Back up important data before repartitioning, encrypting disks, or restoring backups. Wrong commands can destroy partitions or overwrite live files.
What you will achieve
Filesystem snapshots on BTRFS or RSYNC for Ubuntu/Linux Mint desktops — rollback bad updates or config experiments in minutes.
1) Install Timeshift
sudo apt install timeshift2) Choose mode
- RSYNC — works on ext4; copies changed files to another partition or disk.
- BTRFS — native snapshots if root is btrfs (Fedora default on some installs).
3) Schedule snapshots
GUI: hourly/daily/weekly retention. CLI:
sudo timeshift --create --comments "Before dist-upgrade"
sudo timeshift --list4) Restore
Boot live USB if system won't start → Timeshift → Restore. Or from running system: restore with reboot.
Verify
sudo timeshift --list
df -h /timeshift5) Exclude user downloads
Timeshift focuses on system files — exclude /home/**/Downloads and VM disk images to save space.
6) CLI restore to previous snapshot
sudo timeshift --restore --snapshot '2025-06-09_10-00-00'7) GRUB integration
Some setups show Timeshift snapshots in GRUB — convenient when lightdm will not start after bad driver update.
Not a substitute for offsite backup
Ransomware or disk failure kills local snapshots. Pair Timeshift with Restic for /home and documents.
8) BTRFS quota
sudo btrfs qgroup show /Prevent snapshots from filling root subvolume — set qgroup limits on Timeshift subvolume.
Prerequisites
Separate partition or disk for snapshots recommended. BTRFS or RSYNC mode chosen. Free space ≥ 20 GB for desktop snapshots. sudo access. User data backup still recommended separately.
Exclude large paths
Timeshift GUI → Filters — exclude /home/*/.cache, **/node_modules, VM disk images to keep snapshots small and fast.
Boot snapshot before kernel
Take Timeshift snapshot before apt full-upgrade pulling new HWE kernel — one-click rollback if modules break.
LUKS and snapshots
Timeshift on LUKS LVM works like plain LVM — snapshots target system LV not encrypted separate home unless configured. Full-disk encryption does not block RSYNC mode to external USB — mount USB, point Timeshift there, keep snapshots off same failing SSD.
Exclude encryption keys
Do not snapshot removable LUKS keyfiles into system snapshot stored unencrypted on USB — security hygiene for portable snapshot drives.
Snapshot before NVIDIA driver
Proprietary driver installs touch initramfs and kernel modules — Timeshift snapshot before ubuntu-drivers autoinstall saves afternoon if X session dies.
Boot entry after restore
UEFI may still point to old boot entry after restore — efibootmgr verify ubuntu entry first in order. RSYNC restore of /boot may need grub-install after timeshift restore from live media.