- Home
- Backup software
- Timeshift
Timeshift
What it is
Timeshift is a free Linux utility for creating incremental filesystem snapshots and returning a system to an earlier state. It offers rsync snapshots that use hard links and BTRFS snapshots built into the filesystem. Schedules can run hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or at boot, with retention counts you configure. Home-directory contents are excluded by default, so its focus is protecting system files and settings rather than personal data. You can restore from the running system or from another system with Timeshift installed, including an Ubuntu Live CD or USB; a restore started from the active system requires a reboot to finish. The project lists support for normal, LUKS-encrypted, LVM2, BTRFS, GRUB2, and EFI configurations, subject to its constraints. BTRFS requires an Ubuntu-type layout with @ and @home subvolumes. Docker and containerized systems are unsupported. Installation instructions cover Debian-based distributions, Fedora, Arch, and ALT Linux.
For and against
For
- Free plan
- Rsync and BTRFS snapshot methods
- Hourly through boot scheduling
- Restore from live media
- Supports LUKS, LVM2, GRUB2, and EFI
Against
- Home directories excluded by default
- BTRFS layout requirement
- Docker and containers unsupported
- Requires sufficient snapshot storage
The verdict
Timeshift focuses on restoring Linux system files and settings through scheduled snapshots. Check its filesystem and container constraints before relying on it.
Who it suits
Timeshift suits Linux users who want scheduled system recovery snapshots. It is aimed at system files and settings, not default home-directory backups.
Plans and prices
Timeshift
System snapshot and restore utility for Linux
Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Backup scope
- mixedgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- BTRFS limit
- BTRFS snapshots require an Ubuntu-type subvolume layout with @ and @home subvolumes; other layouts are not supported.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Computer backup
- Yesgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Container limit
- Docker and containerized systems are not supported, and the project says results there are unpredictable.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README gives package installation instructions for Debian-based distributions, Fedora, Arch, and ALT Linux.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Rsync mode uses rsync and hard links; BTRFS mode uses BTRFS filesystem snapshots.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Project stewardship
- The README says Timeshift is part of the XApp project, maintained by Linux Mint; XApp describes itself as open source and cross-distribution.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Timeshift creates incremental filesystem snapshots to restore a Linux system to an earlier state.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Restore
- Snapshots can be restored from the running system or from another system with Timeshift installed, including from an Ubuntu Live CD or USB.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Restore modes
- mixedgithub.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Restore reboot
- Restoring from the running system requires a reboot to complete.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Scheduled snapshots
- It supports hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and boot snapshot levels, with configurable retention counts.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Snapshot methods
- It supports rsync snapshots using hard links and BTRFS snapshots using built-in filesystem features.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Storage
- Timeshift requires sufficient free disk space for snapshots and recommends saving them to an external non-system partition for best results.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support and contributions
- The project invites users to report issues, submit code changes, and contribute translations.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The project lists normal, LUKS-encrypted, LVM2, BTRFS, GRUB2, and EFI configurations as supported, subject to its stated constraints.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- User files
- User home-directory contents are excluded by default because Timeshift is designed to protect system files and settings rather than user data.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
