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SPECIFICTION
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Chronos Backups

github.com

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Spec score 7.2 #14 of 30 in Minecraft Backup Software

What it is

Chronos Backups is a free, server-side utility for making smaller backups of Minecraft Java worlds across multiple loaders and game versions. It filters world data and supports a configurable blacklist for excluding files and folders. Backups can run on a schedule or be started and canceled through in-game `/chronos` commands; the required permission level defaults to 4. The README says typical default backups shrink to about 1–15% of the original world size, and can often fall below 7% of the world-plus-LOD footprint when Distant Horizons or Voxy data is filtered out. Backups can be kept locally and synced to Google Drive. Sync can upload completed backups, catch up on missing uploads after a failure or restart, and optionally remove local copies after successful upload. Retention caps the number kept per world, removing oldest backups first. One restore caveat: chunks not yet considered old enough may be omitted, so recent changes there can be lost. Configuration lives in an automatically created TOML file; there is no configuration GUI. Loader availability varies by Minecraft version.

Spec sheet

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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
License
The project is published under the MIT license.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Maker
The GitHub profile identifies MagicJinn as the creator of Chronos Backups and lists the Netherlands as their location.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Backup controls
Users can schedule backups or run and cancel them with in-game `/chronos` commands; the required permission level defaults to 4.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Cloud integration
Google Drive is the currently supported cloud sync provider; OneDrive and Dropbox are described as planned but unavailable.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
File exclusions
A configurable copy blacklist can exclude files and folders from backups and comes prefilled with common server-related entries.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Minecraft compatibility
The project lists support across Minecraft versions 1.7.x through 26.x, with loader availability varying by version.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Pruning and filtering
Backups can prune and filter world data, and a configurable blacklist can exclude specified files and folders.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Release channels
The README says nightly GitHub Actions builds are not the same as stable releases and should not be assumed stable.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Retention
The `maxStoredBackups` setting caps retained backups per world locally and on each enabled cloud destination, removing the oldest first; the README recommends 5.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Server use
The project describes Chronos as a server-side utility, and its Modrinth listing also lists server-side as a supported environment.Read 30 Sep 2026 · modrinth.com
Supported loaders
The README lists Fabric, NeoForge, Forge, Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, and Folia support, with availability varying by Minecraft version.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan with scheduled backups.
  • Supports multiple loaders and Minecraft versions.
  • Google Drive sync can catch up after interruptions.
  • Blacklist can exclude selected files and folders.
  • Retention removes oldest backups first.

Limits

  • No configuration GUI is available.
  • OneDrive and Dropbox are planned, not available.
  • Recent chunk changes may be omitted from restores.
  • Nightly builds should not be assumed stable.

Who it suits

It suits Minecraft Java server operators who want scheduled or command-run world backups with local storage and Google Drive sync. It is less suited to users who need a graphical configuration interface or guaranteed inclusion of recent chunk changes.

Verdict

Chronos Backups offers configurable, space-conscious server backups with Google Drive sync and retention controls. Review the chunk-omission caveat and configure the TOML file before relying on restores.

Where Specifiction places it

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