Déjà Dup Backups is a simple graphical backup application for Linux. It is designed to make regular, encrypted backups straightforward without requiring users to learn complicated backup commands.

The application integrates particularly well with the GNOME desktop and supports local, remote and cloud backup locations, including Google Drive. Modern versions use Restic as the backup engine and create incremental snapshots, while older Déjà Dup backups may use Duplicity.

Déjà Dup is intended primarily for protecting personal files against accidental deletion, corruption, hardware failure and similar data loss. It is not a full disk-imaging or bare-metal system backup solution; the GNOME project recommends other tools for complete system or archival backups.

Why Use Déjà Dup?

The main attraction of Déjà Dup is its simplicity.

You select the folders you want to protect, choose where to store the backups, decide how frequently backups should run and determine how long older backups should be retained. Déjà Dup handles the underlying backup process automatically.

It supports:

• Local disks and external drives
• Network or remote storage
• Cloud storage such as Google Drive
• Automatic scheduled backups
• Incremental backups
• Encryption
• Compression
• Restoration of individual files or previous backup states

A particularly useful feature is that backups are stored as snapshots, allowing you to restore files from a particular point in time rather than merely recovering the most recent copy.

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Installing Déjà Dup

The package is called:

deja-dup

Déjà Dup remains available in current Fedora and Ubuntu repositories. Fedora 44, for example, currently provides the deja-dup package, while Ubuntu 24.04 provides it as well.

Fedora

Open Terminal and run:

sudo dnf install deja-dup

You can alternatively install it through Fedora’s graphical software-management tools.

Ubuntu

Run:

sudo apt install deja-dup

It can also be installed through Ubuntu’s graphical software store.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so the same APT package can normally be installed with:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install deja-dup

You can also search for Déjà Dup or Backups in the graphical software manager.

Flatpak

The GNOME project also distributes the current version through Flathub. The official GNOME application page currently lists Déjà Dup 50.1, released April 26, 2026.

Déjà Dup on Flathub

The Flatpak can be particularly useful when you want a newer application version than the package supplied by your distribution.

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Starting Déjà Dup

After installation, search your application menu for:

Backups

or:

Déjà Dup Backups

Depending on your distribution and desktop environment, it may appear under a category such as Utilities or Accessories.

The current application has a much cleaner interface than the older versions shown in many Linux tutorials.

The main window gives you access to the backup configuration, your backup history and restoration functions.

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Setting Up Your First Backup

When you open Déjà Dup for the first time, you can configure your first backup from the application’s main screen.

The GNOME documentation describes the process as:

1. Choose Create Your First Backup…
2. Select the folders to protect.
3. Choose the storage location.
4. Start the backup.
5. Set an encryption password when prompted.
6. Wait for the first backup to complete.

The initial backup can take considerably longer than subsequent backups because it has to process all selected data.

Later backups are incremental, so only the data needed for the new snapshot is stored.

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Folders to Back Up

One of the most useful features of Déjà Dup is that you do not have to back up your entire computer.

You can explicitly select the folders that should be included.

In current versions, open the Folders section.

You can add directories with:

Add Backed Up Folder…

For example, you might choose:

/home/username/Documents
/home/username/Pictures
/home/username/Desktop

You can add as many relevant locations as required.

Default Backup Selection

Current Déjà Dup documentation says that, by default, it backs up the user’s Home folder, excluding certain locations including Trash and Downloads. Other cache and temporary directories are also ignored automatically.

This is a useful default because most personal documents and application settings are stored under the Home directory.

Nevertheless, it is worth reviewing the folder list rather than assuming that everything you need will automatically be included.

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Folders to Ignore

You can also explicitly tell Déjà Dup not to back up particular directories.

Open:

Folders → Folders to Ignore

and select:

Add Ignored Folder…

For example, you might exclude:

Downloads
Virtual machines
Large temporary datasets
Build directories
Cached files

This is useful when a directory contains files that can easily be recreated or downloaded again.

The application already excludes a number of cache and system locations by default.

A good rule is:

Back up irreplaceable data. Do not waste backup storage on data that can easily be regenerated.

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Choosing a Backup Storage Location

The Storage Location setting determines where Déjà Dup stores the backup repository.

Current Déjà Dup supports:

Local storage

such as another disk or external hard drive;

Remote storage

such as an appropriate network location; and

Cloud storage

including Google Drive.

Local Hard Drive

You can store the backup on another local disk or an external drive.

For example, an external USB hard drive is a practical backup destination.

However, storing the backup on the same physical disk as your original data is not a good disaster-recovery strategy.

If the disk fails, both the original files and the backup may disappear.

GNOME’s own documentation recommends keeping backup copies on a different device and, ideally, somewhere off-site.

External Drive

An external hard drive is often a good choice for large amounts of local backup data.

Connect the drive and select it as the backup destination.

Remember that an external drive connected permanently to the same computer is still vulnerable to theft, physical damage, ransomware and other events affecting the computer.

Network Server

A network storage location can be useful when you have:

• A NAS
• Another Linux computer
• A home server
• A network backup server

This can be especially convenient for multiple computers in a home or office network.

The exact storage options presented by Déjà Dup depend on the available backend and the environment in which the application is installed.

Google Drive

One of Déjà Dup’s particularly useful features is support for Google Drive. The current GNOME application page explicitly lists Google Drive among its supported cloud backup locations.

This makes it possible to maintain an off-site backup without installing a separate Google Drive synchronization client.

That is different from using Google Drive as a normal filesystem.

Déjà Dup stores its backup repository in Google Drive. The contents are encrypted and compressed by the backup application rather than being presented as ordinary documents and folders that you browse directly in Drive.

This is an important distinction.

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Encryption

Déjà Dup is designed to encrypt backup data.

When creating a backup, you will likely be asked to establish an encryption password.

The password protects the backup repository so that the stored backup data is not simply readable by someone who obtains access to the storage location.

Keep the Password Safe

The encryption password is extremely important.

If you lose the password required to unlock an encrypted backup, restoring the backup may not be possible.

Do not assume that Google Drive, an external drive or the backup application can recover a forgotten encryption password for you.

A good approach is to store the password securely in a password manager or another appropriate secure location.

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Automatic Backups

One of Déjà Dup’s biggest advantages is automatic scheduling.

Open the Schedule section and enable:

Back Up Automatically

The current application allows you to choose how frequently automatic backups occur.

The exact timing is deliberately simple rather than highly configurable.

GNOME’s documentation notes that the application attempts to perform automatic backups during the middle of the night when possible. Automatic backup activity can also be paused or suppressed while the computer is in Power Saver or Game Mode.

This is an improvement over relying on yourself to remember to click Back Up Now.

A backup is only useful if it actually happens.

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How Long Should Backups Be Kept?

Déjà Dup provides a Keep Backups setting.

This determines the minimum period for which older backup data should be retained.

Examples include:

• A shorter retention period
• Several months
• A longer retention period
• Forever

The current documentation states that backups are kept forever by default, although space limitations can cause old backups to be deleted earlier when the storage location begins to run out of space. Files should not be deleted before the selected minimum retention period.

Forever Is Not Always Necessary

Keeping every historical backup forever can consume substantial storage.

Consider what you actually need to recover.

For many personal computers, a reasonable retention strategy might keep backups for several months rather than indefinitely.

On the other hand, long-term retention can be valuable for important documents where discovering a problem months later is possible.

The right setting depends on:

Data importance + available storage + likelihood of needing older versions.

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Start a Backup Manually

Automatic scheduling does not prevent you from creating a backup immediately.

The main screen includes:

Back Up Now

Use this when you have just created or changed a collection of important files and do not want to wait for the next scheduled backup.

You can also use it to test that your backup configuration is working correctly.

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Restoring Files

A backup is worthless if you cannot restore it.

Déjà Dup provides a graphical restoration workflow.

Open Backups and select:

Browse Backups

The application scans the configured backup location and presents available backup snapshots.

You can then choose the backup date you want to examine.

For a new installation where Déjà Dup has not previously been configured, use:

Restore From a Previous Backup…

and provide the location of the backup repository. Déjà Dup can then search the repository and restore files.

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Restoring Individual Files

You do not necessarily have to restore the entire backup.

If you accidentally deleted a file, for example, you can select an earlier backup snapshot and restore the required file.

This is one of the strongest reasons to use a real backup application rather than simply copying your Home directory to another disk periodically.

You can recover from a specific historical state instead of maintaining only one current copy.

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Restic and Older Duplicity Backups

There is an important change in modern versions of Déjà Dup.

Older versions used Duplicity as their underlying backup engine.

Modern Déjà Dup uses Restic.

According to the official documentation:

• Backups first created with Déjà Dup 49.0 or later use Restic.
• Backups first created with 48.2 or earlier use Duplicity.

This matters when restoring backups created by an older installation.

You may therefore encounter two different backup formats on systems that have been upgraded over several years.

The current Déjà Dup documentation provides restoration instructions for both formats.

For most users, this complexity remains hidden.

That is one of the principal benefits of Déjà Dup.

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Does Déjà Dup Back Up the Entire Operating System?

No.

Déjà Dup is primarily intended for personal file backup and recovery.

It is not a complete clone of your Fedora, Ubuntu or Linux Mint installation.

The GNOME project specifically states that users who need a full system backup or archival program may prefer another backup application.

This distinction is important.

For example, backing up:

/home/username/Documents
/home/username/Pictures
/home/username/Desktop

protects your personal data.

It does not create a bootable image containing:

/
/boot
/system files
/installed packages

as a complete system image.

For a typical desktop user, a sensible strategy can therefore be:

Déjà Dup → personal files

and, separately:

system reinstall/recovery strategy → operating system

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Déjà Dup vs. Simple File Copy

You might wonder why you should not simply copy your files to an external drive.

You can—but a dedicated backup application provides several advantages.

A manually copied directory is generally just another copy.

Déjà Dup provides:

Incremental backups

Only the required data is added to subsequent snapshots.

Historical versions

You can restore from a particular backup snapshot.

Encryption

Backup data can be securely encrypted.

Compression

The application compresses the backup data.

Automatic scheduling

Backups can run regularly without requiring you to remember.

Exclusions

Temporary and unnecessary directories can be omitted.

These features make Déjà Dup substantially more useful than repeatedly dragging files to an external disk.

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Recommended Backup Strategy

For important personal data, do not rely exclusively on one copy.

A practical arrangement is:

Original data: Your computer

Local backup: External drive or NAS

Off-site backup: Google Drive or another remote location

This gives you protection against several different failure scenarios.

For example, if your computer fails, you still have the external backup.

If the computer and external drive are stolen together, the off-site backup remains available.

GNOME’s backup guidance likewise recommends keeping backups on a different device and, where possible, off-site.

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Common Questions

Is Déjà Dup available on Fedora?

Yes. Fedora provides the deja-dup package, including current Fedora 44 packages.

Install it with:

sudo dnf install deja-dup

Is Déjà Dup available on Ubuntu?

Yes. Ubuntu provides the deja-dup package. Ubuntu 24.04, for example, includes a current 45.x version in its repositories.

Install it with:

sudo apt install deja-dup

Does Déjà Dup work on Linux Mint?

Yes. Because Linux Mint is Ubuntu-based, deja-dup can be installed through APT.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install deja-dup

The precise interface can vary according to whether you are using Cinnamon, MATE or Xfce.

Can Déjà Dup back up to Google Drive?

Yes. Google Drive is explicitly supported as a cloud backup location by current Déjà Dup.

Does Déjà Dup synchronize my files with Google Drive?

No.

Déjà Dup is a backup application, not a Google Drive synchronization client.

It stores encrypted backup data in the selected backup location.

Can I restore an individual file?

Yes. Déjà Dup supports restoring from a particular backup snapshot and can restore individual files.

Does Déjà Dup encrypt backups?

Yes. The application prompts you to establish an encryption password when creating a backup.

Should I store the backup on the same hard drive?

It is strongly discouraged.

If that physical drive fails, the original files and backup can be lost simultaneously. GNOME recommends using a different device and ideally an off-site location.

Does Déjà Dup use Duplicity?

Older versions did.

Current versions use Restic. Existing backups may still be in Duplicity format and remain supported for restoration.

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Useful Links

Déjà Dup official GNOME page
https://apps.gnome.org/DejaDup/

Déjà Dup documentation
https://help.gnome.org/deja-dup/

Creating backups
https://help.gnome.org/deja-dup/prefs.html

Restoring backups
https://help.gnome.org/deja-dup/restore-full.html

Troubleshooting/restoring old backups
https://help.gnome.org/deja-dup/restore-worst-case.html

Déjà Dup on Flathub
https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.DejaDup

Fedora package
https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/deja-dup/deja-dup/

Ubuntu package information
https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=deja-dup

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Conclusion

Déjà Dup is one of the simplest graphical backup applications available for Fedora, Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

Its main strength is that it hides the complexity normally associated with backup software.

You select the folders you want to protect, choose a destination, enable automatic backups and let Déjà Dup handle the rest.

It supports local storage, external drives, remote/network locations and Google Drive, while providing encryption, compression, incremental snapshots and point-in-time restoration.

The current version of Déjà Dup uses Restic underneath, although it continues to support restoring older backups created with Duplicity.

For a typical Linux desktop, a good configuration is to back up important data such as:

Documents
Pictures
Desktop
Projects
Personal configuration/data

to an external or network drive, with an additional off-site backup such as Google Drive for important data.

The most important principle is not which backup application you choose, but whether you have a backup that is automatic, current, separate from the original data and actually restorable.

A backup that has never been tested is only an assumption. After configuring Déjà Dup, perform a small test restoration and verify that the recovered file is usable. GNOME’s own guidance recommends checking that backups actually contain the expected data.