Local Backup Solution for Windows
Local backup with Handy Backup lets you quickly save files, databases, email data, NAS storage, and cloud accounts to local destinations such as internal hard drives, external USB disks, or flash storage.
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Version 8.6.8 , built on Fabruary 13, 2026. 152 MB
Advantages of a Local Backup Solution
Quick Data Transfer
Instead of network connections, prone to several factors slowing a job, local backup almost always rely to most efficient data transferring protocols, such as USB 3.0 and 3.2, allowing storing or recovering up to terabytes per second, without slowing other tasks and local processes.
Cheap Storage Solutions
A local backup storage unit is often a cheapest data keeping solution per a gigabyte of data. Nowadays, prices for hard drives and even SSDs are quite low, allowing saving tons of data to a storage device for a relative small price. In addition, such devices almost never require commissions or fees for using.
Problems of Local Data Backup
Disaster Vulnerability
A local backup server or storage device shares the same place with a PC or laptop containing backup data. Therefore, a disaster or other catastrophic event (such as theft) can damage a local backup unit or make it unavailable by some way.
Restricted Data Access
Often, you can use the content on a local backup server only from a place where it exists physically — e.g., on a local machine. Therefore, these are some problems in recovering a local backup information to another computer. (Handy Backup provides some technologies avoiding this problem!)
Key Features of Handy Backup as Local PC Backup Software
Multiple Types of Local Backup Storage
Handy Backup provides plug-ins that allow saving local backup copies on hard drives (both HDDs and SSDs), or to external USB drives, memory cards or flash pens, with a possibility of triggering a backup or recovery task to start automatically by plugging an appropriate USB unit into a PC slot.
Scheduling and Automating Local Backup Tasks
An internal scheduler allows starting tasks by an exactly defined time and repeating with exact intervals from months to a single minute. You can make time stamps on backup folders, containing a time of creation for each copy. In addition, you can automate such actions as compression and encryption.
Recommended Solution
Lifetime license
Home Backup Solution
The cheap backup solution allows local backup of user files, folders and libraries to internal or external drives, as well as supports local multi cloud backup (such as Gmail, OneDrive, etc.).
How to Set Up a Local Data Backup Task In Handy Backup?
Using the local backup definition given above, we will copy the "My Documents" library to another folder on a local drive "C". To make a task, please follow the steps described here.
- Open Handy Backup and create a new task. Select a backup task on Step 1.
Note: For simplicity, do not mark the "Use advanced mode" option for this task. You can always add any advanced option later in a task properties window.
- Click "Next" and go to Step 2. Here, expand the "User Folders" group.
- Click onto the "My Documents" plug-in. Mark it with a checkbox. Click "Next" to proceed.
- On Step 3, select the "Computer" plug-in and expand the "C:" drive content.
- Find and select a folder where you will plan to store your backup. Click "Next".
- Continue creating a task as described in the User Manual.
After executing this task, open a folder that you select on Step 3 in the Windows Explorer or other file manager. You will see a copy of your "My Documents" folder inside another folder that has the same name as your task. Note that Handy Backup stores unencrypted file copies in native formats!
Download for Free
Version 8.6.8 , built on Fabruary 13, 2026. 152 MB
Handy Backup is a perfect example of good, simple and efficient local backup software!
Try it freely with a 30-day full trial version!
FAQ about Local Backup
What devices can be used for local backup?
Various storage devices can be used for local backup. The most common options include internal hard drives (HDD), SSDs, external USB drives, flash drives, and memory cards. In corporate environments, NAS storage systems or local servers are also frequently used to perform network backup.
Handy Backup supports backup to most popular local storage devices. The software allows users to store data on internal drives, external USB devices, network storage, and other locations, making it a convenient solution for organizing local backup storage.
What is the difference between local backup and cloud backup?
Local backup stores copies of data on a physical device located near the computer, such as a hard drive or USB storage device. This approach provides high data transfer speeds and fast access to backup copies.
Cloud backup, on the other hand, stores data on remote servers over the Internet.
Handy Backup supports both backup approaches. With the software, you can create local backups on disks and servers within your network, as well as use cloud services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or S3-compatible cloud storage. This allows you to combine multiple data storage methods and improve overall data protection.
Can a local server be used for storing backups?
Yes, local servers are often used to store backup copies in companies and organizations. Such servers can receive backups from multiple computers and act as a centralized storage location within the network. This simplifies administration and allows better control over backup storage.
In corporate environments, backups are typically created not only from workstations but also from multiple local servers. Therefore, it is important to manage backup tasks centrally and monitor backup operations across the local network.
With Handy Backup Server Network, you can organize centralized backup for multiple servers and workstations. Tasks are managed from a single console, simplifying administration and allowing administrators to monitor backup operations across all computers in the network.
How often should local backups be performed?
The frequency of backups depends on the type and importance of your data. For working documents and projects, daily backups are usually sufficient, while critical data may require hourly or more frequent backups. Regular backups help minimize the risk of data loss.
Handy Backup allows you to automate this process using the built-in task scheduler. Users can configure scheduled backups to run daily, weekly, or even at intervals of just a few minutes. This helps keep backup copies up to date without manual intervention.