How to Backup your Desktop using Pika Backup

Pika Backup is a GTK program designed to make simple backups based on borg. Frequent rumors that this software’s name is related to a monster with electrical abilities are unfounded.

Pika Backup main screen

Features

  • Set up new backup repositories or use existing ones
  • Create local or remote backups
  • Save time and disk space because Pika Backup does not need to copy known data again
  • Encrypt your backups
  • List created archives and browse through their contents
  • Recover files or folders via your file browser
  • Supports automatic scheduled backups and clean up of old archives
  • Source can be found here

Install

Pika Backup can be installed using one of these options:

  • Flathub: $ flatpak install flathub org.gnome.World.PikaBackup
  • On Arch though the AUR repo
  • Built from Source using Gnome-Builder

Connect to Repository

  • Create a SSH key locally and add it to your BorgBase control panel - see here for futher information
  • Create a new repository on BorgBase, be sure to add the SSH key you created previously is selected in the Access tab.

Add new repository in Pika Backup

  • (Recommended) Choose to use encryption and add a password in Pika Backup
  • Additional flags can be utilised via the advanced options box.
  • Choose which files & folder to backup & which to exclude.

Pika Backup setup screen

Scheduled Backups

  • Click Scheduled Backups tab
  • Toggle checkbox ‘Regularly Create Backups’
  • Choose a frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly etc)
  • There is an option to ‘Regualrly Delete Old Archives’ which may be useful if you have storage constraints

Schedule automatic backups