Backing up means taking a point-in-time snapshot of your company file. It's mainly a safeguard in case you need to restore your company file to an earlier state if something goes wrong. Or, you can create a backup for record-keeping to retain historical data.
If your company file is online, there are two types of backup and a setting that lets you choose which one you want to use. If your file is offline, you can only create and restore offline backups.
Online backups let you roll back to a point in time
Online company files only
Each week, MYOB automatically backs up online company files that have had changes in the previous 7 days. It means you can relax knowing we're saving regular point-in-time versions of your online company file that you can roll back to if needed.
You can also manually create online backups whenever you like and name them appropriately. These will be accessible along with the automatically created ones.
Online backups are stored securely in the cloud for 6 months, on the same servers we use to store online company files. If anything goes wrong in your company file, like an import that didn't go to plan, you can roll back your company file to the point-in-time the online backup was created.
More about creating online backups
Offline backups are point-in-time copies of your file
Use offline backups to retain historical versions of your file that you can refer to later or roll back to if something goes wrong.
Creating offline backups is a manual process, so it's up to you how often you do it. You might take an offline backup at key times, like EOFY, to create a handy snapshot of your data that you can retain or refer to later.
You can take an offline backup at any time and save the backup file on your computer, an external drive or another secure location.
You can password protect an offline backup, which means the password will be required to restore the backup.
You might also take an offline backup before making significant changes, like importing data, so you have a rollback option if things don't go to plan. There's also a preference you can set to display a backup reminder each time you close AccountRight.
Offline backups can be restored to an AccountRight library on your computer or in a network so you can view a copy of your company file as at the backup date.
If your company file is online, you can also restore an offline backup over the top of your company file – to replace (roll back) your current company file.
More about creating offline backups
Tips for backing up offline
Back up regularly | It's up to you how often you backup your company file and the type of backup you create. To help remind you to backup, you can turn on the AccountRight preference to prompt for a backup each time to close your company file (Setup menu > Preferences > Security tab, and select both these preferences: Enable Offline Backups and Restore Prompt for Data Backup when Closing |
Use appropriate storage media | Different storage media offer different advantages. For example, a portable, but offsite storage might be more secure. Except for daily rotational backups, we recommend you do not re-use media. Also, due to the varying read/write speeds for external storage devices, if you want to store backups on a USB device, we recommend saving your backup to your computer then copying it to the USB device. |
Store backups in a different location to your company file | Don’t store backups on the same hard disk as your current company file. A single disaster could wipe out all your records. |
Don’t overwrite previous backups | If your current file is corrupt and you don’t realise it, and then you overwrite your previous backup file, you’ll no longer have a useable backup. |
Store backups off site | Store backups in a secure place, such as another physical location or online. |
Choose your backup option in Setup > Preferences
Online company files only
You can change this setting any time. The automatic weekly online backups will happen regardless of this setting.
Go to the Setup menu > Preferences.
Click the Security tab.
If you want to create offline backups, select the option Enable Offline Backups and Restore. If this preference is deselected, manually created backups will be saved online.
We'll still automatically back up your online company file
Regardless of this setting, MYOB will still automatically back up your online company file each week (provided there has been some activity in the file). However, to access your automatic backups you'll need to deselect the setting.
Restoring a backed up company file
Restoring is how you open a backed up copy of your company file (File menu > Restore). Here's what happens when you restore a backup:
if it's an online backup, your current online company file will be replaced with the backed up version. This can't be undone. More about restoring online backups
if it's an offline backup, you can choose to restore the backup:
in an AccountRight library on your computer or in a network location. This lets you view a copy of your company file as at the backup date. This doesn't affect your current working company file.
online – to overwrite your current online company file.
More about restoring offline backups
FAQs
Why is my file stuck in "Backup in progress"?
If your company file is stuck with a status of Backing up or you persistently see this message, you'll need our help.
Click the chat bubble at the bottom of this page and ask MOCA, our virtual assistant, for help. Or, submit a support request via My Account and our team will get you back up and running.