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Backups, exports and leaving

What actually needs backing up

Three things, and you probably have two already:

1. Your password (in your head) or your Recovery Kit (on paper).
2. The encrypted vault data — covered automatically if sync is on: your cloud folder is an off-device backup, and any other device can restore from it.
3. Optionally, an exported copy of the documents themselves (below).

Exporting documents

Any document can be saved back out as its original file — open it and choose Download / Export. For a full export, select all documents in a category and export them to a folder. Exports are plain decrypted files: store them somewhere appropriate.

Restoring on a new device

• With sync: install Keepsake, choose Restore from sync, unlock with your password. Everything returns — documents, tags, history.
• Without sync: copy your vault folder/files to the new device (Settings → About shows the data location on desktop), then unlock as normal.

Leaving Keepsake

Your documents are yours. Export everything as above — there is no lock-in, no "download quota", no account to close. The vault format is also publicly documented, so even without any Keepsake app, an independent tool can decrypt your data with your password.

The Paper Vault (printable archival binder)

For the truly paranoid backup — one that survives a house fire in a bank locker — generate a Paper Vault: a printable binder with your document index, recovery instructions, and a QR fingerprint per document (the SHA-256 of the file), so a restored copy can be verified as byte-for-byte the original. It contains no passwords, no recovery words and no document contents — the binder alone cannot open your vault. Free on every platform:

• Windows — Settings → Paper Vault (archival binder) saves the PDF.
• Android — Settings → Paper Vault (archival binder) builds the PDF and opens the share sheet (print it, or save it anywhere).
• Web app — Settings → Paper Vault opens the printable page; use your browser's print dialog.

Pair it with the Recovery Kit and the Legacy Access Kit and your vault has a complete offline survival story.

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