups for the same data file, or are they for different files?
* Are you checking the actual backup directory where Quicken stores its automatic backups?
* Have you manually saved any backups in the same automatic backup folder?
* Have you noticed whether there are five or fewer backup copies of the file after each software update?
* Was your automatic backup limit previously set to a higher number, such as 15 or 20, and then changed to 5? If so, did the older backup files remain in the folder after you lowered the limit?

To make sure you’re checking the correct backup directory:

* Go to Edit > Preferences.
* Select Backup from the left panel.
* Click Open backup directory.

* The correct folder will open, so you can check how many backup files are stored there.

Once you’ve had a chance to check, please let me know what you find. I look forward to your response!