Blog

How to back up and move your data in an offline browser app

By DevlectaDesigns · October 12, 2026

Offline HTML apps are convenient: you download one file, open it in your browser and start working, with no account and no subscription. The trade-off is that your records live in your browser on one computer. This guide explains what that means and how to protect your work.

Where your data actually lives

When you type into a tool such as Duecove or Onboard Desk, the app saves a copy of your workspace in your browser’s storage on that computer. That copy is a convenience. It lets you close the tab and find your work again later.

It is not a backup, for a few practical reasons:

• Clearing browser data removes it. “Clear browsing data”, privacy cleaner tools and some browser resets can delete site storage along with cookies.
• It belongs to one browser on one computer. Chrome and Safari on the same Mac keep separate storage, and a second computer starts empty.
• Moving or renaming the HTML file can matter. Depending on the browser, storage for a local file can depend on where it is opened from, so the app opened from a new folder may show an empty workspace.
• Storage can be blocked or full. Some privacy settings deny storage, and a full disk can make saving fail.

None of this is unusual for browser apps. It simply means you need a copy of your data outside the browser.

What a JSON backup is

Each DevlectaDesigns tool has a Data or Backup screen with an Export JSON control. JSON is a plain text file that contains your whole workspace: clients, projects, tasks, notes and settings. Keep it like any other important document.

Two details are worth knowing:

1. Restoring replaces the current workspace. When you import a JSON backup, the app shows what it is about to load and asks you to confirm. It does not merge two workspaces.
2. CSV is not a backup. CSV exports are for reading a list in a spreadsheet or sharing a filtered view. They do not contain everything needed to rebuild the workspace.

JSON and CSV files are not encrypted, so store them where you would store other client information.

A simple backup routine

• After meaningful changes, export JSON. A new client, a finished project or a batch of planned posts is a good trigger.
• Before you move, rename or replace the app file, export JSON first, then restore it after opening the app from its new place.
• Before clearing browser data or switching browsers, export JSON.
• Keep more than one copy. A dated file name such as duecove-backup-2026-10-12.json in a folder you already back up (or a cloud drive you trust) is enough.
• Check the download. After exporting, confirm the file is in your Downloads folder and is not 0 KB.

Moving to a new computer

1. On the old computer, open the app and export a JSON backup.
2. Copy the JSON file and the extracted app folder to the new computer.
3. Open the app on the new computer. It starts with an empty workspace.
4. Use the restore or import control and choose your JSON file. Review the preview, then confirm.

There is no automatic sync between devices. Repeat the export and restore whenever you switch computers.

Quick answers

Will my data disappear if I close the tab? Not usually. The browser copy normally survives closing and reopening. The backup protects you from the less common cases above.

Can I use the same workspace on two computers at once? Not safely. Pick one computer as the place you edit, and move data with JSON when you need to switch.

Does DevlectaDesigns receive my data? No. The tools store your information only in your browser and in the files you export.