# Backups

> How DemoVexa backs up its database automatically, how to make a backup yourself, and how to restore one.

Source: https://demovexa.com/docs/settings/backups

DemoVexa backs up its database for you every day you use it, and you can make a backup whenever you like. This page covers both, how to restore a backup, and when exporting a single project is the better choice.

## What a backup contains

A backup is a copy of DemoVexa's database: your workspaces, projects, briefs, scripts and ideas. It doesn't include the files in the data folder, such as voiceovers, uploads and renders.

## Automatic backups

While you use DemoVexa, it makes one automatic snapshot a day. Each one is named by its date, for example `studio-2026-10-13.db`.

## Make a backup now

1. Open **Settings → Database**.
2. Click **Back up now**.

This makes a backup named with the date and time. It's a good idea before a big change, such as moving the data folder or updating DemoVexa.

## Where backups are kept

Backups are saved in the `backups` folder inside the data folder. To find it, open **Settings → Database** and click **Show in folder**.

DemoVexa keeps the newest 10 backups and removes older ones. **Settings → Database** lists the newest 5, plus how many older ones there are.

> [!TIP]
> To keep a backup for longer, copy it somewhere outside the data folder, such as another drive or your cloud storage.

## Restore a backup

Restoring replaces the current database with the backup. Anything you changed after the backup was made is lost.

1. Make sure no builds, renders or batches are running. Check the **Activity** page.
2. Open the data folder: **Settings → Database → Show in folder**.
3. Quit DemoVexa (<kbd>⌘</kbd> <kbd>Q</kbd> on macOS, **File → Quit** on Windows and Linux).
4. Copy the current `studio.db` somewhere safe, in case you want it back.
5. Copy the backup you want from the `backups` folder into the data folder, and rename it to `studio.db`, replacing the existing file.
6. Delete `studio.db-wal` and `studio.db-shm` from the data folder, if they're there.
7. Open DemoVexa again.

> [!WARNING]
> Don't skip step 6. Those two files belong to the database you're replacing and can get in the way of the restore.

## Export a single project instead

A backup restores the whole database at once. To save or move one project, export it instead:

1. Right-click the project's card on the Projects page, or open the project and use the **⋯** menu.
2. Choose **Export project…**.

You get one `.demovexa` file with the brief, script, voiceover, uploads, covers, posts and the animation's code. Tick **Include the rendered videos** to add them too, at a much larger size. Bring it back with **Import** on the Projects page; it goes into the current workspace. See [Export and import](/docs/more/export-import).

> [!NOTE]
> Export and import isn't included in the trial.

## Related

- [Privacy and your data](/docs/settings/privacy-and-data)
- [Settings](/docs/settings/settings)
- [Export and import](/docs/more/export-import)