How should I back up my files and game saves before switching Linux distributions?

If you mainly need a copy of your files that you can restore later, rsync is a solid choice because it preserves directory structures and can be run again to catch changes. If you’d rather avoid the command line, applications such as LuckyBackup provide a graphical interface. Back In Time is another good option if you want versioned snapshots instead of just one copy.

Start by backing up your entire home folder to an external drive. Most personal files, configuration folders, and many game saves live there. For games, check each title’s documentation or search for its Linux save location, since some may store data outside the usual folders. A backup tool such as Borg or its simpler graphical front end, Pika Backup, can handle this reliably.

A home-directory backup will cover most user data, and tools like Pika Backup or Déjà Dup make that straightforward. However, it won’t preserve everything system-wide, such as mount settings, network configuration, shared-folder settings, or files under /etc. If you want a reference for rebuilding the old setup, make a full disk or partition image on another drive as well.

Most of what you care about should be in /home, so copying that directory to an external disk is the essential step. You can also place /home on its own partition, which makes future reinstalls easier, but don’t treat that as your only backup—keep a separate copy in case the disk fails. Before wiping the old system, confirm that the game-save folders and a few test files can actually be opened from the backup.