Backup

This page describes how to back up tabs, configuration and commands in CopyQ.

Back Up All Data Automatically on Exit

You can use command that backs up all items, tabs and settings after exit.

To install the command see the description in the repository.

Back Up Manually

To back up all the data, exit the application first and copy the configuration, data and state directories.

Changed in version 17.0.0: Tab data and state files were previously stored in the configuration directory. They are migrated automatically on first startup.

Default paths since version 17.0.0:

Platform	Configuration	Data	State
Linux	`~/.config/copyq`	`~/.local/share/copyq`	`~/.local/state/copyq`
macOS	`~/Library/Preferences/copyq`	`~/Library/Application Support/copyq`	`~/Library/Application Support/copyq`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\copyq`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\copyq`	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\copyq`
Windows (portable)	`config`	`config`	`config`

Default paths before version 17.0.0:

Platform	Configuration, tab data, state	Item data	Logs
Linux	`~/.config/copyq`	`~/.local/share/copyq/items`	`~/.local/share/copyq`
macOS	`~/Library/Preferences/copyq`	`~/Library/Application Support/copyq/items`	`~/Library/Application Support/copyq`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\copyq`	`%APPDATA%\copyq\items`	`%APPDATA%\copyq`
Windows (portable)	`config`	`config\items`	`logs`

To copy a directory path to clipboard:

copyq:
copy(Dir(info('config') + '/..').absolutePath())

Replace 'config' with 'data' or 'state' for the other directories.

To restore the backup, exit the application and replace the directories.

Warning

Before making or restoring back up, always exit CopyQ (don’t only close the main window).

Export and Import

You can easily export selected tabs and optionally configuration and commands within the application.

Warning

Exported data is not encrypted by default. When exporting from the GUI, CopyQ prompts for an optional export password — if provided, tab data in the export file is encrypted with that password. The exportData script command does not support this and always exports unencrypted. If a tab is synchronized with a directory on disk, the files themselves are not exported.

To export the data click “Export…” in “File” menu, select what to export, confirm with OK button and select target file to save.

To restore the data click “Import…” in “File” menu, select file to import and select what to import.

Note

Import will not overwrite existing tabs and commands but create new ones.

Alternatively you can use command line for export and import everything (selection dialogs won’t be opened).

copyq exportData {FILE/PATH/TO/EXPORT}
copyq importData {FILE/PATH/TO/IMPORT}