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Chronos Backups

What Chronos Backups is
Chronos Backups is a free, server-side utility for making Minecraft Java world backups smaller by saving selected important world data. Backups can be scheduled or started and canceled with in-game `/chronos` commands; the required permission level defaults to 4. A configurable blacklist can exclude files and folders, and retention settings cap the number kept per world, removing the oldest first. The README says default backups typically shrink to about 1–15% of the original world size. Google Drive is the currently supported cloud sync provider; completed backups can upload, missing uploads can catch up after a failure or restart, and local copies can optionally be deleted after upload. Supported loaders include Fabric, NeoForge, Forge, Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, and Folia, with availability varying by Minecraft version. One restore caveat is that chunks not yet considered old enough may be omitted, so recent changes there can be missing. Configuration uses an automatically created TOML file, and no configuration GUI is available.
Who it suits
Chronos Backups suits Minecraft Java server operators who want scheduled world backups and configurable retention. It may also fit users who want to sync completed backups to Google Drive.
What it does well
- Free utility for Minecraft Java servers.
- Schedules backups or runs them with in-game commands.
- Supports multiple loaders, depending on Minecraft version.
- Google Drive sync can catch up after interruptions.
- Configurable blacklist and per-world retention cap.
What to know first
- Recent changes in omitted chunks may be lost on restore.
- Google Drive is the only currently supported cloud provider.
- No configuration GUI is available.
- Nightly builds should not be assumed stable.
Getting started
- Choose a stable release from Modrinth, CurseForge, or GitHub Releases.
- Install it for a supported Minecraft Java loader and version.
- Configure settings in the automatically created `config/chronos.toml` file.
- Set the per-world retention cap; the README recommends 5.
- Schedule backups or run and cancel them with in-game `/chronos` commands.
- Optionally enable Google Drive sync and choose whether to remove local copies after successful uploads.
Verdict
Chronos Backups offers scheduled, filtered backups, configurable retention, and Google Drive sync for Minecraft Java servers. Keep the restore caveat in mind, and note that settings are managed in a TOML file rather than a GUI.
Questions
Is Chronos Backups free?
Yes. The project is published under the MIT license, and its pricing model is free.
Which Minecraft loaders does it support?
The README lists Fabric, NeoForge, Forge, Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, and Folia. Availability varies by Minecraft version.
Can it sync backups to cloud storage?
Google Drive is the currently supported cloud sync provider. OneDrive and Dropbox are described as planned but unavailable.
How can I control backups?
You can schedule them or start and cancel them with in-game `/chronos` commands. The required permission level defaults to 4.
Where are settings stored?
Configuration is stored in an automatically created `config/chronos.toml` file. No configuration GUI is available.
Who makes Chronos Backups?
The GitHub profile identifies MagicJinn as the creator.
Facts from Chronos Backups's own pages
- Backup controls
- Users can schedule backups or run and cancel them with in-game `/chronos` commands; the required permission level defaults to 4. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Backup size
- The README says default backups typically shrink to about 1–15% of the original world size, and can often be under 7% of the world-plus-LOD footprint when Distant Horizons or Voxy data is filtered out. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Cloud integration
- Google Drive is the currently supported cloud sync provider; OneDrive and Dropbox are described as planned but unavailable. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Cloud sync behavior
- Cloud sync can upload finished backups, catch up on missing uploads after a failure or restart, and optionally delete local copies after successful upload. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Cloud token access
- The README says anyone with access to the stored Google Drive token can upload and delete backups in that Drive, but cannot access other Drive files. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Configuration
- Configuration is stored in an automatically created `config/chronos.toml` file, and the README says no configuration GUI is available for the foreseeable future. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Downloads
- Stable releases are available through Modrinth, CurseForge, and GitHub Releases; GitHub Actions also publishes nightly builds that the project says should not be assumed stable. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- File exclusions
- A configurable copy blacklist can exclude files and folders from backups and comes prefilled with common server-related entries. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- License
- The project is published under the MIT license. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Maker
- The GitHub profile identifies MagicJinn as the creator of Chronos Backups and lists the Netherlands as their location. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Minecraft compatibility
- The project lists support across Minecraft versions 1.7.x through 26.x, with loader availability varying by version. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Pruning and filtering
- Backups can prune and filter world data, and a configurable blacklist can exclude specified files and folders. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Chronos Backups is a multi-loader, multi-version Minecraft backup utility that keeps backups smaller by saving the most important parts of a world. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Release channels
- The README says nightly GitHub Actions builds are not the same as stable releases and should not be assumed stable. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Restore limitation
- The README warns that chunks not yet considered old enough may be omitted, so recent changes in those chunks can be missing from a backup and lost on restore. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Retention
- The `maxStoredBackups` setting caps retained backups per world locally and on each enabled cloud destination, removing the oldest first; the README recommends 5. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Server use
- The project describes Chronos as a server-side utility, and its Modrinth listing also lists server-side as a supported environment. · modrinth.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Supported loaders
- The README lists Fabric, NeoForge, Forge, Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, and Folia support, with availability varying by Minecraft version. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
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