Backups in Ulysses

Ulysses automatically backs up your sheets and groups, so you can be sure that your works are safe. You don’t have to enable this function; it’s on per default. Here we answered some common questions about backups in Ulysses.

How often is my library backed up?

  • On macOS, Ulysses keeps hourly backups for the last 12 hours, daily backups for the last seven days and weekly backups for the last six months of work.
  • On iOS, Ulysses keeps hourly backups for the last 6 hours, daily backups for the last 5 days and weekly backups for the last two months of work.

Does Ulysses create backups of all sections?

Backups are complete, stand-alone copies of your library — except for the External Folders section. We strongly advise you to create backups yourself if you work with External Folders in Ulysses. To ensure the safety of your work, you could create a Time Machine backup or use another 3rd party tool to back up your work.

Are backups synced via iCloud?

The backups are saved on your local drive and aren’t synced over iCloud.

Where are backups stored?

On Mac, your backups are stored on your main volume inside your User’s directory. To access the folders on your hard drive backup, please proceed as follows:

  1. Close all open Finder windows
  2. Open Finder
  3. Press ⇧⌘G (shift-command-G)
  4. Copy and paste the following file path and press Return:

 

Where can I find my backups in Ulysses?

On Mac

  1. Click the menu item File
  2. Select “Browse Backups…”

This will open a window that resembles Ulysses main window but is marked with yellow tape — your backup browser. In the top-left corner, you can switch between the available backups, which are sorted by date and time.

On iPhone or iPad

  1. Go to the library in Ulysses
  2. Tap the gear icon top right
  3. Select “Backup…”

From there you can choose between the available backups.

 

How can I restore my library from the backup?

On Mac

Select the sheets and groups in question, right click and choose, for example, “Restore to iCloud” from the context menu. To restore an entire library section at a time, hold ⇧ (shift) and select all contained groups. This will work for both the iCloud and the “On My Mac” section of your library.

On iPhone or iPad

Touch and hold a sheet or group and select “Restore to iCloud/On My iPad/On My iPhone”.

How can I create a Time Machine backup on Mac?

Even though Ulysses keeps its own backups, this doesn’t cover all risks, e.g., theft. Therefore, it is a good idea to backup your device regularly in a different location. On your Mac, you can use Apple’s Time Machine system, which automatically makes copies of your drive. It offers you the possibility of either storing your backups on a (dedicated) external drive, or on a network resource such as an Apple Time Capsule. To set up Time Machine, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to your System Preferences.
  2. Select Time Machine.
  3. Switch Time Machine on, you’ll be guided through the setup process.

Apple also provides a support page, should you have further questions.

How can I back up my iPad or iPhone with iCloud?

There’s also a way to back up your iOS devices to iCloud. To set this up, please follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap your name to access your personal settings, then tap iCloud.
  3. Select “iCloud Backup”.
  4. Enable iCloud Backup.

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