Backup and restore

TalkBar keeps your sessions, recordings, notes and knowledge on this computer. Back them up regularly, and always before a reset or before you move to another computer. Everything on this page is in Settings → Data & Backup.

The data folder

Open the data folder from Settings → Data & Backup → Open data folder. Under This device:

• Open data folder opens it in File Explorer.
• Open logs folder opens the log files, which support may ask for.

The data folder holds TalkBar's database, your recordings and session files, note media, and downloaded models. Don't move or edit files in it by hand; use a backup instead.

Create a backup

1. Click Create backup.
2. Optionally tick Skip downloaded models (they download again when needed). Models can be several gigabytes.
3. Click Create backup and choose where to save the ZIP file, for example an external drive or a cloud-synced folder.

TalkBar shows its progress, and you can Cancel at any time. When it finishes, it shows the file's location, its size, and how many workspaces and sessions it contains.

The backup contains the TalkBar database and all session media and local files on this device: recordings, transcripts, notes, knowledge, settings and, unless you skipped them, downloaded models.

Passwords, API keys and tokens

TalkBar stores your API keys, email passwords, bot tokens, webhook URLs and Notion tokens encrypted. The key that unlocks them is kept in this computer's system keyring, not in the data folder. A backup therefore carries them only in encrypted form.

To be able to use them on another computer, or if this computer's keyring is ever reset, set up a Recovery code first:

1. In Settings → Data & Backup → Recovery code, click Set up.
2. Choose Generate a code, Use my own password (at least 12 characters) or Use a code I already have.
3. For a generated code, copy it or click Save as a file, and tick I saved this code somewhere safe. Then click Turn on.

Keep the code like a password: anyone who has your TalkBar data and this code can read your saved keys. A password manager or a printed copy is safer than a file on the same computer. You can set up a recovery code once you have saved your first API key, password or token. Until you do, TalkBar may remind you with Protect your saved keys.

Restore a backup

1. Click Restore backup.
2. Leave Create a safety backup of current data first ticked unless you are sure you don't need the current data. The safety copy is saved next to the backup you restore, named talkbar-pre-restore-….zip.
3. Click Choose backup file and pick a TalkBar backup ZIP.
4. TalkBar checks the file and shows when it was made, with which TalkBar version, and what it contains. Click Restore and restart.

TalkBar restarts and replaces the data on this computer with the backup. Downloaded models already on this computer and the logs are kept.

A backup made by a different version of TalkBar can't be restored by this version; TalkBar tells you before anything changes. Update TalkBar to the same version on both computers first.

Move to another computer

You have two options:

With a backup

1. On the old computer, set up a recovery code, then create a backup.
2. Install TalkBar on the new computer, at the same version, and open it.
3. Restore the backup there.
4. TalkBar shows a notice that it can't read your saved keys on this computer. Click Fix, then enter your code under Restore with your recovery code. Without a code, choose Start fresh and enter your keys and passwords again.
5. Activate your license on the new computer. The license is not part of the backup. See Plans and license.

Transfer to another device

Use Transfer to another device when you want to copy only some of your data, or add it to a computer that already has TalkBar data.

1. On the old computer, click Export data.
2. Choose the Workspaces, What to include, and Which sessions: all sessions in the chosen workspaces, sessions in selected projects or series, or Selected sessions.
3. Optionally tick Include session audio (this makes the file much larger) and Include items in Trash.
4. Click Choose where to save. TalkBar writes a talkbar-transfer-….zip file.
5. On the new computer, open Settings → Data & Backup → Import data, click Choose transfer file, and choose Where to put it: Merge into a workspace, Create a new workspace or Keep the original workspaces.
6. Click Import.

If the file holds more sessions than the new computer's plan allows, TalkBar asks whether to stop, or to import anyway and move the oldest extra sessions to Trash.

Passwords and API keys never travel in a transfer file. After the import, TalkBar lists the services to reconnect (AI providers, notification channels, export destinations, share branding) with a link to each one's settings. Shared links and export history stay with the old computer.

Resets

All resets are in the Danger zone. Create a backup first.

After Reset database, Reset all data and Restore backup, TalkBar keeps the previous data in the backups folder inside the data folder. It keeps the two most recent copies of each kind and removes older ones. These copies can take a lot of space; delete the folders you don't need once you are sure.

Related

• Data & Backup settings
• Privacy and your data
• Plans and license
• Troubleshooting