Tornova platform compatibility and restore rules
Tornova runs on Windows and Linux, with macOS in Beta. Each has its own package, and restore stays within the same operating system: Windows to Windows, Linux to Linux, macOS to macOS.
Supported platforms
Tornova Backup runs on three operating systems. Windows and Linux are supported; macOS is in Beta. Windows has the longest history and a full desktop app. The Linux and macOS agents back up the folders you approve, run on a schedule and restore through the website; macOS has not completed native acceptance testing, so use the Beta with files you can afford to test with first.
Tornova Backup platforms and status
| Platform | Status | Requirements | Package |
|---|
| Windows | Stable | Windows 10 1809+ or Windows 11, 64-bit | EXE, MSI, ZIP |
|---|
| Linux | Stable | Ubuntu 24.04, x64, systemd | DEB (.deb) |
|---|
| macOS | Beta | macOS 15+, Apple silicon or Intel | ZIP (ARM64, x64) |
|---|
Download formats and checksums
- Every download shows its version, architecture, format, size and SHA-256 checksum, so you can confirm that the file you hold is the file Tornova published.
- Every download has one fixed file name, for example TornovaBackup-Setup.exe, TornovaBackup-Setup.msi, TornovaBackup-Windows.zip, TornovaBackup-Linux-amd64.deb and TornovaBackup-macOS-arm64.zip.
- Do not turn off operating-system protections to run a download.
Restore stays within the same operating system
Backups and restores stay within the same operating system. This rule protects your files: Windows, Linux and macOS store paths, permissions and file names differently, and restoring across systems could produce files that do not work as expected. The website therefore offers only computers that run the same operating system as the backup.
- Windows backups restore to Windows computers.
- Linux backups restore to Linux computers, into the approved restore folder (/var/lib/tornova/restore), and web restores keep both files when a name already exists, so an existing file is not overwritten.
- macOS backups restore to Mac computers.
- Restoring to a different registered computer of the same system needs your account to be allowed to do so; the website only offers eligible computers.
Differences between platforms
The three platforms do not have identical features today. Check this list again at each release.
- Windows has a desktop app; Linux and macOS are set up from the command line and managed on the website.
- Web restores on Linux and macOS use Keep Both for name conflicts.
- On Linux, restored files go to /var/lib/tornova/restore (or a subfolder of it); other destinations are refused.
- Accounts with client-side encryption are not supported on Linux or macOS.
- macOS is in Beta and has not completed native acceptance testing.
Where to read more
Your plan's storage is shared by all the computers on your account, whatever their operating system. These guides cover each platform in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restore a backup made on one operating system onto another?
No. Windows restores to Windows, Linux to Linux and macOS to macOS. The website only offers computers that run the same operating system as the backup.
What is the difference between the EXE, MSI, ZIP and DEB downloads?
EXE and MSI are Windows installers (one PC, or managed deployment); the Windows ZIP holds the same installer for networks that block direct .exe downloads. DEB is the Ubuntu package. The macOS download is a ZIP holding the application.
Are all features available on every platform?
No. See the differences listed above; Linux and macOS are set up from the command line, and macOS is in Beta.
Is storage separate for each platform?
No. Your plan's storage is shared by all the computers on your account, whatever their operating system.
Keep reading
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