Why Won’t My VeraCrypt Volume Back Up?

[@askleonotenboom]

It’s a feature. Really.

[@nullmatrix]

I really appreciate these very clear explanations, Leo. You do this very well. Thank you.

[@fernando4885]

veracrypt is wonderful, the developers thought of everything

[@roberts_irregular_random_rec]

Thank you Leo for a good explanation of the WHY and HOW. I did not know about that VeraCrypt setting that preserves the date/time stamp. Here is what I do in order to backup my VeraCrypt files (I use Macruim Reflect as my backup program. Depending on the backup program being used, the following may not be offered as options): Set up a rule/script/definition/(whatever your backup software calls it) - a backup that does a FILE backup instead of an IMAGE (or COMPLETE or MIRROR) backup. In the FILE backup rules, select all of your VeraCrypt encrypted files (that is, the raw, unmounted volumes/containers). Do a FULL FILE backup of just those files. Do not do an INCREMENTAL backup, and do not do a DIFFERENTIAL backup. Instead do a FULL backup of just the VeraCrypt volumes. A FULL backup should backup files even if they do not appear to have changed. But INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups will skip over VeraCrypt volumes because the backup program will think the VeraCrypt files have not changed since the last FULL backup (that is, VeraCrypt volumes will not be backed up if you use the INCREMENTAL or DIFFERENTIAL option). Yet another option - do a FULL backup of your entire drive - that should also include the VeraCrypt volumes. (I only do FULL backups of EVERYTHING “occasionally”, my normal weekly backups are DIFFERENTIAL backups which run faster than a FULL backup. If I were to always do a FULL backup of EVERYTHING my backups would take a LONG time. Thus I do DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE backups of most things and then set up a separate FILE backup that only contains my VeraCrypt volumes using the FULL option so I also get them backed up on a weekly basis. The choice, of course, is yours.)

[@alejandrodelavega9857]

Leo, once again, a fantastic and informatively helpful video. And, maybe a lifesaver. For years I had relied on my Veracrypt file being backed up with my regular iDrive backups. But apparently not, until now. Thank you so much.

[@fernando4885]

teacher your videos are excellent, just precise tips.

[@antimatters6283]

I knew the Vera Crypt file date was not updating, but I didn't know about this setting. Great info! My backups are images, not file copy, so I think this was not a problem, but for making copies and tracking dates, etc, this is great to know. (!)

[@kurts3779]

If you use XYplorer as a file manager you can "touch modify/edit" the created date and modified date of any files or folder. Great video by the way.

[@jonr6680]

I thought backup programs use the metadata Archive setting, but anyway... This vid is good advice. Would use another encryption sw for sure but it's hard to know what is reliable, any tips? Currently I use Bitlocker on PC and VeraCrypt on portable media. Encryption is a huge double edge sword, you gotta really need the files secure, otherwise your risk of loss from forgetting a password is too great. OR the loss in the other sense, e.g. bank details ending up stolen. Advice on non-password security would be useful, e.g. file keys, hardware keys, etc.

[@rossgeography]

I'm considering using Veracrypt and sharing a volume between a triple-boot (win,linux,mac) laptop - could I backup the Unecrypted Volume using/synching with OneDrive somehow?? (Could the decrypted Volume be seen as a regular drive/volume in Windows or synched using rsync in linux)

[@jackt6112]

Good to know even though I use image backups, in case I ever use file backups or replication software. It would be pretty easy to smoke the most current copy with an old copy by looking at file dates.

[@MrDeviousdom]

If you're serious about security, do not disable the preservation of the timestamp! This makes it much easier to examine the differences between the two volumes. In fact, I do not recommend that you back up the veracrypt container at all! Create a new volume and copy the data there for backup. If you have truly sensitive data, do not use Windows!!

[@NickyCashAntwerp]

I use Veracrypt for long time, never knew this. Very helpfull

[@glasslinger]

"No detective! You can see from the date on that file it was put there before I got the computer! So I did not create it!"

[@askleonotenboom]

It’s a feature. Really.

[@ranjitkumargouda8970]

What if sokebody deletes the Veracrypt file

[@askleonotenboom]

Then the file is deleted. I'm not sure I understand your question.