Backup

Your data in Kindlume is personal – and the way you back it up should be too. Kindlume creates local, password-protected backups that you control. No automatic uploads, no cloud service, no server. You decide when and where your data is backed up. Here you will find everything about how backup works in Kindlume and why it is designed the way it is.

Backup Only When You Choose

Kindlume never creates a backup of your data automatically. There is no background process silently making a copy, and there is no schedule that determines when your data gets backed up. Every backup begins with you taking action: you open the backup feature in the app, set a password and make a deliberate choice to create a backup at that moment. This isn't an oversight – it's a conscious design decision.

Why? Because we believe you should know what's happening with your data – and when. An automatic backup you don't notice might seem convenient, but it takes away your control. Perhaps you don't want a copy of your data created at that particular moment. Maybe you want to make changes or delete something first. With Kindlume, you have that freedom: nothing happens without your input, and you can always trace back what was done and what wasn't.

Password-Protected

Every backup you create in Kindlume is encrypted with a password that you choose yourself. This password is the key to your backed-up data – without it, no one can read, restore or modify the contents of the backup. Encryption is not optional and cannot be bypassed. It is an integral part of every backup, ensuring that your data remains protected even if the backup file falls into the wrong hands.

When you create a backup, you'll be prompted to enter a password. Choose a strong one that you can remember – or store it in a safe place, such as a password manager. The encryption ensures that even if someone finds or obtains the file, the data inside remains unreadable. Only someone who knows the password can decrypt the backup and restore the data. That's your protection and your responsibility – and that's exactly how it should be.

Password Is Not Stored

Kindlume does not store your backup password. Neither within the app itself nor anywhere else is the password you used to encrypt your backup ever saved. This isn't negligence – it's a deliberate security measure. If the password were stored, there would be a way to recover it – and that would mean someone else could find it too. By never storing the password in the first place, there's also no way for it to end up in the wrong hands.

This decision comes with an important consequence: if you forget your password, no one can reset it for you. Neither the app itself nor we as developers can help you recover a forgotten password. We strongly recommend storing your backup password in a safe place – for example in a password manager or at a trusted physical location. This way, you'll always be able to access it when you need it. The responsibility is yours, but it's also your guarantee: no one but you can access your backed-up data.

No Password, No Restore

This point is so important that it deserves its own section: without the correct password, it is impossible to restore a Kindlume backup. There is no recovery mechanism, no alternative route and no support team that can give you a new password. This isn't a limitation of the app – it's the very foundation of its security. If it were possible to remove the encryption without the password, the entire backup would be worthless, because then someone else could do it too.

We understand this sounds strict. But it's precisely this principle that protects your data. There is no "back door", no hidden exception and no override. If you no longer know your password, the backup file remains encrypted and unreadable – forever. That's why it's so important that you keep your password safe. Remember: a backup you can't restore isn't a backup. So take a moment to store your password carefully before you create the backup.

Kindlume Never Uploads Anything

Under no circumstances does Kindlume upload data from your iPhone to a server or cloud service. This applies to all your data: your notes, your people profiles, your reminders, your important dates and your backup files. Kindlume does not operate a server that could accept user data, and it does not integrate any third-party services that send data over the internet. Everything you enter in Kindlume stays on your device.

This principle applies not only to everyday use of the app, but also to creating backups and the Markdown export. The backup file is generated locally on your iPhone and then handed off to a storage location of your choosing – such as the iOS Files app. Even if you subsequently move the file to a cloud folder, that happens outside of Kindlume. The app itself has no access to those locations and never transfers data on its own. Your data belongs to you, and it stays where you decide.

You Choose the Storage Location

When you create a backup in Kindlume, the encrypted file is generated on your iPhone. What happens with it after that is entirely up to you. You can save the file in the iOS Files app, transfer it to a Mac, copy it to an external drive or store it anywhere else you consider safe. Kindlume doesn't dictate where your backup must live – that's your decision.

This freedom comes with responsibility: you should think about where you keep your backup. A location that's easy to find again and protected against loss is ideal. You might want to store multiple copies in different places, just to be on the safe side. Since the file is password-protected, it remains secure even if stored somewhere others could access. But don't forget: the best backup is useless if you can't find it when you need it. Choose a spot you'll remember.

Restore Only After Confirmation

Restoring a backup in Kindlume doesn't just happen. Before your current data is replaced by the contents of the backup, you are explicitly asked to confirm. This is important, because a restore overwrites the current data in the app with the data from the backup. You should know exactly what you're doing before taking this step.

The confirmation dialogue clearly shows what will happen: your current data will be replaced by the data from the backup. There is no automatic merging and no silent overwriting. You must actively agree before anything changes. This ensures you never accidentally lose data by importing an old backup without realising it. Take a moment to check that you've selected the right backup before confirming the restore. A brief pause can save a lot of frustration.

Markdown Export

In addition to the encrypted backup, Kindlume offers the option to export your data as a Markdown file. Markdown is a simple, widely used text format that can be read by many applications and text editors. Unlike the encrypted backup, the Markdown export is a readable, unencrypted text file – you can open it, search through it and edit it without entering a password.

The Markdown export is useful if you want to continue using your notes in another program or if you'd like a human-readable copy of your data. Please note, however: the Markdown export is not a replacement for a backup. It is not encrypted and does not contain all the information stored in a full backup. It's an additional option that gives you more flexibility – but your regular, password-protected backup should always be your first choice when it comes to protecting your data.