FunOS

Timeshift is a powerful system backup and restore tool that plays an important role in keeping your FunOS system safe. It allows you to take snapshots of your system at specific points in time, so you can easily restore it if something goes wrong after a system update, package installation, or configuration change. Just like the System Restore feature in Windows, Timeshift focuses on protecting system files and settings — not personal documents.

This guide explains how to install Timeshift on FunOS, either from the official Ubuntu repositories or from the Tony George PPA, and how to launch it after installation.

What is Timeshift?

Timeshift is a system backup utility designed primarily for Linux distributions. It uses rsync or Btrfs snapshots to create incremental backups of your system files and configurations. With Timeshift, you can restore your operating system to a previous state without affecting personal files such as documents, pictures, or downloads.

Key features of Timeshift include:

• Incremental backups: Only changes made since the last snapshot are saved, which saves disk space and time.
• Automated snapshots: You can schedule daily, weekly, or monthly backups automatically.
• Easy restore process: Restore your system with a few clicks if it becomes unstable or fails to boot properly.
• Compatibility: Works well with Linux distributions based on Ubuntu and Debian, including FunOS.

In short, Timeshift is an essential tool for anyone who wants a reliable and simple way to protect their system.

How to Install Timeshift on FunOS

There are two main methods to install Timeshift on FunOS:

1. Installing from the Ubuntu repositories (recommended)
2. Installing from the Tony George PPA

Method 1: Installing from the Ubuntu Repositories

This is the easiest and most stable method, as the Timeshift package is available directly in the official Ubuntu repositories used by FunOS.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in three ways:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard

Step 2: Update the Package List

Before installing any package, it’s a good practice to update your package list to ensure you get the latest version available in the repositories.

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install Timeshift

After the package list is updated, run the following command to install Timeshift:

sudo apt install timeshift

Step 4: Reload the Menu

Once the installation is complete, you need to reload the menu for Timeshift to appear.

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Method 2: Installing from the Tony George PPA

The Tony George PPA is the official Personal Package Archive maintained by the original developer of Timeshift. This method is useful if you want the latest version that may not yet be available in the Ubuntu repositories.

Note:
As of November 6, 2025, there is no Timeshift package in the Tony George PPA for Ubuntu/FunOS 25.10.
The PPA currently provides packages only for Ubuntu/FunOS 22.04.5, 24.04.3, 24.10, and 25.04.
Therefore, this method should only be used if you are running one of those supported versions.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in three ways:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Add the Tony George PPA

Add the official PPA repository to your system using this command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:teejee2008/timeshift

Step 3: Update the Package List

After adding the PPA, update your package list to include the new repository:

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install Timeshift

Now install Timeshift with this command:

sudo apt install timeshift

Step 5: Reload the Menu

Once the installation is complete, reload the menu so that Timeshift appears in the list:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Launching Timeshift

After installation, you can launch Timeshift easily:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
• Look under the System category.
• Click Timeshift to start the application.

When you launch it for the first time, Timeshift will guide you through an initial setup wizard to choose the snapshot type (rsync or Btrfs) and configure your backup schedule. Once configured, you can create your first snapshot immediately.

How to Uninstall Timeshift on FunOS

If you no longer need Timeshift or want to free up disk space, you can easily remove it from your FunOS system. The process depends on how Timeshift was originally installed — from the Ubuntu repositories or the Tony George PPA. Follow the instructions below according to your installation method.

Uninstall Timeshift Installed from the Ubuntu Repositories

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in one of the following ways:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard

Step 2: Remove Timeshift

Run the following command to completely remove the Timeshift package and its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge timeshift

Step 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies

After uninstalling, clean up any unnecessary packages that were installed as dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Step 4: Reload the Menu

To ensure the menu is updated and the Timeshift entry is removed:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Uninstall Timeshift Installed from the Tony George PPA

If you installed Timeshift using the Tony George PPA, you can remove both the application and the PPA repository.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open the Terminal in one of the following ways:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard

Step 2: Remove Timeshift

Run the following command to uninstall Timeshift and remove its configuration files:

sudo apt remove --purge timeshift

Step 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies

Clean up any remaining packages that are no longer required:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Step 4: Remove the Tony George PPA

Remove the repository you added during installation with this command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:teejee2008/timeshift

Step 5: Update the Package List

Refresh your package list to reflect the changes:

sudo apt update

Step 6: Reload the Menu

Finally, reload the menu to ensure all entries are up to date:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner.
• Click Reload menu.

Conclusion

Timeshift is a valuable tool for maintaining system stability and ensuring you can easily recover from system failures or configuration errors. By following the steps in this guide, you can install Timeshift on FunOS either from the official Ubuntu repositories for stability or from the Tony George PPA if you prefer newer versions.

Once installed, Timeshift provides an intuitive interface for creating and restoring system snapshots, giving you peace of mind when applying updates or making significant system changes.

And if you ever decide to remove it, uninstalling Timeshift is just as simple — whether it was installed from the Ubuntu repositories or from the Tony George PPA. Keeping control over what’s installed on your FunOS system helps maintain its lightweight, stable, and secure nature — the core philosophy of FunOS itself.