Introducing Photos Backup Anywhere: A Simple Backup Solution for Your Photos

[gerdemb]

I'm running into an issue with the app that every few days, it stops syncing. I get the exact same error message Error: The File couldn't be saved.

When I open up the app, and stop the syncing, then manually restart, it works just fine. Any ideas what I could change to stop this from happening.

Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear you’re running into this issue. I appreciate you taking the time to report it.

Are you backing up to a NAS? This error can occur if the NAS volume unmounts unexpectedly. If that’s the case, I’d recommend trying the latest beta version, which includes improvements to automatically remount NAS connections when they are lost. You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Please let me know if the beta version does (or doesn’t) solve this problem or if you’re experiencing this issue with a different setup, and I’d be happy to help troubleshoot further!

Cheers,
Ben

 

[agregson]

The app had been running fine for me until 24/01/25. It stopped updating any photos. I made no changes to my system. I have tried restarting the app, checked folder etc. It shows a tick in menu but does not sync new photos.
I am not sure. Does anyone have a similar experience or suggestion?

 

[splifingate]

The app had been running fine for me until 24/01/25. It stopped updating any photos. I made no changes to my system. I have tried restarting the app, checked folder etc. It shows a tick in menu but does not sync new photos.
I am not sure. Does anyone have a similar experience or suggestion?

My last Backup completed just over an hour ago...I have yet to use the newest Version that helps with disconnected NAS volumes....

 

[Reality4711]

Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear you’re running into this issue. I appreciate you taking the time to report it.

Are you backing up to a NAS? This error can occur if the NAS volume unmounts unexpectedly. If that’s the case, I’d recommend trying the latest beta version, which includes improvements to automatically remount NAS connections when they are lost. You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Please let me know if the beta version does (or doesn’t) solve this problem or if you’re experiencing this issue with a different setup, and I’d be happy to help troubleshoot further!

Cheers,
Ben

Just purchased from Apple Store and set in motion.
Don't know what is happening (Tiny Blue arrow on Picture icon).
Is that OK and how long will initial setup take?
Thank you.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Just purchased and doing my first backup - very excited!
👍

 

[mk313]

Just purchased from Apple Store and set in motion.
Don't know what is happening (Tiny Blue arrow on Picture icon).
Is that OK and how long will initial setup take?
Thank you.

Blue arrow means it is working. Green means it is done & Red means there's an issue. Not sure how long the initial setup takes, but that is likely dependent on a lot of factors. Mine took maybe an hour or so.

 

[mk313]

Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear you’re running into this issue. I appreciate you taking the time to report it.

Are you backing up to a NAS? This error can occur if the NAS volume unmounts unexpectedly. If that’s the case, I’d recommend trying the latest beta version, which includes improvements to automatically remount NAS connections when they are lost. You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Please let me know if the beta version does (or doesn’t) solve this problem or if you’re experiencing this issue with a different setup, and I’d be happy to help troubleshoot further!

Cheers,
Ben

Weird Never got a notification that this discussion updated. I am backing up to a NAS & I'll give that beta version a try.

 

[mk313]

OK, so I downloaded Test Flight & then downloaded the beta version of the app. I got a popup that asked if I wanted to replace the current version of the app with this Beta. I clicked on & it appears that the Beta version was installed & the original version was removed from my system.

But then I got a popup that said something like 'Important: make sure you turn off automatic backups on the original version before you install the beta version", which is a problem since I've already installed the beta version over the original version before I saw that note.

Wondering what the best path forward is here. I haven't done anything with the beta yet. I'll wait to hear back. Thanks!

 

[Reality4711]

Blue arrow means it is working. Green means it is done & Red means there's an issue. Not sure how long the initial setup takes, but that is likely dependent on a lot of factors. Mine took maybe an hour or so.

Got the green arrow.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Only a day in so far, but it's been working perfectly!

Great App
Love the clean/simple design and approach and having "just what's needed and nothing more"

Exactly the somewhat "old school Mac App" feel I love

 

[Reality4711]

Only a day in so far, but it's been working perfectly!

Great App
Love the clean/simple design and approach and having "just what's needed and nothing more"

Exactly the somewhat "old school Mac App" feel I love


View attachment 2480553

Love the fact that the backup shows over 100gb and iPhoto file is approx 43gb.. The difference being what's on my wife's machine via iCloud (I think)...
Just before Apple shut down iCloud in UK (rumour). UK government being stupid 'a' holes as usual.

 

[gerdemb]

OK, so I downloaded Test Flight & then downloaded the beta version of the app. I got a popup that asked if I wanted to replace the current version of the app with this Beta. I clicked on & it appears that the Beta version was installed & the original version was removed from my system.

But then I got a popup that said something like 'Important: make sure you turn off automatic backups on the original version before you install the beta version", which is a problem since I've already installed the beta version over the original version before I saw that note.

Wondering what the best path forward is here. I haven't done anything with the beta yet. I'll wait to hear back. Thanks!

Thank you for downloading the beta version and for your follow-up message.

The warning about upgrading to the beta version only applies when upgrading from an older version 1.3 of the app. Since the current released version is 1.4, trying the beta version on version 1.4 is no problem. You should be fine, and no data has been affected.

I apologize for the alarming warning—I've gone ahead and removed it from TestFlight as it no longer applies.

I would like to know if the beta version does or does not solve the problem. Also, if needed, you can downgrade back to the released version from the beta without any issues.

If you have any other questions or run into issues, feel free to reach out. Thanks again for your support and for helping me improve the app!

Sincerely,
Ben

 

[mk313]

Thank you for downloading the beta version and for your follow-up message.

The warning about upgrading to the beta version only applies when upgrading from an older version 1.3 of the app. Since the current released version is 1.4, trying the beta version on version 1.4 is no problem. You should be fine, and no data has been affected.

I apologize for the alarming warning—I've gone ahead and removed it from TestFlight as it no longer applies.

I would like to know if the beta version does or does not solve the problem. Also, if needed, you can downgrade back to the released version from the beta without any issues.

If you have any other questions or run into issues, feel free to reach out. Thanks again for your support and for helping me improve the app!

Sincerely,
Ben

Thanks! I just opened the beta version now. & it ran the backup fine. It usually takes a day or so for the issue to pop up, so I'll report back once I see if it does or not.

 

[mk313]

FYI, the beta version still came up with he same error today.

It ran fine yesterday, but today, I got the error. I wonder if it has anything to do with my setup & if there's a way to modify it to avoid the issue. I work from home & have my monitors, etc set up through a hub. During the work week, I plug in my work laptop (sitting on a twelve South Curve. During the work week my Mac sits, closed, on the bottom section of the Curve. At night, during the workweek, after work, I shut down my work laptop & plug the monitors, etc (through the hub) back into the Mac, and use that in the evenings. The next morning, I pull the USB-C that goes to the hub out of the Mac, and leave the Mac with just the power cord plugged in, but still with the lid closed.

I wonder if when I am pulling out the USB-C cord to the hub, if that it triggering the error message & if so, if there is any way around it.

 

[gerdemb]

FYI, the beta version still came up with he same error today.

It ran fine yesterday, but today, I got the error. I wonder if it has anything to do with my setup & if there's a way to modify it to avoid the issue. I work from home & have my monitors, etc set up through a hub. During the work week, I plug in my work laptop (sitting on a twelve South Curve. During the work week my Mac sits, closed, on the bottom section of the Curve. At night, during the workweek, after work, I shut down my work laptop & plug the monitors, etc (through the hub) back into the Mac, and use that in the evenings. The next morning, I pull the USB-C that goes to the hub out of the Mac, and leave the Mac with just the power cord plugged in, but still with the lid closed.

I wonder if when I am pulling out the USB-C cord to the hub, if that it triggering the error message & if so, if there is any way around it.

Thank you for the detailed information—it’s very helpful. I’ve sent you a direct message so we can continue troubleshooting this without hijacking the main thread. Thanks!

 

[gerdemb]

I’ve received a few messages about the app not appearing in the App Store. I want to reassure everyone that the app is still released and supported. However, it is temporarily unavailable in the EU App Stores as Apple has requested some additional paperwork to ensure compliance with EU regulations. I am actively working on this, and hope to resolve the issue soon, pending Apple’s review process. Once everything is in place, the app will be available again on the EU App Store.

Thank you to everyone for your understanding and patience.

 

[zqbobs]

I’m excited to share my indie Mac app, Photos Backup Anywhere, which I’ve developed as a 1-click, set-and-forget backup solution inspired by Time Machine. It works with iCloud, even with the “Optimize Storage” setting, ensuring your entire photo library is securely backed up. Remember, backup is not the same as sync—iCloud sync doesn’t protect against data loss. The app backs up to any volume connected to your Mac, including NAS network drives and external storage. Feel free to ask questions!

UPDATE: Frequently Asked Questions
UPDATE 2: Free TestFlight beta version

I have been using the (paid) app for over 2 months - it's great! But I have a question - Would it be possible to save the backup photos with a different file structure and name? I understand the Year/Month/Date nested folders but, at least for me, a more direct and useful structure would be to name the files "year-month-date imagename" or similar, in a single folder, e.g. the year. That's the format I routinely use, and I have to go through some hoops to de-folderize and rename the files to be compatible with my own library. I wouldn't want to ruin the simplicity of the current app - just curious if you might consider such an option, maybe as a choice for the user in Settings.

 

[gerdemb]

I have been using the (paid) app for over 2 months - it's great! But I have a question - Would it be possible to save the backup photos with a different file structure and name? I understand the Year/Month/Date nested folders but, at least for me, a more direct and useful structure would be to name the files "year-month-date imagename" or similar, in a single folder, e.g. the year. That's the format I routinely use, and I have to go through some hoops to de-folderize and rename the files to be compatible with my own library. I wouldn't want to ruin the simplicity of the current app - just curious if you might consider such an option, maybe as a choice for the user in Settings.

Thank you for purchasing the app and for your message. I appreciate your support and your thoughtful feedback.

I understand your preference for a flatter file structure with a specific naming convention. I have considered making the backup structure configurable, but my goal has been to keep the app as simple and intuitive as possible for a wide range of users. Introducing multiple backup formats would add complexity, which I’ve tried to avoid.

That said, I do keep a list of possible new features, and I’ll keep this in mind for future updates. If I can find a way to offer more flexibility without compromising simplicity, I’ll definitely consider it.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[gerdemb]

I’ve received a few messages about the app not appearing in the App Store. I want to reassure everyone that the app is still released and supported. However, it is temporarily unavailable in the EU App Stores as Apple has requested some additional paperwork to ensure compliance with EU regulations. I am actively working on this, and hope to resolve the issue soon, pending Apple’s review process. Once everything is in place, the app will be available again on the EU App Store.

Thank you to everyone for your understanding and patience.

Good news! I have resolved the paperwork issues with Apple, and the app should now be available again in all regions, including the EU.

Please let me know if you experience any issues accessing it in your country’s App Store. Thank you for your patience and support!

 

[gerdemb]

Beta 2.0 Now Available – New Feature: Restore backups

I've released version 2.0 for beta testing. This update introduces a major new feature: the ability to restore backups directly into the Photos library, preserving as much original meta data as possible. This includes:

• Non-destructive edits to photos and videos
• Albums
• Live Photos
• Portrait photos
• Slo-mo and Cinematic videos
• Burst photos
• Adjustments to the date or location made inside the Photos app
• Favorites and Hidden items

Additionally, the backup engine’s database layer has been completely rewritten to improve reliability, especially when storing backups on a NAS or other network-mounted locations.

You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Upgrade Notes

• If you use an existing 1.x backup, the first time you run 2.0, it will perform a one-time migration. This migration won’t affect your 1.x backup.
• You can downgrade back to the released 1.x version at any time. The two versions work in parallel.

Please share any feedback or issues you run into. I’m especially interested in results from real-world restores and backup behavior with different storage setups.

Looking forward to your feedback!

— Ben

 

[UltimateSyn]

Beta 2.0 Now Available – New Feature: Restore backups

I've released version 2.0 for beta testing. This update introduces a major new feature: the ability to restore backups directly into the Photos library, preserving as much original meta data as possible. This includes:

• Non-destructive edits to photos and videos
• Albums
• Live Photos
• Portrait photos
• Slo-mo and Cinematic videos
• Burst photos
• Adjustments to the date or location made inside the Photos app
• Favorites and Hidden items

Additionally, the backup engine’s database layer has been completely rewritten to improve reliability, especially when storing backups on a NAS or other network-mounted locations.

You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Upgrade Notes

• If you use an existing 1.x backup, the first time you run 2.0, it will perform a one-time migration. This migration won’t affect your 1.x backup.
• You can downgrade back to the released 1.x version at any time. The two versions work in parallel.

Please share any feedback or issues you run into. I’m especially interested in results from real-world restores and backup behavior with different storage setups.

Looking forward to your feedback!

— Ben

Doing god's work.

 

[gerdemb]

Beta 2.0 Now Available – New Feature: Restore backups

I've released version 2.0 for beta testing. This update introduces a major new feature: the ability to restore backups directly into the Photos library, preserving as much original meta data as possible. This includes:

• Non-destructive edits to photos and videos
• Albums
• Live Photos
• Portrait photos
• Slo-mo and Cinematic videos
• Burst photos
• Adjustments to the date or location made inside the Photos app
• Favorites and Hidden items

Additionally, the backup engine’s database layer has been completely rewritten to improve reliability, especially when storing backups on a NAS or other network-mounted locations.

You can download the beta here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Upgrade Notes

• If you use an existing 1.x backup, the first time you run 2.0, it will perform a one-time migration. This migration won’t affect your 1.x backup.
• You can downgrade back to the released 1.x version at any time. The two versions work in parallel.

Please share any feedback or issues you run into. I’m especially interested in results from real-world restores and backup behavior with different storage setups.

Looking forward to your feedback!

— Ben

I just released a new version of the beta for testing. As always, if you send me any feedback on the beta, I'll send you a promo code to download the full version for free.

Link to download the beta in TestFlight: https://testflight.apple.com/join/TcDH3ccO

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Cheers,
Ben

 

[gerdemb]

I have released version 2.0.0 of Photos Backup Anywhere. New features are:

Enhanced Restoration

• New one-click restoration allows you to rebuild a Photos library from backup with full metadata, edits, albums, favorites, and more.

Smart Backup Engine

• New intelligent backup system detects changes more efficiently, ensuring faster backups with less system overhead.

More Reliable Database

• Under the hood, the database engine has been completely rewritten to enhance stability—especially when storing backups on network drives like NAS.

Please let me know your feedback or if you experience any issues.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[polyphenol]

I have released version 2.0.0 of Photos Backup Anywhere. New features are:

Enhanced Restoration

• New one-click restoration allows you to rebuild a Photos library from backup with full metadata, edits, albums, favorites, and more.

Smart Backup Engine

• New intelligent backup system detects changes more efficiently, ensuring faster backups with less system overhead.

More Reliable Database

• Under the hood, the database engine has been completely rewritten to enhance stability—especially when storing backups on network drives like NAS.

Please let me know your feedback or if you experience any issues.

Cheers,
Ben

Have only just realised that PBA wasn't running on my M4 mini. Had to manually launch it - at which point it asked for location (effectively confirmed location), and updated the database seemingly just fine.

Maybe it would have launched if I had needed to log in (e.g. do a restart). But much of the time I simply leave it logged in and running. While my needs are very limited, so it had no actual impact at all, it felt a touch disappointing that I had not noticed that I needed to re-launch it.

Is there a simple way of establishing a watchdog that checks every so often and warns if it isn't running or needs attention?

 

[HDFan]

How do you get the update? No option in the program and nothing in the App Store.