How Frequently Should You Back Up Your Family Tree Maker Files?

Building a family tree in Family Tree Maker takes countless hours of research. But how frequently should you back up your Family Tree Maker files? This question matters because unexpected issues—like glitches during compacting or merging individuals—can cause irreversible data loss. Regular backups protect your hard work from crashes, corruption, or accidental changes.

Why Regular Backups Are Essential

Family Tree Maker files hold precious details: ancestors, photos, documents, and stories. Without backups, a single problem can erase everything. Compacting optimizes your database by removing unused space, but interruptions may corrupt files. Merging individuals cleans duplicates yet risks overwriting vital information if done incorrectly.

Genealogists often share horror stories of lost progress after software errors or hardware failures. Cyber threats add another risk. Multiple backups ensure your family history remains safe and recoverable.

Ideal Backup Frequency

How frequently should you back up your Family Tree Maker files? It depends on usage:

Daily: If actively researching, adding records, or making changes.
Weekly: For regular but less intensive work.
After each session: For occasional users.
Always before major tasks: Such as compacting, merging individuals, or syncing with Ancestry.

This approach minimizes potential loss. Active users stay safe with daily saves; casual ones need only post-session backups.

Best Backup Practices

Use Family Tree Maker’s built-in backup tool (File > Backup). Include media files and notes. Save to external drives or cloud storage.

Follow the 3-2-1 rule:

3 copies of your data
2 different media types (e.g., computer + external drive)
1 offsite copy (cloud)

Automate backups when possible. Label files clearly, e.g., “FamilyTree_2025-12-21.ftmb”. Test restores quarterly to verify integrity.

Store backups in multiple locations: USB drive, external hard disk, and services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

Common Backup Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls:

Single backup location
Skipping media files
Forgetting backups before compacting or merging
Never testing restores

Relying only on auto-sync features is risky—they don’t replace full backups.

Conclusion

Knowing how frequently to back up your Family Tree Maker files prevents heartache. Daily or weekly backups, especially around compacting or merging individuals, plus the 3-2-1 strategy, keep your genealogy secure. Start a routine today—your family history deserves protection.

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