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What are the main features and advantages of Acronis True Image Backup?
Full Imaging – Protects entire systems for dependable recovery.
Quick Restore – Recovers files and systems with minimal downtime.
Disk Cloning – Simplifies drive upgrades and hardware migration.
Flexible Backup – Supports local, external, and cloud protection.
Ransomware Defense – Helps stop threats targeting backups and data.
Digital Reliability – Delivers lasting backup stability for everyday environments.
Download: Acronis True Image Backup
Full Image Backup – Complete copies of disks, partitions, and individual files.
Active Disk Cloning – Clones a running Windows or Mac system disk.
Acronis Active Protection – AI-based defense that blocks ransomware encryption attempts.
Acronis Survival Kit – One external drive combining boot media and backup.
Core Capacity – Backs up NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, Ext2/3/4, and HFS+ volumes.
Important – Windows Server support and Acronis Cloud storage are not included.
Acronis True Image 2019 is a disk-imaging backup solution for Windows PCs and Macs that protects the entire system, not just selected folders. It restores a complete working machine after drive failure, ransomware, or a failed update, instead of leaving you to reinstall Windows and applications manually.
Complete System Recovery – Restore the operating system, programs, and settings together.
Ransomware Defense – Active Protection stops encryption and restores affected files.
Bootable Recovery Media – Start an unbootable PC from USB or DVD.
Flexible Storage Targets – External drives, NAS, network shares, and FTP.
Incremental Backups – Only changed data is saved after the first run.
Mobile Device Backup – Secure iOS and Android content to your computer.
Acronis True Image 2019 creates full image backups of an entire disk or partition, including the operating system, installed applications, settings, and all files. In practice, this means a crashed or virus-damaged PC can be returned to its exact previous state in one recovery operation, without reinstalling Windows or hunting for program installers. Backups can run on a schedule and use incremental versions, so after the first full image only changed sectors are stored, which keeps backup times short and saves disk space. The 2019 release also added active cloning, so a running system disk can be copied directly to a new SSD without shutting the machine down.
It suits anyone who needs to recover a complete working PC, not just documents: for example, a home office user whose system drive fails can boot from the Acronis recovery media and restore the full image to a new drive the same day. It is equally practical for upgrading hardware, because the cloning function moves an existing Windows or macOS installation to a larger disk or SSD without reinstallation. Users who only need to copy a few folders to a USB stick can do that with free tools; True Image earns its price when the operating system itself must survive a disaster. Since the software supports desktop Windows versions from XP SP3 through Windows 10 as well as macOS, it also covers older second machines that modern backup tools no longer support.
The Standard edition is a one-time purchase that covers all local backup functions: disk imaging, cloning, recovery media, Active Protection, and backups to external drives, NAS, or network shares. The Advanced and Premium editions are subscription plans that add Acronis Cloud storage – 250 GB for Advanced and 1 TB for Premium – plus cloud-based access to backups from anywhere. Premium additionally includes blockchain-based file notarization and electronic signatures for verifying that documents have not been altered. For most buyers backing up to an external hard drive or NAS, Standard covers the complete feature set they will use.
| Feature | Standard | Advanced | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| License model | One-time purchase | Subscription | Subscription |
| Full image backup | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disk cloning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Active Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Acronis Cloud backup | ✕ | 250 GB | 1 TB |
| Blockchain notarization | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Electronic signatures | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Acronis True Image 2019 does not run on Windows Server operating systems; supported platforms are desktop Windows editions plus Windows Home Server 2011, so businesses protecting servers need the separate Acronis Backup product line. The Standard edition includes no Acronis Cloud storage, meaning off-site copies must be organized yourself, for example by rotating an external drive to another location. Cloning and the Acronis Secure Zone are not supported on dynamic disks, which mainly affects users with software RAID configurations. Backups are stored in Acronis' proprietary .tib format, so files can only be restored or mounted through Acronis software or its bootable recovery media.
The most practical feature in daily use is the incremental scheduling: after the initial full image, automatic backups capture only changed data, so a nightly run on a typical office PC finishes in minutes rather than hours. Active Protection works continuously in the background, and when it detects a ransomware-style encryption process it stops it and restores the affected files from cache – Acronis reported over 200,000 blocked attacks across its user base in the year before this release. The Acronis Survival Kit, introduced with the 2019 version, places boot environment and system backup on one external drive, so recovery after a dead disk needs no second computer to build rescue media. Backup validation can be scheduled too, which catches corrupted archives before you actually need them.
First, confirm the target machine runs a supported desktop operating system – Windows 10 (including the October 2018 Update) back to Windows XP SP3, or macOS – because server systems are excluded. Second, plan the backup destination: a full disk image needs an external drive, NAS, or network share with at least as much free space as the used data on the source disk, since this edition stores nothing in the Acronis Cloud. Third, decide whether you need notarization or remote cloud access; if so, the Advanced or Premium subscription tiers are the correct choice instead. Buyers replacing an old hard drive should note that the included cloning tool removes the need for a separate migration utility.
Yes, Acronis True Image 2019 is available for both Windows and macOS, and the Mac version supports HFS+ volumes including Boot Camp partitions. The 2019 release brought active disk cloning of a running system to Mac as well, so a startup disk can be copied to a new drive without booting from external media.
Yes, Acronis provides the free Acronis Universal Restore add-on tool, which adjusts drivers and the hardware abstraction layer so a system image can boot on dissimilar hardware. This is the practical route when a PC dies completely and the replacement machine uses a different mainboard or storage controller.
Yes, the free Acronis Mobile app for iOS and Android backs up photos, videos, contacts, and calendars from a phone to your computer over the local network. This keeps phone data recoverable even with the local-only Standard edition, since no cloud storage is required for this workflow.
| Operating Systems | Windows 10: Home / Pro / Education / Enterprise Windows 8.1: Core / Pro / Enterprise Windows 8: Core / Pro / Enterprise Windows 7 SP1: Starter / Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate Windows Home Server 2011 Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz or equivalent processor with SSE support |
| Memory RAM | 2 GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 7 GB free space required 1.05 GB current Windows installer package |
| Display | Standard display compatible with the respective operating system |
| Special Features | Entire machine backup Disk-level backup File-level backup Backup to Acronis Cloud Backup to USB drive Backup to network share Backup to FTP Differential backup Incremental backup Backup validation Acronis Active Protection and antivirus scans Web filtering Identity protection Acronis Universal Restore Disk cloning including active cloning and cloning from bootable media Acronis Survival Kit Online Dashboard |
| Note | Requires internet connection for activation, protection updates, and Acronis Cloud features. Requires administrator privileges. Requires x86 architecture because Windows on ARM is not supported. Requires Microsoft security updates KB4474419 and KB4490628 for Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 if those legacy systems are used |
| Operating Systems |
macOS Mojave 10.14 |
| Processor | Apple silicon or Intel x86 |
| Memory RAM | Requirements met by supported Mac hardware running the supported macOS versions |
| Hard Disk | 499.03 MB current Mac installer package 4.3 GB or more free space required to create Acronis bootable media |
| Display | Standard display compatible with the respective operating system |
| Special Features | Entire machine backup Disk-level backup File-level backup Backup to Acronis Cloud Backup to USB drive Backup to network share Incremental backup Antivirus protection Identity protection Disk cloning on Mac Acronis Survival Kit Online Dashboard Dark Mode support Power Nap backup |
| Note | Requires administrator privileges. Requires Intel or Apple silicon Mac hardware because Intel Core 2 Duo Macs are not supported. Requires removable drive formatted with APFS or Mac OS Extended for bootable media. Requires matching macOS Recovery version for bootable media. Does not support FTP backup, differential backup, backup validation, Acronis Secure Zone, Acronis Universal. Restore, web filtering, or disk cloning from bootable media. |
| Operating Systems | Android 5.0 or later |
| Memory RAM | Requirements met by any device running the supported OS version |
| Hard Disk | 7.37 MB indexed Android package size |
| Display | Standard display compatible with the respective operating system |
| Special Features | Mobile backup and restore for photos, videos, and contacts Backup to PC or Mac over Wi Fi Cloud backup support Device migration between Android and iOS |
| Note | Requires Acronis Mobile app. Requires network connection for cloud backup and device migration features. Does not support new mobile backups to NAS. |
| Operating Systems | iOS 10.0 or later |
| Memory RAM | Requirements met by any device running the supported OS version |
| Hard Disk | 18.2 MB app size |
| Display | Standard display compatible with the respective operating system |
| Special Features | Mobile backup and restore for contacts, photos, videos, reminders, and calendars Cloud backup support |
| Note | Requires Acronis Mobile app. Requires network connection for cloud backup features. Does not support new mobile backups to NAS. |