Exclude Folders and File Types from QCBM Backups

QCBM Profiles can omit selected Joomla folders and file extensions from Files Only and Full backups. Exclusions can reduce archive size and remove disposable data, but every excluded item is also absent from the recovery point.

Use exclusions deliberately. Do not remove application, extension, media, configuration, or other site data merely to make the backup smaller unless you are certain it can be recreated.

Edit Profile Exclusions

  1. Go to Components > QC Backup Manager > Profiles.
  2. Edit the Profile.
  3. Find the Exclusions section.
  4. Review Excluded folders.
  5. Review Excluded file extensions.
  6. Save the Profile and create a test Backup Set before depending on the new scope.

QCBM accepts comma- or line-separated values and normalizes the saved lists.

Default Folder and Extension Exclusions

New/default Profile behavior starts with common transient locations such as cache, tmp, logs, administrator/cache, and backups. Default extension exclusions include log, tmp, and cache.

These defaults are a starting point, not proof that every similarly named path on a customized site is disposable. Review your site's actual structure before adding more exclusions.

QCBM Always Protects Its Managed Working Locations from Recursion

QCBM adds internal exclusions beyond the Profile text so its own backup, split-staging, restore-staging, and applicable local export locations are not pulled back into a new archive recursively. This prevents a backup from repeatedly backing up its own managed output.

Do not try to defeat these system exclusions by manually adding QCBM-managed storage paths to the site content scope.

Automatic Akeeba Exclusions

If Akeeba Backup is installed, QCBM can detect known Akeeba output locations and exclude them automatically. The Profile editor shows an Automatic Akeeba exclusions section when such paths are detected.

These automatic paths are added at runtime without rewriting the Profile's saved exclusion text. QCBM includes documented Akeeba backup locations and can use current recorded output-path information defensively where available.

How Folder Exclusions Are Applied

Enter paths relative to the Joomla root. Keep them specific enough that you can explain exactly what data will be omitted. Before excluding a large tree, ask whether that directory contains uploaded media, extension-managed documents, generated-but-required assets, custom code, or other data that would be needed after a restore.

A recovery-oriented backup should favor completeness over cosmetic archive-size savings.

How File-Extension Exclusions Are Applied

Use extensions without a leading period, such as log. Extension exclusions apply across the included file tree, so a broad choice can remove files from many unrelated directories.

Be especially cautious with extensions used by extensions, custom development, downloadable files, or media workflows. An extension may look temporary in one folder but be business-critical somewhere else.

Verify the Result

After changing exclusions, create a controlled Backup Set with that Profile and require it to complete and verify. For an important scope change, inspect the resulting recovery material or practice a restore in a disposable environment to confirm that required site data is still present.

If a backup suddenly becomes much smaller after an exclusion change, treat that as a reason to investigate rather than an automatic success.

Safe Exclusion Checklist

  • You can identify exactly what each custom excluded folder or extension contains.
  • No excluded path holds required Joomla, extension, template, uploaded, or custom-development data.
  • QCBM's managed locations are left to QCBM's automatic protection logic.
  • Any Akeeba output shown by QCBM is understood as another backup system's output, not production site content.
  • A test Backup Set completes, verifies, and still represents the recovery scope you intended.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCBM feature? Visit the QC Backup Manager Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.