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Transfer Backup State

When transferring your license from one install to another, you have two options: A) "Transfer License Only" or B) "Transfer License and Backup State" - this page describes the difference.

A) Transfer License Only (Repush your files)

When possible, it is best to start with a fresh installation and repush your files.   Because of the way Backblaze can "roll back time" to recover old files, the logs of how files have changed grow every day, week, and month.  After a couple years, Backblaze can slow down on a system as it works harder and harder to read all of those files.

Starting with a fresh installation and repushing gets rid of all of the old cruft and results in the very fastest, most efficient Backblaze installation.

Repushing is ABSOLUTELY FREE, it is included as part of your subscription.  Here is how to transfer your license:
  1. Install Backblaze on the new computer (or uninstall then re-install on your current computer)
  2. Sign in to Backblaze
  3. Click Account.
  4. Select the Computer you wish to remove and delete it. *Note* This will delete all data associated with it from our servers, but will free its license.
  5. Click Overview.
  6. Click use license on the new computer.

This will remove the old machine (and all of the previously backed up data from that machine) and backup and transfer the license to the new machine.

 

B) Transfer License AND Backup State

If you cannot repush your data because it is too large and your network connection is too slow, Backblaze has the ability to Transfer your Backup State at the same time as transferring your license.  This will result in a slower running system, but will work in most cases.


Before you Start
The computer must be perfectly healthy.  Get a copy of all your data correctly placed on the new computer.  DO NOT Transfer Backup State if your old computer crashed, or lost data in any way, or was stolen, or if you plan to recover data from your backup.  In all of those cases, IMMEDIATELY prepare a free zip file restore BEFORE doing anything else.  Remember, Transfer Backup State only works if the NEW computer has a complete working copy of all the data you want to backup.  Otherwise STOP NOW, it does not make any sense to do the Transfer!  Please contact customer support with any questions.


1. Install Backblaze on your new computer or OS
If you haven't already go ahead and install Backblaze on your new computer. You can download the Backblaze trial from the Backblaze.com home page. Once the transfer has completed, Backblaze will also grab the license belonging to your old computer.


2. Select "Transfer Backup State" and follow the Steps
Under the Backblaze menu icon select the option to "Transfer Backup State".




3. If moving a backup to a second computer - Uninstall Backblaze from old computer.
After you have successfully transferred the backup state from your old computer, you will need to uninstall Backblaze from your old computer. Learn more about how to uninstall Backblaze.


Recommendations and Tips After the Transfer
After the above steps, your transfer is finished.  We then recommended that you then open the Backblaze Control Panel and verify all the settings are indeed correct for your new computer going forward, especially that the correct hard drive(s) are selected for backup.  Also, let your computer run continuously for the next few hours to properly digest all the new information.  Don't worry if Backblaze thinks it has to backup a lot of data, this is normal and Backblaze just needs a little time to reflect the correct information.  For example, if the modification times on your data files have changed between the two machines (this is VERY common when you copy your files across) Backblaze will spend a few hours realizing all these files are identical to the versions already backed up and Backblaze will not transfer the duplicates.