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How-to Guides

Use CrashPlan to Check and Restore Your Backups

Check your AAD computer's CrashPlan backup, understand what is protected, and restore files from the app or web.

Content owner: Rick Craig

Change path: Send corrections, broken links, or owner updates to AAD IT through 4Help.

AAD IT installs and configures CrashPlan on AAD-managed Windows and Mac computers. The installation is silent, and backup begins automatically. You do not need to install, enroll, or activate anything.

Sign in on the web

Section titled “Sign in on the web”
  1. Open the CrashPlan sign-in page.
  2. Enter your full Virginia Tech email address, including @vt.edu, and select Sign In.
  3. CrashPlan sends you to Virginia Tech’s Login to Code42 / CrashPlan page. Enter your Virginia Tech username and password there and complete the normal Virginia Tech sign-in.

CrashPlan’s current sign-in guidance requires a valid email address as the username. The Virginia Tech redirect and field labels above were verified against the live sign-in flow on August 11, 2026. (CrashPlan sign-in guidance)

Know what is backed up

Section titled “Know what is backed up”

CrashPlan is configured to back up your home folder and its subfolders. That is where Windows and macOS normally keep the files associated with your account.

  • Windows: Your home folder is normally under C:\Users\<username>\. Examples include Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and the normally hidden AppData folder.
  • Mac: Your home folder is normally under /Users/<username>/. Examples include Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures, and the normally hidden Library folder.

CrashPlan describes :user as the “User’s home folder,” and its current guidance uses Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures, Library, and AppData as home-folder examples. (CrashPlan file-selection reference, home-folder examples)

That scope does not mean the computer’s entire disk is backed up. If you keep important work outside your home folder and are unsure whether it is protected, open a ticket with AAD IT so we can check with you.

Check your backup status

Section titled “Check your backup status”

CrashPlan shows backup information through the Windows notification-area icon, Mac menu-bar icon, installed app, and web console. (CrashPlan backup-status guide)

  1. Select the CrashPlan icon in the lower-right corner of Windows or upper-right corner of macOS.
  2. Open the CrashPlan app to see more detail about the current backup.
  3. If CrashPlan reports a problem, make sure the computer is awake and connected to the internet, then check the app again.

You may also receive a backup report or an email warning that your computer has not backed up recently. CrashPlan says these warnings can occur when a device has been powered off, asleep, disconnected, or unable to run its backup normally. If the message continues after the computer is awake and online, contact AAD IT. (CrashPlan alert guidance)

Restore files from the app

Section titled “Restore files from the app”

Use the installed app whenever you can; it provides the most complete restore options. (CrashPlan restore guide)

  1. Open the CrashPlan app. Sign in if it asks you to.
  2. Select Restore Files.
  3. If more than one computer appears, select the computer that originally held the file.
  4. Browse the folders or use Search to find what you need.
  5. To recover an earlier version, select As of Today and choose an earlier date. You can also use the versions icon beside a file to see its available versions.
  6. For one file, point to it and select the download icon. For several files or folders, select their checkboxes and then select Restore Files.
  7. For multiple items, choose the restore location and how CrashPlan should handle a file that already exists, then select Go.

CrashPlan uses your Downloads folder as the default restore location. Its default conflict option renames the existing file instead of overwriting it. If you are unsure, keep Rename so you can compare both copies before deleting anything.

To look for a deleted file, open the options menu in Restore Files and select Include deleted files. What is available depends on the versions still present in your backup.

Restore from the web

Section titled “Restore from the web”

If you are away from the computer, sign in to the CrashPlan web console, open the device that held the file, and choose its restore option. Only files already backed up to CrashPlan’s cloud are available through the web console. (View backed-up files)

Get help

Section titled “Get help”

Open a ticket with AAD IT or email aadithelp@vt.edu if:

  • CrashPlan is missing from your AAD-managed computer.
  • You cannot sign in.
  • A backup warning continues after the computer is awake and online.
  • A file is missing or you want help restoring it.

WAAC employees: CrashPlan is available to you, but work with Idiris for setup and support.