# Backing up and restoring school data

> Academium SMS Help › Your school server
> For: School Owner, School Admin · Server Edition
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-backing-up-and-restoring
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

Your school server holds every record your school keeps in Academium. Backups protect those records if the computer is lost, damaged or fails.

## Setting up automatic backups

Open the control panel and go to the **Backup** tab.

1. **Backup location.**
   - **Windows:** choose **Browse** and pick a folder. Backups are saved in an `Academium\SmsBackups` folder inside it.
   - **Linux:** pick one of the drives listed, which shows how much **free space** it has. Backups are saved in an `Academium` folder on it. For a network share, choose **Enter a path instead**.
2. **Schedule.** Choose how often to back up: **Daily**, **Weekly** (pick the day) or **Monthly** (pick the date), and the hour it runs.
3. **Keep last.** Choose how many backups to keep. Older ones are removed automatically.

> **Warning:** If backups are saved on the same drive as the operating system and that drive fails, you lose both your data and your backups. Use the server's **second drive**, or an external drive, for safer recovery. Two drives (one for the system, one for backups) is the recommended server setup.

Each backup holds your school's records **and its uploaded files**, such as photos and documents. Backups are **encrypted** and can only be opened by your school.

## Cloud backup

If your school has cloud backup, the Backup tab shows **Enabled · backups upload automatically**. Every backup is encrypted on your server before it is uploaded. Each backup in the list shows whether it is in the cloud or local only. Choose **Upload** to send a local one up; on Linux you can also **Remove from cloud**.

If it shows **Not configured**, contact Academium to ask about cloud backup for your school.

## Taking a backup now

Choose **Back Up Now** before anything risky, such as moving the server to a new computer or a big change to your records.

## Restoring a backup

> **Warning:** Restoring **permanently deletes all current records on this server**, including student records, fees and exam results, and replaces them with the contents of the backup. Anything entered after that backup was taken is lost.

1. In the **Local Backups** list, find the backup you want.
2. Choose **Restore**, read the warning, and confirm with **Restore & Overwrite**.

To restore a backup kept somewhere else, such as on an external drive from an old server, plug in the drive or USB stick, choose **Restore from another location** and pick it. Only **your school's** backups can be opened, so the server must be signed in with the **same Academium Account** that created them.

**Moving from Windows to Linux?** Backups made by a Windows server restore on a Linux server too.

The server restarts as part of a restore.

## Common issues

**"No readable backups found in that folder."** Check that you picked the right folder, and that the server is signed in with the same Academium Account that created the backups.

**Backups stopped appearing.** Check that the backup location still exists, for example that the external drive is plugged in. Choose **Reset** to go back to the default location if needed.

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