---
title: "1040 - Back-up and Restore Data"
canonical: "https://support.crosslinktax.com/space/CSC/1869287110/1040%20-%20Back-up%20and%20Restore%20Data"
format: markdown
---
> ℹ️ This article will explain how to back up data and restore data on the CrossLink 1040 software.

 

**Follow the instructions below to successfully back up/restore data:**

 

## **How to Back up all Data:**

1. On the **Setup** menu, click **Office Setup**.
2. Click the **General** tab.
3. Check the **Enable Backup** checkbox to enable backup.
4. Click **Browse** next to **Backup Path** and browse to the location where backup tax returns are to be saved.
5. On the **Work in Progress** screen, click **Backup Returns**. If Backup Returns does not appear, follow these steps:
  1. On the **Setup** menu, click **Office Setup**.
  2. On the **General** tab, select the **Enable Backup** check box and then click **OK**.
  3. Close and reopen CrossLink 1040.
6. Click the **Full Backup** button.
7. **Check** all of the checkboxes and then click **OK**. The program backs up the tax returns to the folder you specified in **step 3**.

 

## **How to Restore all Data:**

1. On the **Utility** menu, click **System Utility**.
2. Click the **Restore Full Backup** button and then click **Run Utility**.
3. Click the **[…] button**, browse to the folder containing the desired backup file and then click **OK**.
4. In the drop-down list, select the desired backup file and then click **OK**.
5. Click **Restore**.
6. If a window appears titled **Incorrect AES Key**, please enter the correct Enhanced Encryption key from the original install.

> ⚠️ *This will not change the current Enhanced Encryption key of the current install.*

 

## **To Restore Tax Return Files:**

1. On the **Utility** menu, click **Restore Backup Returns**.

2. Under **Backup Path**, click the **[…]** button and browse to the folder where the tax returns have been backed up. Click **OK**.

> ⚠️ If the OK button is unavailable (grayed out) verify a folder has been selected and not a backup file itself.

3. Click **Select All** and then click **Restore**.