Introduction

This article describes how to run existing Acronis True Image backup tasks from command line.

Prerequisites

You need to have a configured backup job in True Image graphical user interface (GUI) before you can run it from command line. It is not possible to configure a new backup job from scratch from command line or modify settings of already set up tasks.

Solution

Instructions for Acronis True Image 2019:

(!) The command to run backups should be executed under an administrator account with elevated privileges (right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator" option).

The command has the following format, where TASK_ID is the unique identifier of the backup that you want to run:

Windows 64-bit:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"TASK_ID"

Windows 32-bit:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"TASK_ID"

Examples:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"3FC4993A-75B4-42B7-916A-2DEBD7872C05"
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"967A0E83-63C4-4ADA-B4D5-7871F8E9D8FF"

How to get TASK_ID:

1. Notice the name of the backup that you want to run:
   
2. Open the folder C:\ProgramData\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Scripts
   Note: the folder C:\ProgramData is hidden and you may need to enable displaying hidden files and folders in Control Panel - Appearance and Personalization - File Explorer Options - View - Show hidden files, folders and drives to see it.
   
3. Open each file in that folder in a text editor, e.g. Notepad, until you find the file with the backup name in between <display> and </display> on the 5th line:
   
4. Copy everything in between <uuid> and </uuid> on the line above that. This is the TASK_ID:
   
5. In our example the TASK_ID is 6DA340A2-FD64-4F2B-AC62-8A4F2F37CB96, meaning that the full command to run the backup task "Downloads" on a 64-bit Windows would  be the following:
   "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"6DA340A2-FD64-4F2B-AC62-8A4F2F37CB96"

   If we were on 32-bit Windows, the command would be:
   "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageHomeNotify.exe" /script:"6DA340A2-FD64-4F2B-AC62-8A4F2F37CB96"

Instructions for Acronis True Image 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

1. Open Acronis True Image and move the backup task that you want to execute from command line: click anywhere in the backup box and drag-and-drop it to the Desktop. 
   
2. A new shortcut will appear which you can double-click to start the backup manually.
   
3. Right-click the link and select Properties.
   
4. The command to run the backup job from the command line will be in the Target field. Copy the field contents to the Clipboard.
   
5. Paste the copied command in the command prompt window and hit Enter to execute it.
   

Note: Make sure you run this command under an administrator account with highest (elevated) privileges: right-click on the Command prompt icon and click Run as Administrator.