SyncBackPro schedules backups through its built-in task scheduler, which runs your backup on a fixed day and time without you having to start it manually

Open SyncBackPro and select the backup profile you want to schedule. Click the Schedule button in the toolbar — it looks like a calendar icon. A window will open showing scheduling options. Choose how often you want the backup to run: daily, weekly, monthly, or on specific dates. Set the time of day, then click OK. The backup will now run automatically at that time, even if you are not at your computer.

SyncBackPro must be running in the background for scheduled backups to work. When you close the program, it stays active in your system tray (the small icons near your clock). If you restart your computer, the scheduled backup will resume automatically when Windows starts up. You can verify a backup ran by checking the log file — open SyncBackPro, go to Tools > View Log, and look for the date and time of your last backup.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Schedule button in SyncBackPro's toolbar, set your preferred day and time, and the backup will run automatically on that schedule.
  • SyncBackPro must remain running in the background (in your system tray) for scheduled backups to execute, even after you close the window.
  • Scheduled backups resume automatically when your computer restarts, so you do not need to manually restart them after a shutdown.
  • Check the log file under Tools > View Log to confirm that your scheduled backup ran successfully and see when it last completed.

Setting a daily or weekly backup schedule

Open SyncBackPro and highlight the backup profile you want to automate. Click Schedule in the toolbar. In the Schedule window, select Daily or Weekly from the dropdown menu. If you choose Weekly, a second dropdown will appear asking which day of the week — select Monday, Tuesday, or whichever day you prefer. Then set the time using the hour and minute fields below.

For a daily backup, you only need to set the time. For example, if you set it to 9:00 PM, SyncBackPro will back up your files every day at 9:00 PM. Click OK when you are finished. The schedule is now active. If you want to change it later, click Schedule again and adjust the settings — you do not need to delete and recreate the profile.

Setting a monthly or custom backup schedule

Click Schedule and select Monthly from the dropdown. A calendar will appear. Click the date you want the backup to run — for example, the 15th of each month. Set the time, then click OK. The backup will run on that date every month at your chosen time.

If you need a schedule that does not fit the daily, weekly, or monthly pattern — for instance, every other week or on the first and third Monday — select Advanced from the Schedule window. This opens a more detailed scheduler where you can specify exact dates and intervals. Most users do not need this option, but it is available if your backup needs are unusual.

Keeping SyncBackPro running in the background

When you close SyncBackPro's main window, the program does not fully shut down. Instead, it minimizes to your system tray — the cluster of small icons in the bottom right corner of your screen (or top right on a Mac). You will see the SyncBackPro icon there. This is normal and necessary. The program watches the clock from the system tray and starts your backup at the scheduled time.

Do not right-click the SyncBackPro icon in the system tray and select Exit or Quit, because that will stop the scheduler completely. If you accidentally close it, simply open SyncBackPro again from your Start menu or Applications folder. To prevent accidental closure, you can configure SyncBackPro to start automatically when Windows starts — go to Tools > Options > General and check the box for Start SyncBackPro when Windows starts.

What to do if a scheduled backup does not run

First, check that SyncBackPro is still running in the system tray. If the icon is not there, the program has been closed and the scheduler is not active. Open SyncBackPro again. Second, verify that the schedule is still set by clicking Schedule and confirming the day and time are correct. Computer sleep mode can sometimes interfere with scheduled tasks — if your computer goes to sleep before the backup time, the backup may be delayed until the computer wakes up.

Check the log file to see whether the backup actually ran. Open SyncBackPro, go to Tools > View Log, and look at the most recent entries. If the log shows no activity at your scheduled time, the backup did not run. If the log shows the backup ran but you did not notice, it completed successfully — SyncBackPro runs quietly in the background. If the log is empty or shows an error, the backup profile itself may have a problem, such as an invalid destination folder or a disconnected external drive.

Backing up to an external drive on a schedule

Scheduled backups to external drives work the same way as backups to local folders, but the drive must be connected when the scheduled time arrives. If your external drive is not plugged in, the backup will fail. To avoid this, keep the drive connected at all times, or schedule your backup for a time when you know the drive will be plugged in.

If you unplug the drive and want to know whether the backup ran, check the log file. The log will show whether the backup succeeded or failed due to a missing drive. Some users set up a second backup profile that backs up to a local folder (like your Documents folder) on a daily schedule, and a separate profile that backs up to the external drive on a weekly schedule when they remember to plug it in. This way you have recent backups locally and periodic full backups on the external drive.

Pausing or stopping a scheduled backup

To temporarily stop a scheduled backup without deleting the profile, open SyncBackPro, select the profile, and click Schedule. Change the dropdown from Daily, Weekly, or Monthly to Manual. Click OK. The backup will no longer run automatically, but the profile and all its settings remain saved. You can run the backup by hand whenever you want by selecting the profile and clicking the Run button.

To resume the schedule later, click Schedule again, change it back to Daily, Weekly, or Monthly, set your preferred time, and click OK. The automated schedule is now active again. This approach is useful if you are traveling, working on your computer at the scheduled backup time, or temporarily need to free up system resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule multiple backups at different times?

Yes. Create separate backup profiles for each destination or set of files, then schedule each one independently. For example, you might schedule one profile to back up your documents daily at 9 PM and another to back up your photos weekly on Sunday at 6 PM. Each profile has its own schedule setting.

What happens if my computer is off at the scheduled backup time?

The backup will not run. When you turn the computer back on, SyncBackPro will not automatically catch up — it will wait for the next scheduled time. If you want to back up immediately after turning on your computer, run the backup manually by selecting the profile and clicking Run.

Will a scheduled backup slow down my computer?

SyncBackPro runs backups in the background and uses minimal resources, but large backups can temporarily use disk space and processing power. If you notice slowness during backup times, try scheduling the backup for a time when you are not using your computer, such as late evening or early morning.

Can I schedule a backup to run every other week?

The standard schedule options (Daily, Weekly, Monthly) do not support every-other-week directly. Use the Advanced scheduler instead — click Schedule, select Advanced, and you can set custom intervals like every 14 days. This requires more setup but gives you precise control.

How do I know if my scheduled backup actually completed?

Open SyncBackPro, go to Tools > View Log, and look at the timestamps and status of recent backups. The log shows whether each backup succeeded, failed, or was skipped. You can also configure SyncBackPro to send you an email notification when a backup completes — go to Tools > Options > Notifications to set this up.