Backup and sync

Uploaded files, PicList settings, and gallery records are separate data. Before upgrading or moving computers, decide which ones need protection.

Three distinct jobs

Feature	Data	Entry point
Configuration backup / sync	Destinations, management connections, settings	Settings → Configuration and sync
Gallery sync / snapshots	Upload records and database state	Gallery sync in sync settings
Secondary uploader	Another copy of the current uploaded file	Upload settings

Gallery sync does not back up cloud objects. Copying a bucket does not include your PicList settings.

Syncing piclist.db does not recover deleted bucket objects. Back up actual files separately.

Make a full local backup first

1. Open the data directory from settings and check its location.
2. Quit PicList completely so background writes stop.
3. Copy the entire directory to a backup location you control.
4. Keep external fonts, script dependencies, and other resources stored elsewhere.
5. Before restoring, preserve the current directory, then restore and verify the complete backup.

File or directory	Contents
data.json	Upload destinations and desktop settings
manage.json	Cloud management settings
piclist.db	Local gallery records
taskQueue.json and finalization data	Queue and recovery state; retain with a full directory backup
scripts/	Scripts and potentially private .env values

For portable builds, keep data beside the executable. Configurations can contain account credentials; store backups privately rather than in public repositories.

Configuration sync: check the direction

1. Open Settings → Configuration and sync and configure the connection.
2. Select a supported Git platform or WebDAV and a private location you control.
3. Save, then open the configuration upload / download entry.
4. Choose common settings, management settings, or all configurations.
5. Upload updates remote settings from this computer; Download updates this computer from remote settings.
6. Recheck the default destination, names, fonts, and plugins, then test one image.

Compare which computer has the intended settings before the first sync. Downloading old settings can change current defaults; it is an update operation.

Encryption options do not replace target access control. Local paths, fonts, and plugin dependencies need checking on each machine.

Gallery sync and snapshots

Open Gallery sync from the configuration upload / download entry:

1. Check the sync target and local backup.
2. Generate or inspect a plan, reviewing added, updated, and removed records.
3. Apply the intended changes; preserve partial failure results and inspect affected items.
4. Check several representative gallery records and their links.

3.6 snapshot management shows dates and states, exports rollback files, sets retention, and removes deletable snapshots. Export the intended snapshot and preserve current data before recovery. Restoring records cannot restore objects already deleted from a bucket.

Keep tokens, passwords, complete configurations, and configuration QR codes out of shared screenshots.

Import to PicHoro

Import a configuration to your own phone with its QR code; see Mobile integration. A QR code can contain destination credentials. Transfer it privately between your own devices.