# Create a Workspace Backup

Keeping a backup of your workspace(s) is good practice as it gives you a quick and effective way to restore your MotiveWave® workspaces to a previous working state. Backups should be stored on a separate computer or online in the event of a system crash or hardware failure. The Backup feature enables you to export settings, analyses, instruments, watch lists, scans and open windows/positions to a single backup file.

Alternatively, you can use this feature to transfer your workspace to another computer.

Select ***File > Backup*** from the **Console menu bar** to create a backup file. When you choose this option, you will see the Backup Workspace dialog.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/TKkuQ4IBYTTbN0oyR7L0/blobs/tqvFG2nCCrHw9f2TsDUN/workspace_backup_01.png)

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/TKkuQ4IBYTTbN0oyR7L0/blobs/3hQ9Nvathcp9KvcJitbG/workspace_backup_02.png)

When you click the Create button, a backup file will be created on your computer desktop. This backup file will be named **\<Workspace Name> \<Date>.zip** (where **\<Workspace Name>** is the name of your workspace and **\<Date>** is the current date/time). If you would like to change the name and location, click on the Browse button.

You can store this file in a safe place (such as Drop Box or Google Drive) or move it to another computer to restore it into an existing workspace.

&#x20;MotiveWave® also has an Auto Backup feature that will automatically create workspace backups at a selected interval. Having workspace backups from the previous week or more can be very beneficial should something happen to your workspace or analysis. To enable this feature go to **Configure > Preferences > General > Auto Backup**.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/TKkuQ4IBYTTbN0oyR7L0/blobs/RNNKC9fCmawAcbSZb4Ia/workspace_backup_03.png)