---
title: "Resolving \"The backup directory was not found on the server\" when backing up Acctivate"
description: Review the current backup path to verify whether the specified directory exists. If the directory is missing, change the backup path in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) .
---

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April 10, 2025

# Resolving "The backup directory was not found on the server" when backing up Acctivate

## Review the current backup path to verify whether the specified directory exists. If the directory is missing, change the backup path in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) .

If you encounter a message indicating that the backup directory was not found on the server, such as the message below, you can check the current backup path to verify whether the specified directory exists.

```
Backup failed. The backup directory was not found on the server.
```

### Review the Current Backup Path

When selecting to back up your data from within Acctivate, Acctivate sends a command to Microsoft SQL Server to start a backup. Microsoft SQL Server usually designates a default backup location. For Acctivate, the database backups are generally found on the server's C drive within a folder like:

```
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.ACCTIVATE\MSSQL\Backup
```

Click the linked article for detailed instructions on [Locating Acctivate database backups](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/locating-acctivate-backup-location?hsLang=en)

### Change the Backup Directory

If the directory is missing, it’s necessary to update the backup path to a valid location. Refer to this linked article for instructions on [Changing the Acctivate backup directory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/change-backup-directory?hsLang=en).

Once the backup directory has been successfully updated, users can proceed to create a backup in the new location.

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