FolderRewind

FolderRewind is free Windows software for protecting files, project folders, and game saves, with a dedicated Minecraft extension. It fits users who want scheduled local backups with configurable archives and an optional second copy in cloud storage. The broad backup controls are useful, but Windows-only support and a constrained partial-restore mode should shape your decision.

Overview

FolderRewind handles ordinary file protection and Minecraft save management in one application. Full, smart incremental, and overwrite modes let you choose between complete copies, backups that focus on changed data, and replacement-style writes. That range suits users with different storage and workflow needs, although restore behavior changes when you select only part of a backup.

Local backup chains can be transferred through rclone to cloud storage as an additional redundancy layer. The setup guidance demonstrates OneDrive and mentions WebDAV bridges such as OpenList. Cloud therefore complements a local destination; it does not remove the need to configure and maintain storage that you control.

Key features

Backup modes, archives, and scheduling

Full backups offer a simple baseline. Smart incremental mode is better suited to recurring jobs where unchanged data should not be handled as a new full copy, while overwrite mode replaces existing backup content. Archives use either 7z or zip, with configurable compression levels, methods, and thread counts. Those settings let users trade archive size against processing resources rather than accepting one fixed profile.

Automation covers interval and scheduled runs, backups on startup, selected-target jobs, and condition-based triggers. This is a strong fit for unattended protection of work folders or project data. Retention policy is custom, so users can shape how long chains remain rather than being limited to a single preset.

Encryption and cloud transfer

Encrypted backups use AES-256 encryption. The rclone connection can send local chains to cloud services, with OneDrive shown as an example and WebDAV bridges such as OpenList mentioned for other setups. This approach is useful when you want local recovery plus an off-device copy, but it favors users comfortable maintaining a cloud configuration.

Minecraft and developer tools

The official MineRewind extension discovers Minecraft saves and supports hot backup and restore, hotkeys, and coordination with the current world. That makes it more targeted than a generic folder job for players who need world-level protection. Developer-facing integration includes a 1.8 Plugin API, KnotLink protocol v2 / Server v3, backup scopes, and restore interceptors, giving plugin and server projects defined integration points.

Partial-backup restores have an important restriction: they force Overwrite and disable Clean. The safeguard prevents deletion of files outside the selected scope, but it also means users cannot combine a partial restore with Clean behavior.

Pricing

FolderRewind — free. The plan is free and open source for Windows 10 and 11, with scheduled backups, both local and cloud storage destinations, world-level restore granularity, and a custom retention policy. There are no paid tiers or subscription renewal terms to weigh. It is the straightforward choice for anyone who wants the complete feature set without a recurring fee; users who need another operating system will need a different product.

Platforms

FolderRewind supports Windows 10 version 1809 or later and Windows 11 on x64 or ARM64. The maker recommends the Microsoft Store. MSI is marked beta, while MSIX is offered for advanced sideloading. Support and issue reporting run through GitHub Discussions and GitHub Issues.

Who it's for

Choose FolderRewind if you use a supported Windows machine and want one free tool for scheduled file backups, configurable 7z or zip archives, encryption, and optional rclone-based cloud redundancy. Minecraft players who want save discovery, hotkeys, and coordinated hot backup or restore get a particularly focused workflow. It is less suitable if you require native Linux or macOS support, or if your restore process depends on Clean during partial restores.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Full, smart incremental, and overwrite modes cover distinct backup workflows.
• Pro: Compression levels, methods, and thread counts provide control over archive size and resource use.
• Pro: Interval, scheduled, startup, target-based, and condition-based automation supports unattended jobs.
• Pro: AES-256 encryption and rclone cloud transfer add security and off-device redundancy options.
• Pro: MineRewind adds Minecraft save discovery, hot operations, hotkeys, and current-world coordination.
• Con: Partial restores force Overwrite and disable Clean, limiting how narrowly those restores can be managed.
• Con: Support is centered on Windows 10/11; Linux and macOS users cannot run it as a native platform choice.
• Con: Cloud use requires configuring an rclone destination rather than relying on a built-in storage account.

Alternatives

InstantBackup is a free, GPL-3.0-or-later open-source Minecraft server mod for Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows; choose it when cross-platform server coverage matters more than FolderRewind's general file-backup scope.

MineBackup is free software for Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows with no paid plans or usage limits stated, making it a broader-platform Minecraft option.

FastBack is a free Minecraft backup mod under GNU GPL version 2 for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Just Enough Backups is a free, open-source Fabric mod for server-side world backups on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

BtrBack is a free Minecraft backup plugin for Linux and self-hosted deployments that requires a Btrfs subvolume.

CaCl2Backup is a free MIT-licensed Fabric server mod for self-hosted use, requiring Minecraft 26.0+, Fabric Loader 0.15.0+, Fabric API, and Java 25+.

Minecraft Backup is a free backup script for Minecraft servers on Linux and self-hosted systems.

ServerBackup is a free Minecraft server backup plugin for Linux and self-hosted use.

For a wider comparison of Minecraft-focused tools, see Minecraft Backup Software.

Verdict

FolderRewind is a strong choice for Windows users who want free, open-source backup software with multiple modes, detailed archive controls, automation, encryption, and optional cloud redundancy. Minecraft users gain practical world-management features through MineRewind. Look elsewhere if you need Linux or macOS support, or if partial restores must retain Clean behavior.