Here's how your backup job runs automatically: Assign a schedule

The job is created, but the backup never runs: what's going on?

A backup job doesn't start on its own. It only runs automatically once a schedule is assigned to it.

1. Open the job. Open the job that should run automatically from now on.
2. Open the schedule. Under the “Tools” menu tab, you'll find the “Schedule...” button. It's also in the quick access toolbar on the left side of the main window.
3. Create a schedule. Click “Add...”.
4. Set the time. In the “Schedule” section at the bottom, choose the time at which the backup should start automatically.
5. Check the job. At the top, select the job to use. By default, the currently open job is already entered there. Check this entry if you work with multiple jobs.
6. Save. That's it — automatic backup is now set up.

As soon as at least one automatic backup is set up, the Langmeier Backup icon appears in the Windows task tray. That way, you can see in everyday use that something really is running in the background.

Why it takes two steps

The job defines which data is backed up and where. The schedule defines when it happens. This separation allows multiple jobs at different intervals, such as a daily backup and a weekly image.

Checking the assignment when multiple jobs are involved

A schedule starts exactly the job that's entered in it. If you create an additional job, you also select it in the schedule — otherwise, at the scheduled time, the previously entered job will still start, exactly as configured.

So open the schedule and check which job is entered at the top as the job to use. If a different name than expected is there, set the correct job and save.

The five-minute check

Four questions are enough to clarify the state of your automation. They're worth doing once right after setup and then once or twice a year.

1. When did the last backup actually run? The reliable answer is in the log of the last runs, not in your memory. If the date is weeks or months back even though backups should run daily, the automation isn't running.
2. Is a schedule even set up? Open the “Schedule...” button via “Tools”. An entry with a plausible next run time shows that a backup really is pending.
3. Is the schedule assigned to the right job? This is the easiest step to skip. Check the entered job name, especially if you manage multiple jobs or recently created a new one.
4. Does the icon appear in the task tray? It belongs there as soon as an automatic backup is active. If it's missing, go through questions 2 and 3 again.

For monitoring in the first few days, a test run right after setting up the schedule helps: it immediately shows whether the job and schedule work together.

With a correctly assigned schedule, your backup keeps running reliably, even when you stop thinking about it.