📝 Overview

Backing up your database regularly helps protect your data against corruption, hardware failures, or unexpected issues. This article explains what data is backed up (and what isn’t), how to enable automatic backups, schedule reminders, and export backups to other locations.

💡Pro Tips:

Daysmart does not maintain backups of your database remotely. Therefore we recommend creating a backup frequently and before major changes or updates.
In the event of hardware failure or power outages we recommend saving backups to an external hard drive or off-site location (USB, cloud drives) when possible.

✅ What Data Is Backed Up

These items are included in your database backups:

Click the arrow to view items that are backed up

Tickets (sales history & future appointments)
Clients
Payroll (configuration & past payrolls)
Photos
Products & Services
Employee Schedules
Gift Certificates & Gift Cards
Coupons
Close-out / cash drawer balances
“Gum label” settings
Time clock entries
Suppliers
Quotes
Purchase orders
General ledger
Activity log
E-mail reminder configuration

❌ What Is Not Backed Up

The following settings and local configurations are not included:

Click the arrow to view items that are backed up

Local computer settings
Program serial number
Employee password protection options
Cash drawer settings
Receipt printer settings
Miscellaneous configurations (window positions, default area codes, etc.)

🔄 Automatic Backups

Your software can run scheduled backups in the background as long as it’s running:

Click the arrow to learn more about automatic backups

Go to File → Backup & Restore → Automatic Backup Settings.
Enable Automatic Backup.
Choose how many backup files to keep (recommend at least 25).
Configure frequency:
- Every X hours (24-hour cycle or within set hours)
- Select days of the week
Optionally, enable “Make a backup when exiting” if the last backup is more than an hour old.
Pick the folder/location for backups (browse or default).
Optionally, enable "Ask me once a day if I'd like to make a backup" if it has been more than a set number of days (recommended: 1 day) since the last backup. The software will prompt you after that many days have passed since your last manual backup.
Click Backup Now to make a manual backup.
Confirm with OK.

💽 Backing Up to Another File Location

To export a backup file to a safe location:

Click the arrow to view items that are backed up

💡Pro Tip:

Always verify that your external drive or USB is working before relying on it for backups.

Select File → Backup & Restore → Backup Database.
Click Next.
Choose the destination type:
- Hard drive (local)
- USB flash drive
- External hard drive
- CD/DVD (save locally first, then burn using separate CD/DVD software)
Enter or accept a file name.
Click Save.
When the “All Done” screen appears, click OK.

🔄 Restoring Your Database

Learn how to choose the right restore method for your situation.

🔄 Restore Last Recorded Automatic Backup

Click here to learn how to restore your last recorded automatic backup

This option restores the most recent backup created automatically by the software. Use the date and time shown on the Restore screen to confirm this is the backup you want.

Select File > Backup & Restore > Restore Database.
On the Restore Database screen, select I would like to restore my last recorded automatic backup (recommended).
Review the date, time, and file location shown, then click Next.
On the Are You Sure? screen, click Yes.
If prompted, enter your database password and click OK.
Your database will be restored. Click OK.

📋 Restore a Different Automatic Backup

Click here to learn how to restore a different automatic backup

This option lets you choose from your full list of available automatic backups by date and time.

⚠️ Please Note: If the Automatic Backup option is grayed out, the Automatic Backup feature may be turned off. We highly recommend keeping Automatic Backup enabled.

Select File > Backup & Restore > Restore Database.
Under Backup Location, select Restore a database from the automatic backup location then click Next.
In the Automatic Backup Files list, select the backup you want to restore and click Restore.
On the Are You Sure? screen, click Yes.
If prompted, enter your database password and click OK.
Your database will be restored. Click OK.

📁 Restore from a Specific File Location

Click here to learn how to restore from a specific file location

Use this option when your backup file is stored on an external drive, USB, or a folder outside the default automatic backup location.

Select File > Backup & Restore > Restore Database.
Select Restore a database from a specific location.
Click Next.
Navigate to and select the backup file you want to restore, then click Open.
Click Yes to confirm.
If prompted, enter your database password and click OK.
Your database will be restored. Click OK.

🗄️ Restore Using a SQL Server Database File (Advanced)

Click here to learn how to restore using a SQL Server database file

Use this option to restore using .MDF and .LDF database files. These are typically located at C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\ but may vary.

⚠️ Please Note: The matching .LDF file must be in the same directory as the .MDF file before restoring.

Select File > Backup & Restore > Restore Database.
Select I would like to restore my database using an SQL Server database file, then click Next.
Locate and select the .MDF file, then click Open.
Click Yes to confirm.
If prompted, enter your database password and click OK.
Your database will be restored. Click OK.