Backups and recovery
Autosave keeps your latest work. A backup gives you an earlier copy to recover from. You want both, preferably before you need either.
Understand the three layers
| Layer | What it gives you | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic saving | Your current edits in the local workspace. | Reopen the document in its project. |
| Database backups | A database snapshot for recovery in Writality. | Updates & Backups in settings. |
| Readable backups | Markdown or Word copies of concepts, segments, and notes. | Readable Backups in settings. |
A readable copy lets you access the text without Writality, but it can't restore the full workspace. A database snapshot can restore application data, though it isn't a standalone copy of every external asset.
Check database backups
Writality attempts a verified daily database backup during startup, before upgrades, and checks for backups while running.
Open Updates & Backups to see the available copies and their dates. If a backup fails, your current writing may still be fine, but that recovery copy needs attention. Check the destination and available disk space.
Keep an independent copy of important work on another device or drive. Backups on the same disk won't help if the disk fails.
Keep readable copies
With your project selected, open Readable Backups:
- Choose a backup folder.
- Choose Markdown, Word, or both.
- Enable readable backups.
- Check the status, or use Back up now for a current copy.
I'd recommend enabling these. It's reassuring to know you can still open your writing without the app.
The first run writes existing content and can take a while. Later edits are exported after a period of inactivity. You can keep writing; check the last successful run to see what's backed up.
Changing the destination starts a fresh sync there and leaves old files alone. These are outgoing copies. Editing one in Word or a text editor won't update Writality.
Recover deliberately
Before restoring, check the backup date. A database restore can replace newer workspace data, including work in other projects that share the database. Keep a separate copy of the current workspace and read the confirmation carefully.
If startup opens recovery mode, use its workspace selection or restore options. Don't delete the database or its sidecar files to try to fix it yourself.
For a phrase you just deleted, try undo. For an earlier scene draft, check saved versions. For a lost or damaged workspace, use a recovery backup.