How do I back up Nova and restore it?

Goal

Write a backup file and bring the same state back later, on this Mac or another one.

Before you start

• Expert view. The switch is in How do I switch between Simple and Expert?

Steps

1. Settings, Storage & sync, the Backup tab.
2. The Backup card lists what is inside: settings, chats, projects, archive, work time, moments, health, meeting index, custom looks, and more. Credentials of connected services are included too, encrypted.
3. For another Mac, tick Additional password (for another Mac) and enter the password twice, at least 8 characters. Without it, only this Mac can open the backup.
4. Include sync folder in backup adds a chosen sync folder. Create backup… asks where to save. The suggestion is the desktop, named Nova-Backup with the date. Then Backup saved shows the number of files.
5. To restore: if the backup comes from another Mac, enter its password in Backup password (optional). Then press Open backup… and pick the file.
6. Nova shows the date, the version, the Mac it came from, the number of files, and whether it is readable on this Mac without a password. Nothing has changed yet.
7. Restore… asks again with Restore Nova. Restore and restart replaces the data and restarts Nova. Today’s data is not deleted but moved to restore-backup-….

Example

Press Create backup… without a password and save the file on the desktop. Then press Open backup… and pick the same file. The line below shows the number of files. Without Restore… everything stays as it is.

Common problems

• The file holds your credentials. Keep it like a password.
• Privacy Lock blocks Restore. Creating a backup still works.
• A backup without Additional password cannot be opened on another Mac. The line then shows Readable on this Mac without password: no.
• With iCloud sync on, the restored state becomes the template for every Mac on this account. See How do I use Nova on two Macs?
• Also restore sync folder affects other Macs that use the same iCloud folder.