> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://slowave.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Back up and restore your memory

> Slowave backs up your memory every day. Learn where backups live, how to make one yourself, how to restore it, and how to move to a new computer.

Slowave keeps all your memory in one local database. A backup is a compressed copy of that database.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Setup turns on a daily backup for you. Slowave keeps the last 7 copies.

## Where backups live

Backups sit in a `backups` folder inside Slowave's data folder.

| System | Data folder |
| - | - |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/slowave` |
| Linux | `~/.local/share/slowave` |
| Windows | `%LOCALAPPDATA%\slowave` |

Each file is named like `slowave-20260101_093000.db.gz`. Run `slowave doctor` to see your exact folder.

## Make a backup now

```bash theme={null}
slowave backup
```

Slowave prints where it saved the file. You can run this while your agent is working.

To keep more than 7 copies, add a number.

```bash theme={null}
slowave backup --keep 14
```

## Restore a backup

> [!WARNING]
>
> Restoring replaces your current memory. Anything saved after the backup is lost.

**1. Close your agents**

Quit any coding agent that uses Slowave.

**2. Make a safety copy**

Back up your current state first, so you can undo the restore.

```bash theme={null}
slowave backup
```

**3. Restore**

Use the path of the backup you want. Slowave pauses its services and swaps in the copy.

```bash theme={null}
slowave restore /path/to/slowave-20260101_093000.db.gz
```

**4. Start Slowave again**

```bash theme={null}
slowave start
```

**5. Check that it worked**

```bash theme={null}
slowave doctor
```

> [!TIP]
>
> Open `slowave dashboard` to see your memories again.

> [!TIP]
>
> After a restore from an older version, the first start can take a few minutes while Slowave prepares your memory.

## Move to another computer

**1. Back up on the old computer**

Run `slowave backup` and copy the new `.db.gz` file to the new computer.

**2. Install and set up on the new one**

Follow the [quickstart](https://slowave.ai/quickstart.md) to run `pipx install slowave` and `slowave setup`.

**3. Restore your file**

Run `slowave restore` with the path to your copied file, then `slowave start`.

## Moving from an older install

Very old versions kept data in `~/.slowave`. Preview the move, then run it.

```bash theme={null}
slowave migrate-data --dry-run
slowave migrate-data
```

Slowave keeps the old folder, so you can roll back.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Your database and backups are plain text and not encrypted. Keep them on an encrypted disk, and don't share or upload them. See [local and private](https://slowave.ai/local-and-private.md).

Stuck? See [troubleshooting](https://slowave.ai/troubleshooting.md).


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