To exclude a folder from a BackupOnShutdown backup, open that backup and use Folders to skip. Add a folder yourself, or use Find folders to skip… for suggestions such as downloaded packages and build output you can recreate. Theme, language, and the desktop shortcut are under Settings.
How do I exclude a folder?
Open the backup from the dashboard and find Folders to skip. With Add folder…, you can select a folder inside one of the folders you back up; the choice is saved immediately and applies only to this backup. If you pick a folder outside it, the app says "Only folders inside a folder you back up can be skipped."
Find folders to skip… suggests folders such as npm node_modules, Composer vendor, Python environments, and build output from Gradle, Next.js, and .NET. Skip only folders you can replace — files you've edited inside them are left out too. The scanner changes nothing until you choose Skip selected; run it again if you want suggestions for newly added folders. The review step during first-time setup can offer these suggestions too.
Stop skipping includes a folder in future backups again, provided it is still inside a folder you back up. Changing exclusions doesn't delete saved versions or alter earlier backups.
You select specific folders; there are no custom patterns such as "every file ending in .log". Temporary files, including Thumbs.db, .DS_Store, and names ending in .tmp or .temp, and folders marked as a cache are always left out. They aren't entries you can turn back on in the skip list.
How do I save other settings?
Open Settings to find Preferences, Backup, and About. Changes to preferences are drafts until you choose Save. Cancel, closing the settings sheet, or pressing Esc discards them; switching panels doesn't save them. License activation has its own Activate button. Folder exclusions stay in the individual backup's details.
How do I change the theme, language, or shortcut?
Under Preferences, Theme offers Light, Dark, and System, which follows your operating system's appearance. Language switches the interface between English and German.
Desktop shortcut creates or removes the Backup & Shutdown shortcut when you save. It's off by default. Double-clicking the shortcut starts backup and shutdown without the in-app confirmation, so save your work in other programs first. See Back up, then shut down for the full workflow.
What do the backup options mean?
Backup contains Keep old versions, a single choice for all backups. Read how old versions are kept before shortening that history.
Under Advanced, Compression offers Automatic, Smallest, and Fastest. Automatic uses the engine's normal compression; Smallest requests stronger compression; Fastest disables compression for newly stored data. Already compressed photos and videos may gain little, and changing the setting doesn't rewrite existing versions.
The Windows note Files that are open explains why administrator rights are needed to include files in use. Follow the open-files guide if a summary reports skipped files.
Where do I find the version and license details?
About shows the app version and, after activation, Licensed to: with your purchase email. It also links to Licence agreement and Third-party notices. Check for Updates opens the download page in your browser; updates aren't installed automatically.
Download BackupOnShutdown and try it for 14 days. No account or credit card is required.