FastBack
github.com
What it is
FastBack is a free, open-source Minecraft mod for incremental world backups: snapshots save changed parts rather than the entire world. Backups can be stored locally, on a Git server, or on a network volume without a Git server. They can run when a world shuts down or after Minecraft autosaves. Restoring a snapshot creates a copy of the selected world, leaving the current files untouched. Snapshot pruning and retention policies help manage backups, which can also include mod JARs and configuration files. FastBack works with Minecraft clients and dedicated servers on Linux, Mac, and Windows. It requires native Git and Git LFS to be installed and available on Minecraft's process PATH. The project describes it as intended for worlds up to about 5GB and recommends GitHub remotes only for smaller worlds under 500MB because of GitHub size restrictions. Documentation links to CurseForge for downloads and Discord for questions and help installing native Git. FastBack is distributed under GNU GPL version 2.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- FastBack is a Minecraft mod that creates incremental Git-powered world snapshots.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Purpose
- FastBack is a Minecraft mod that creates incremental world backup snapshots, saving only changed parts of the world.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Integrations
- FastBack supports LuckPerms through the Fabric Permissions API for fine-grained command permissions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Support
- The project directs users to its Discord for questions and help installing native Git.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- API and SDK
- The public documentation describes Minecraft commands and configuration rather than a public HTTP API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Automatic scheduling
- FastBack supports scheduled automatic backups and configurable intervals.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Backup destinations
- It can back up locally, to a Git server, or to a network volume without a Git server.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Backup storage
- Local backup data is kept in a hidden .git directory inside the world folder.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Command interface
- Operations are exposed through Minecraft commands such as /backup init, local, full, list, restore, push, prune, and gc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- CurseForge popularity
- CurseForge lists 33,104 downloads and identifies the project as client-and-server software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · curseforge.com
- Designed world size
- The FAQ recommends FastBack for worlds up to about 5 GB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Documentation and support
- The project provides a multi-page command and usage guide and directs questions to a Discord server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Download
- The project documentation links to CurseForge as its download destination.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Extra files
- Backup snapshots can include mod JARs and configuration files.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Git implementation
- FastBack uses a regular Git repository, disables delta compression, stores snapshots on orphan branches, and aggressively prunes reflogs and tracking branches.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Git-server backups
- Backups can be sent to any Git server, including GitHub.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- GitHub remote limit
- The FAQ recommends GitHub remotes only for smaller worlds under 500MB because of GitHub size restrictions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- GitHub size limit
- The FAQ recommends GitHub remotes only for smaller worlds below 500 MB because of GitHub size restrictions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Incremental backups
- Each backup stores only files changed since the previous snapshot.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Independent listing feedback
- Modgrid shows zero user comments for Fast Backups.Read 15 Oct 2026 · modgrid.org
- Initial-backup behavior
- The first backup is slower because it establishes a base snapshot; later backups are faster.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Large-world limitation
- The documentation advises using rsync or another tool for a 200 GB server world.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Licence
- The source and distributed mod are licensed under GNU GPL version 2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: garbage collection
- An open issue reports that backup gc failed to delete data, filled an SSD, and contributed to a corrupted latest backup; the report involved an 11 GB world with a 99 GB local backup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: idle-server backups
- An open feature request asks for an option to avoid creating frequent backups when no players have been active.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: oversized binary data
- An open issue reports a 4 GB world producing a 54 GB FastBack repository when large Distant Horizons SQLite files were included.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: snapshot listing bug
- An open issue reports that /backup list stayed empty even though Git reflog showed many snapshots.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Loaders
- Modrinth lists Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge as supported platforms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · modrinth.com
- Local backups
- The mod can create backups on the local machine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maker profile
- Modrinth identifies pcal43 as a creator with 11 projects, 1.4 million total downloads, and an account joined four years earlier.Read 15 Oct 2026 · modrinth.com
- Mod backup
- Optional settings include mod JARs and configuration files in snapshots.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Modrinth popularity
- Modrinth lists Fast Backups with 204.8K downloads and 484 followers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · modrinth.com
- Native dependencies
- Installation requires native Git and Git LFS to be installed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Network-volume backups
- A network filesystem can be used as a remote backup target without running a Git server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Permissions integration
- FastBack supports LuckPerms permissions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Release news
- Release 0.34.0+26.2.0, published July 10, 2026, updated the project for Minecraft 26.2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Remote restoration
- Remote snapshots can be listed and restored into a newly created world copy.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Requirements
- FastBack requires native Git and Git LFS to be installed and available on the Minecraft process PATH.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Restore
- A restore creates a copy of the world from a selected snapshot, leaving the current world files untouched.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Retention
- FastBack supports snapshot pruning and retention policies.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Retention controls
- Local and remote snapshots can be pruned using retention policies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Scheduling
- Backups can run automatically when a world shuts down or after Minecraft autosaves.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Security and privacy
- The opened project pages describe permissions and backup behavior but make no security or compliance certification claim.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Server notifications
- The mod can broadcast a configurable server-wide message when backups start.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Snapshot restoration
- The restore command creates a separate copy of a selected snapshot and leaves the current world untouched.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Supported environments
- The project says it works on Minecraft clients and dedicated servers, and on Linux, Mac, and Windows.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
- Supported play modes
- The project says it works in single-player clients and on dedicated servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- World size
- The FAQ says FastBack is designed for worlds up to about 5GB and suggests another backup tool for a 200GB server world.Read 7 Oct 2026 · pcal43.github.io
Plans and prices
FastBack Free Minecraft backup mod · distributed under GNU GPL version 2 Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
FastBack mod Free free download Minecraft mod · Fabric, Forge, NeoForge · Java Edition Read 15 Oct 2026 · modgrid.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Snapshots save only changed world parts.
- Backups can run after shutdown or autosave.
- Restore creates a copy without changing current files.
- Retention policies and pruning are supported.
- Free and distributed under GNU GPL version 2.
Limits
- Native Git and Git LFS are required.
- Designed for worlds up to about 5GB.
- GitHub remotes are recommended only under 500MB.
Who it suits
It suits Minecraft client and dedicated-server users who want incremental snapshots and control over backup destinations and retention. Users need native Git and Git LFS on the Minecraft process PATH.
FastBack in depth
Read the full write-up
FastBack is a free Minecraft mod for players and server operators who want incremental world snapshots rather than repeated full copies. It is best suited to modest worlds where Git-based tooling is acceptable and backup destinations need to be flexible. The practical choice is strong for routine recovery, provided the world stays within FastBack’s size guidance and the host can meet its native-dependency requirements.
Overview
FastBack records only changed parts of a Minecraft world for each snapshot. That makes an ongoing backup history more manageable than keeping a complete duplicate at every point in time, especially for worlds that change regularly. Snapshot pruning and configurable retention policies let an operator decide how much history to keep; those policies control accumulation but do not remove the need for adequate storage at the destination.
Backups can run automatically when a world shuts down or after Minecraft performs an autosave. Those triggers fit both personal play and server operation, reducing reliance on remembering a manual copy. Restoring a selected snapshot creates a separate world copy and leaves the current world files intact. That is a meaningful safety advantage when investigating an earlier state, because the active files are not overwritten as part of the restore.
Key features
Destinations and backup scope
FastBack can write backups locally, to a Git server, or to a network volume that does not use a Git server. This gives operators a choice between nearby storage, Git-hosted workflows, and shared network storage rather than locking them into one destination type. Snapshots can include worlds, mod JARs, and configuration files, so a recovery set can preserve more of the running environment than world data alone.
Scheduling and access control
Shutdown and post-autosave scheduling covers common backup moments without requiring a separate scheduler. Installations using LuckPerms can use FastBack’s integration through the Fabric Permissions API for fine-grained command permissions. That is particularly useful on shared servers where backup commands should not be available to every player.
Git dependencies and scale
Native Git and Git LFS must be installed and visible on the Minecraft process PATH. This is a real deployment prerequisite, not an optional enhancement: administrators who cannot provide those binaries should prefer a tool without that dependency. FastBack is designed for worlds up to about 5GB, while its FAQ points operators of a 200GB server world toward another backup tool. GitHub remotes are recommended only for smaller worlds under 500MB because of GitHub’s size restrictions, so larger installations should choose another remote or storage arrangement.
Pricing
PlanPriceIncludesFastBackfreeScheduled backups, worlds and configs, both storage-destination types, world-level restore, and custom retention policy; GNU GPL version 2There is one free, open-source plan and no trial or paid tier. It is the natural fit for a player or server operator who can install and maintain the required native Git tooling. The absence of a paid upgrade keeps licensing straightforward, but it also means the size and destination constraints cannot be addressed by moving to a higher FastBack plan.
Platforms
FastBack supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the project says it works on Minecraft clients as well as dedicated servers. The operating-system coverage is broad, but every platform still needs native Git and Git LFS available on the Minecraft process PATH. Downloads are directed through CurseForge, and installation questions, including help with native Git, are handled through the project’s Discord.
Who it's for
Choose FastBack for a small-to-medium Minecraft world where incremental history, automated triggers, and multiple storage destinations matter. It is also a good match for operators who want restores to produce a separate copy and who need to retain mod JARs or configuration files alongside world data. LuckPerms users gain useful command-level control on shared servers.
Look elsewhere for very large worlds, especially around 200GB, or when a GitHub remote must hold a world above roughly 500MB. FastBack is also a poor fit when installing native Git and Git LFS on the Minecraft process is impractical.
Pros and cons
Pros
Incremental snapshots: stores changed world parts, making a continuing history more practical than repeated full copies.
Three destination patterns: supports local storage, Git servers, and non-Git network volumes.
Non-destructive restore: creates a copy from a snapshot while leaving current world files untouched.
Environment-aware backups: can include mod JARs and configuration files.
Operational controls: automatic shutdown or autosave runs, pruning, retention policies, and LuckPerms permissions cover routine administration.
Cons
Native tooling required: Git and Git LFS must be installed and on the Minecraft process PATH.
Limited scale guidance: the project targets worlds up to about 5GB and directs 200GB-server operators elsewhere.
GitHub is only for smaller worlds: remotes are recommended under 500MB because of GitHub restrictions.
Alternatives
Browse Minecraft Backup Software for the wider category. Pick InstantBackup instead if you want another free, open-source Minecraft server mod across Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted environments. MineBackup is a free option with no paid plans or usage limits stated. Choose Just Enough Backups for a free, open-source Fabric mod focused on server-side world backups. Minecraft Backup is a free Linux and self-hosted backup script. CaCl2Backup is a free self-hosted Fabric server mod. Chronos Backups is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. FolderRewind is the Windows-only free and open-source choice. See FastBack’s entry for its directory record.
Verdict
FastBack is a strong choice for Minecraft players and administrators with worlds within its roughly 5GB design target who want automated incremental snapshots, flexible destinations, and safe copy-based restores. Choose it primarily for that combination and its open-source price. Look elsewhere when world scale, GitHub storage size, or the requirement to install native Git and Git LFS makes the deployment a poor fit.
Verdict
FastBack offers incremental backups with multiple storage destinations and a restore method that leaves current world files untouched. Its size guidance and Git requirements are important constraints to consider.
Where Specifiction places it
- Minecraft Backup Software#1 of 308.5