What are the main features and advantages of Acronis True Image 2021 Advanced?
Cloud Backup – Protects files and system images offsite securely.
Quick Recovery – Restores data fast after crashes or ransomware.
Active Protection – Blocks ransomware and protects backup files.
Disk Cloning – Simplifies drive replacement and system migration.
Full Imaging – Creates complete backups for reliable disaster recovery.
Digital Reliability – Supports stable long-term data protection and recovery.
Full image backup – Complete system snapshots plus file-level backups.
Integrated antimalware – Real-time protection, antivirus scans, ransomware defense.
Active disk cloning – Duplicates a running system without interrupting work.
Microsoft 365 backup – Protects Outlook.com mailboxes and OneDrive files.
Core Capacity – 250 GB Acronis Cloud storage for off-site copies.
Important – Commercial use rights and Windows Server support are not included in this edition.
Acronis True Image 2021 Advanced is the subscription edition of Acronis' personal backup software that combines disk imaging, cloud storage and a full antimalware engine in one application for Windows and macOS computers. It is built for home users who want both a local backup and an automatic off-site copy without managing two separate tools.
Dual protection – Local backups replicate automatically to Acronis Cloud.
Fast recovery – Restore a full system or single files.
Universal restore – Recover a system image to different hardware.
Resumable replication – Interrupted cloud uploads continue where they stopped.
Flexible archives – Mount, move or convert .tibx backups to .vhd.
Mobile backup – Unlimited iOS and Android backups, local or cloud.
It creates complete disk image backups and selective file backups of Windows and macOS computers and stores them on internal drives, external disks, NAS shares or in the included 250 GB of Acronis Cloud storage. The same installation runs an integrated antimalware engine with real-time behavioral detection, on-demand antivirus scans and Active Protection against ransomware, which also shields the backup files themselves from encryption attacks. In practice, a failed SSD, an encrypted user folder or an accidentally deleted project can all be resolved from one application: restore the full image to the same or different hardware, or pull individual files from a local or cloud archive.
According to the official Acronis comparison for the 2021 product family, all three editions cover image backup, active disk cloning, quick recovery with universal restore and ransomware protection. Essential includes the antimalware engine only as a trial and ships without cloud storage, so backups stay local. Advanced adds 250 GB of Acronis Cloud storage, the full antimalware suite, dual-protection cloud replication and Microsoft 365 backup. Premium raises cloud storage to 1 TB and adds blockchain-based file notarization and electronic signatures, which Advanced does not include.
| Feature | Essential | Advanced | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image backup and cloning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Acronis Cloud storage | ✕ | 250 GB | 1 TB |
| Full antimalware suite | Trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual protection replication | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microsoft 365 backup | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blockchain notarization, e-signatures | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Yes, the Advanced edition backs up Outlook.com mailboxes and OneDrive file contents directly cloud-to-cloud into Acronis Cloud. This matters because files stored only in OneDrive or emails kept only in Outlook.com are not covered by a classic disk image of the local computer. With this feature, a mailbox emptied by mistake or a synced folder overwritten by a bad sync can be restored from an independent copy. Microsoft 365 backup is not available in the Essential edition or in the perpetual Standard edition.
Acronis True Image 2021 is a personal product: it does not support Windows Server operating systems and does not include commercial use rights, so company servers need an Acronis business solution instead. Blockchain-based file notarization and electronic signatures are reserved for the Premium edition and are not part of Advanced. Some protection functions, such as cryptojacking protection and recovery to dissimilar hardware, are available on Windows only, which Mac buyers should factor in. The included cloud quota is 250 GB, so households with large photo and video libraries should calculate their data volume before relying on full cloud replication.
Backups can be configured in two clicks to local drives, external disks, NAS, network shares or the cloud, so a daily schedule is set up once and then runs unattended. Version 2021 added resumable cloud replication: if an upload is interrupted, it continues from the point of interruption instead of restarting, which saves time and cloud quota on slower connections. The redesigned Web Restore page gives browser access to cloud backups, including the option to password-protect shared files and folders. Combined with active disk cloning, the software also covers a common practical task: migrating a working system to a larger SSD without reinstalling Windows or macOS.
First, check whether off-site copies are actually needed: users who only want local image backups and cloning are also served by the Essential or perpetual Standard editions, which omit cloud storage. Second, compare the 250 GB cloud quota against the real size of the data to be replicated; Premium is the step up to 1 TB. Third, confirm the use case is private, since server deployment and commercial use are outside this product's scope. Buyers who need certified proof of file authenticity, for example for contracts, should look at Premium because notarization is exclusive to that tier.
Yes. In version 2021, .tibx backup archives can be mounted as a drive, moved, renamed and converted to the .vhd format, so individual files can be browsed and copied out directly.
Yes. The Advanced edition supports unlimited mobile backups from iOS and Android devices, stored either locally on a computer or in Acronis Cloud via the mobile app.
Yes. The online dashboard provides remote management of protected machines and remote access to cloud backups, which is practical when one person maintains backups for several household computers.
| Operating Systems | Windows 10: All Editions Windows 8.1 Windows 8 Windows 7 SP1: All Editions Windows Home Server 2011 |
| Processor | Intel CORE 2 Duo, 2 GHz, or equivalent processor. |
| Memory RAM | 2 GB RAM. |
| Hard Disk | 7 GB of free space on the system hard disk. |
| Display | 1024 x 768 screen resolution. |
| Note | CPU must support SSE instructions. Beta builds are not supported. Windows Embedded, IoT editions, Windows 10 LTSB, and Windows 10 LTSC are not supported. CD-RW/DVD-RW drive or USB drive is required for bootable media creation. Mouse or other pointing device is recommended. Internet connection is required for product activation, downloading protection updates, and all features that use Acronis Cloud. Administrator privileges are required to run Acronis True Image 2021. Successful backup and recovery are not guaranteed for installations on virtual machines. Intel-based Apple Macintosh is not supported by Windows bootable media. |
| Operating Systems | From OS X 10.11 El Capitan to macOS 11 Big Sur |
| Processor | Apple silicon; Intel x86. |
| Hard Disk | 4 GB or more free space on a removable drive for Acronis bootable media. |
| Note | Mac machines with Intel Core 2 Duo processors are not supported. Administrator privileges are required to run Acronis True Image 2021. For Mac with Apple T2 chip, select Medium Security and Allow booting from external media in Secure Boot settings. The macOS Recovery version must match the macOS version installed on the Mac. CD and DVD media are not supported for Acronis bootable media. Dark Mode is available in macOS Mojave or later. |
| Operating Systems | Android 5.0 or later |
| Note | Acronis Mobile supports Android mobile phones only. Acronis Mobile app is required. Mobile backups can be stored in Acronis Cloud, local storage on a PC or Mac, or supported NAS devices. Acronis Cloud backup requires an Acronis Cloud subscription. The mobile device and computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network when backing up mobile data to local storage on a computer. Backups can be encrypted with the AES-256 cryptographic algorithm. |
| Operating Systems | iOS 10 or later |
| Note | Acronis Mobile supports iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Acronis Mobile app is required. Mobile backups can be stored in Acronis Cloud, local storage on a PC or Mac, or supported NAS devices. Acronis Cloud backup requires an Acronis Cloud subscription. The mobile device and computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network when backing up mobile data to local storage on a computer. Backups can be encrypted with the AES-256 cryptographic algorithm. |
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