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 is for
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 is good
- 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.
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.
Compared on Minecraft backup software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Minecraft edition
- java
- Scheduled backups
- Yes
- Backup scope
- worlds_and_configs
- Storage destination
- both
- Retention policy
- custom