A lightweight Windows utility for backing up important Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) files and folders with configurable retention, optional scheduled backups, and simple restore-friendly ZIP archives.
Designed for DCS users who want a straightforward way to protect:
- Missions
- Input bindings
- Kneeboards
- Liveries
- Campaign progress
- Config files
- Mods and custom content
- Simple Windows desktop interface
- Select multiple folders to back up
- Configurable primary and secondary backup retention
- Automatic ZIP archive creation
- Optional Windows Scheduled Task integration
- One-click access to the README from inside the app
- Open-source and free to use
This utility is especially useful before:
- DCS updates
- Mod installations
- Large mission edits
- Control rebinding
- Campaign progression
- Testing scripts or plugins
It can also be used as part of a broader disaster recovery strategy for:
- SSD/HDD failure
- Corrupted Saved Games folders
- Accidental deletion
- Bad mods or configuration changes
- Download the latest release.
- Extract the application to a folder of your choice.
- Run the executable.
No installer is required.
NOTE: Depending on Windows SmartScreen settings, unsigned applications may trigger a warning. This is normal for smaller independent open-source utilities without a commercial code-signing certificate.
Choose the folders you want included in the backup.
Typical DCS folders include:
C:\Users<YourUser>\Saved Games\DCS
You may also choose individual subfolders if preferred.
Choose where backups should be stored.
Recommended locations:
- Secondary internal SSD
- External drive
- NAS / network storage
- Cloud-synced folder
Avoid storing backups only on the same physical drive as DCS.
The utility supports configurable retention counts.
Example:
- Keep last 7 primary backups
- Keep last 30 secondary backups
Older backups beyond the retention limit are automatically removed.
Click the backup button to create a ZIP archive of the selected folders.
Backup filenames typically include timestamps for easy identification.
The application can optionally create a Windows Scheduled Task to automate backups.
Typical schedules:
- Daily
- Weekly
- Before normal DCS play sessions
Recommended:
- Daily backups for active mission creators
- Weekly backups for casual users
The scheduled task runs using Windows Task Scheduler.
- Locate the desired ZIP archive.
- Extract the contents using:
- Windows Explorer
- 7-Zip
- WinRAR
- Copy the restored files back into the appropriate DCS folders.
It is strongly recommended to restore into a temporary folder first to inspect contents before overwriting live files.
Creating a backup does NOT guarantee that the backup is valid.
You should periodically:
- Open backup ZIP files
- Verify files are present
- Test restoring important folders
- Confirm backup archives are not corrupted
A backup that has never been tested should never be considered fully reliable.
This is especially important before:
- DCS updates
- Windows reinstalls
- Hardware replacement
- Major mod changes
Common high-value DCS folders include:
Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input Saved Games\DCS\Missions Saved Games\DCS\Kneeboard Saved Games\DCS\Liveries Saved Games\DCS\Scripts Saved Games\DCS\Mods
- Keep multiple generations of backups
- Store at least one backup off-device
- Verify backups regularly
- Do not rely on a single storage drive
- Back up before installing mods or updating DCS
- Label backup destinations clearly
This project is intended to remain free and open-source.
Contributions, improvements, bug reports, and suggestions are welcome.
This software is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind.
The author is not responsible for:
- Data loss
- Corrupted backups
- Failed restores
- Damage caused by improper use
Always maintain multiple independent backups of important data.
Potential future improvements may include:
- Differential/incremental backups
- Restore interface
- Backup verification
- Compression level options
- Multi-profile support
- Cloud backup integration
- Backup health reporting
Created for the DCS community and mission creators who have lost one too many control bindings, missions, or Saved Games folders.
Fly safe — and back up your configs.