Excluding files from backups

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
You can exclude specific files or types of files from backups if you want to ensure that they do not get backed up. For example, you may not want to back up any mp3 files, read-only files, or files from specific directories.
You can exclude files from backups in any of three ways:
  • Exclude files from backup jobs
When you exclude files from individual backup jobs, the exclusions do not affect any of the other backup jobs in the related backup definition. The job-level exclusions also do not affect any of your other backup definitions. The exclusion applies only to the backup job to which you apply it. You cannot apply a job-level exclusion to Full backups.
  • Exclude files from backup definitions
When you exclude files from backup definitions, the exclusions do not affect any of your other backup definitions. The exclusions apply only to any jobs in that backup definition.
  • Exclude files globally from all backups
When you globally exclude files from all backups, the exclusions apply to all of your backup definitions. Backup Exec automatically skips any global exclusions when you run backup jobs.
To exclude files from backups
  1. Do any of the following:
    To exclude files from a backup job Complete the following steps\:
    - Create or edit a backup definition.
    - In the Backup box, click Edit .
    - In the left pane, select Exclusions .
    - Click Insert .
    To exclude files from a backup definition Complete the following steps\:
    - Create or edit a backup definition.
    - In the Selections box, click Edit .
    - On the Selection Details tab, click Insert and then select Add Backup-Level Exclusion .
    To globally exclude files from all backups Complete the following steps\:
    - Click the Backup Exec button.
    - Select Configuration and Settings , and then select Job Defaults .
    - Click Exclude Selections .
    - Click Insert .
  2. Complete any of the following fields to identify the files that you want to exclude:
    Resource name Enter the name of the volume or drive that you want to exclude from backups.
    Path Enter the path of the folder and/or subfolder that contains the files that you want to exclude. You can use wildcard characters. Use a question mark ( ? ) to represent any single character. Use two asterisks ( ** ) to represent any number of characters.
    Name Enter the name of a specific file that you want to exclude from the backup. You can use wildcard characters. Use a question mark ( ? ) to represent any single character. Use two asterisks ( ** ) to represent any number of characters.
    For example, to exclude all files with a .exe extension, type "**.exe".
  3. Complete any of the following options, as necessary:
    Apply to subdirectories Select this option to exclude the contents of all of the subfolders when you select a directory.
    Only modified files Select this option to exclude only the files that have been modified in the directory that you specified.
    Only read-only files Select this option to exclude only read-only files in the directory that you specified.
    Files dated Select this option to exclude the files that were created or modified during a specific time period. You must select the beginning and ending dates for the time period.
    Files not accessed in X days Select this option to exclude any files that have not been accessed in a specific number of days. You must enter the number of days.
  4. Click OK.
More Information
About selecting data to back up
Including specific files with a backup job's backup selections
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