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

# Back up and restore your work

> Understand automatic project-file snapshots, library ZIP backups and their limits.

SpendLess offers two different backup tools. Choose according to what you need to recover.

| Tool | What it protects | Where to find it |
| - | - | - |
| Automatic project-file snapshots | A previous **FLP file** before SpendLess processes edits or updates | Project menu → **Load Backup** |
| Manual library backup | Active projects as individual ZIP packages containing FLPs and collected samples | **Settings → Advanced → Save backup** |

## Restore a project file

<Steps>
  <Step title="Save anything you want to keep">Save and close the project in FL Studio. Export a separate copy if you want to preserve the current state before restoring.</Step>
  <Step title="Choose a snapshot">Open the project's menu → **Load Backup**. Choose a dated backup in the Backup Manager.</Step>
  <Step title="Restore and check">Choose **Load Backup**. The current FLP moves to the system trash and the selected backup replaces it. Open the restored project in FL Studio and check it.</Step>
</Steps>

<Frame caption="The Backup Manager in the new design.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/naikhoindustries/ml225VKcMl2hNpzq/images/guides/restore-backup.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ml225VKcMl2hNpzq&q=85&s=9a65f7dd95c32ca381ba231e10b6ec32" alt="Backup Manager with a dated backup selector and Load Backup button" width="540" height="296" data-path="images/guides/restore-backup.png" />
</Frame>

Snapshots are local, limited history. They are **not continuous autosave**, do not contain unsaved FL Studio edits, and do not restore old samples, plugins or the entire project folder.

## Save a library backup

1. Save and close your projects in FL Studio.
2. Open **Settings → Advanced → Save backup**.
3. Choose the destination and compression option, then start the backup.
4. Wait for completion and check whether the message reports failed projects.

The resulting ZIP contains **one ZIP per active project**. To restore, extract the outer ZIP and import the individual project ZIPs into SpendLess. Do not import the outer library ZIP as one project.

<Warning>This backup does not include archived projects, templates, app settings, plugin installations, or SpendLess covers and previews. Copy those separately when you need a complete move or recovery.</Warning>

Keep an additional copy on another drive or your own backup service. Periodically test an import. A file saved only on the same disk cannot protect against disk failure.


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