# Inability to back up

**URL:** <https://forum.manager.io/t/inability-to-back-up/68413>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [May 31, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/inability-to-back-up/68413 "2026-05-31T11:40:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![OMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cc9497/32.png) [@OMO](https://forum.manager.io/u/OMO)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/inability-to-back-up/68413/1 "2026-05-31T11:40:26Z")

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Hello everyone,

I am using the free desktop version of the application on a standalone laptop. I have successfully posted all of my transactions and now need to create a backup file to share with my accountant for review.

However, I am running into an issue: every time I attempt to create a backup, it generates a PDF file that I am unable to use as a data restore. I believe I might be clicking the wrong export/print function or choosing the wrong storage method.

My goal is to save the actual application database file onto a flash drive (or prepare it to be emailed) so that my accountant can open it on their end.

Could someone please provide a quick step-by-step guide on how to export the actual database backup file rather than a PDF?

Kindly sssist

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mabaega](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/mabaega/32/47471_2.png) [@Mabaega](https://forum.manager.io/u/Mabaega)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/inability-to-back-up/68413/2 "2026-05-31T12:16:18Z")

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How do you create a backup?

A backup from the Manager application should produce a compressed output file with the extension `tar`, like `name (date).manager.tar`.

You can then import this data into another Manager system.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@eko](https://forum.manager.io/u/eko)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/inability-to-back-up/68413/3 "2026-05-31T12:19:43Z")

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You can only backup each business separately.

Thus 1.Open a business  
and 2. Click on the backup button (top right) and follow the steps

 ![Screenshot 2026-05-31 at 13.17.31](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/manager1/original/3X/7/0/7036b156ec61094f21314191f5e3eba55e49dff3.png)