The Install and Open the App article says which version of the Ultimate Backup app to install on your computer, depending on your operating system — see the version for Mac or for Windows. What it does not cover is how to move from one version to the other once you are already set up. This article explains the difference between the two and how to switch.
There are two ways to run Ultimate Backup on a computer. One is the copy of the app that comes pre-installed on the drive itself and runs from the drive. The other is the free version you install from the Microsoft Store on Windows or the Mac App Store on Mac.
WHICH VERSION SHOULD I USE?
We recommend the Store version for almost everyone. It is the more stable of the two, and it updates itself in the background, so you always have the newest features without having to do anything.
The copy that runs from the drive is the better choice in a few specific cases:
- An older PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8.
- A very old Mac.
- A computer with no internet connection, since the Store version has to be downloaded.
If none of those describe your computer, use the Store version.
ARE THE TWO VERSIONS DIFFERENT?
No. The two are interchangeable. Switching does not change what the app can do or what it can reach — it reads the same drive and works with the same backups. The only real differences are how the app gets onto your computer and how it updates.
HOW TO SWITCH ON MAC
- Click this link to open the Ultimate Backup app page in the Mac App Store.
- Click Get, then Install. The app is free.
- Open the new app from your Applications folder or Launchpad.
- Plug in your Ultimate Backup and sign in if you are asked to.
HOW TO SWITCH ON WINDOWS
- Click this link to open the Ultimate Backup app page in the Microsoft Store.
- Click Get and wait for the app to install. The app is free.
- Click Open, or find Ultimate Backup in your Start menu.
- Plug in your Ultimate Backup and sign in if you are asked to.
WHAT ABOUT THE COPY ON THE DRIVE?
You can leave the copy of the app that came on the drive where it is, or remove it. Either way, use the Store version from now on. Leaving it in place causes no problem — it simply sits on the drive alongside your files.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY BACKUPS?
Nothing. Your photos and files stay on the drive exactly where they are. The Store version reads the same drive and picks up from your existing backups — there is no need to start over, and nothing is deleted.
YOU MAY NEED TO SIGN IN AGAIN
The one thing to expect after switching is a sign-in prompt. The new copy of the app may ask you to sign in again, so it is worth having your account email and password handy. If you have forgotten your password, you can set a new one on the Reset Password page.
If you are not sure which version you are currently running, or the Store version will not open after you install it, contact us and let us know your computer's operating system, and we will help you from there.