Archivst Desktop Manual

Quick start overview

Use this page as your single start-to-finish guide. Create an Archivst account, add credit, install Archivst Desktop, link the app to your account, and then choose your first backup folder.

If this is your first run, begin with the installation steps below and then continue in order through backup and restore. If the app prompts for an update, install it before continuing so features and pricing match the service.

• Backup panel: add folders, tune selection, and run backups.
• Restore panel: hydrate archived content and download to your chosen location.
• Logs panel: review activity and share details with support.
• Schedule panel: automate backups so they keep running in the background.

Install Archivst Desktop using the MSIX package

The MSIX installer is the recommended route for most Windows users. It provides clean upgrades, trusted package signing, and easier uninstall behaviour.

1. Sign in to your Archivst account and open Account > Manage.
2. Download the latest .msix package.
3. Double-click the file and choose Install. If prompted by SmartScreen, verify the publisher and continue.
4. Launch Archivst Desktop from the Start menu after installation completes.

If installation is blocked by policy, ask your IT administrator to allow trusted MSIX packages for your device.

Install Archivst Desktop using the MSI package

Use the MSI installer where MSIX is not available, such as locked-down enterprise environments or older deployment tooling.

1. Download the latest .msi installer from your account manage page.
2. Right-click the MSI and choose Run as administrator when your environment requires elevated installs.
3. Follow the wizard, select install location if requested, then finish setup.
4. Open Archivst Desktop and confirm the version in Main Options > About.

After MSI upgrades, restart the app if it was already running in the system tray.

Link Archivst Desktop to your account

1. Open the user icon in the top-right of Archivst Desktop.
2. Sign in through the browser window that opens, including any MFA check.
3. Return to the desktop app and wait for the connected status.

Main Options also shows balance, monthly estimate, dark mode toggle, start-backup command, and sign-out controls. If your balance is low, top up before large backups or restores.

Add a new folder in the Backup panel

1. Open the Backup panel.
2. Select the + icon and browse to the folder you want to protect.
3. Choose encryption mode: Archivst-managed key for simplicity, or your own password-managed key for full control.
4. Save the folder and run an initial backup to verify access and permissions.

Each added folder has independent settings, so personal folders and business folders can follow different rules.

Understand settings in the Backup panel side options

Use the folder options menu in Backup to tune behaviour for each folder. These controls help balance protection, bandwidth, and storage cost.

• Run backup now: force an immediate backup for the selected folder.
• Refresh folder: re-scan local files and current remote state.
• Include or Exclude mode: set whether patterns define what to back up or what to skip.
• Only Files Changed / Allow All Files: delay rapidly-changing files or upload every detected change immediately.
• Remove folder: remove local backup tracking; optional cloud delete requires confirmation code.

Select files and subfolders for backup

After adding a folder, open it to see file and subfolder selections. Everything starts selected by default, then you can untick items you do not want to store.

• Use subfolder ticks to quickly exclude large areas such as caches or temporary exports.
• Use wildcard patterns like *.tmp, *.log, or /temp* for repeatable filtering.
• Re-check selections after major folder reorganisations so new paths are correctly covered.

For quality checks, run a first backup on a small sample and inspect logs before scaling to very large folders.

Quick restore workflow

1. Open Restore and choose a folder in Archived.
2. Untick anything unnecessary to control cost and speed.
3. Start restore and confirm the emailed code plus estimated restore cost.
4. Wait for hydration, then switch to Online to download.
5. Choose a destination with enough free space and complete download.

Restored cloud data remains online for a limited period, so download promptly or request another restore window later.

Restore cloud files in the Restore panel

Cloud restore is designed for archived Azure-backed data. You can restore full folders or selected files, including historical versions when available.

• Use the optional date/time selector for point-in-time recovery.
• Confirm restore cost via the emailed verification code.
• Download from the Online tab once hydration finishes.
• If you used your own encryption password, test with one file first before bulk download.

Restore FTP files in the Restore panel

FTP restores work for folders configured with FTP destinations. Ensure hostname, credentials, and path permissions are still valid before starting.

• Refresh the folder listing before restore to ensure the latest remote state.
• Select files/folders to download and start restore from Archived.
• Use logs to inspect connection or permission issues if a restore fails.
• For unstable links, restore smaller folder groups first.

Restore local files in the Restore panel

Local restores copy hydrated files back to a destination on your machine or network drive. Choose a destination carefully to avoid overwriting working files unintentionally.

• Create a dedicated restore folder when comparing old and current versions.
• Keep enough free disk space for both restored and existing copies.
• After restore, verify file dates and sample file integrity before deleting older copies.

Scheduling, logs, and troubleshooting

Use Schedule to automate backups (Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly). Closing the main window keeps background processing active through the tray icon.

Use Logs to review runs, copy diagnostic output, and share details with Support when needed. Include the folder name, step, and latest error for faster help.

Technical details and JSON reference

Detailed technical documentation has moved to a dedicated page so this guide can stay focused on daily workflows.