Guide

Backup & Restore Your Notes

Your notes live in your browser. One backup saves them all. Here's how to protect your work in Notepad Online — and restore it on any device.

Important: Notes are stored in your browser's localStorage — not on a server. They will be lost if you clear browser data, use a new device, or browse in private mode. Backup regularly.

How to Backup Your Notes

1

Open the File Menu

Click "File" in the top menu bar of Notepad Online. The File menu contains all file operations including backup.

FileEditInsertAlertFormat
New Note
Open File
─────────
Save as PDF
Save txt
─────────
Backup Notes ✦
Restore Backup
2

Click Backup Notes

Select "Backup Notes" from the dropdown. Your browser will immediately download a ZIP file containing all your notes as HTML files with full formatting preserved.

📦
notepad-backup-2026-06-07.zip
├── Meeting Notes.html
├── Project Ideas.html
├── Shopping List.html
├── Diary.html
└── backup-manifest.json
4 notes · all formatting preserved

How to Restore a Backup

3

File → Restore Backup

Click "File" in the menu bar, then select "Restore Backup". A dialog will appear asking you to select your backup ZIP file.

📁Restore Backup
Drop your ZIP file here or
Browse Files
✅ notepad-backup-2026-06-07.zip selected (4 notes)
Cancel
Restore
4

Select Your ZIP & Restore

Browse to your downloaded backup ZIP file and click Restore. All notes from the backup will be loaded into your notepad instantly.

Restoring backup...
4 notes restored successfully!
Your notes are now in the sidebar.

Best Practices

🗓️

Backup Daily

Get into the habit of backing up at the end of each day if you have important notes. It only takes 2 seconds.

☁️

Store in the Cloud

Save your backup ZIP to Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud so it's accessible from any device, anywhere.

📱

Sync Across Devices

To use your notes on a different device: backup on device A, transfer the ZIP via cloud/email, restore on device B.

What's Inside the Backup ZIP?

The backup ZIP contains one HTML file per note — preserving all rich text formatting (bold, italic, headings, colors, lists) — plus a manifest for ordering and dates.

FileContents
{note-title}.htmlFull rich-text HTML content of the note — bold, italic, headings, lists, colors, all preserved
backup-manifest.jsonMetadata: note IDs, titles, filenames, creation & modification dates, sidebar order

Frequently Asked Questions

What format are notes backed up in?
Multiple notes are backed up as a ZIP file containing individual HTML files for each note (preserving all rich text formatting) plus a backup-manifest.json. A single note downloads as a standalone HTML file.
Will restoring a backup overwrite my current notes?
The restore operation merges your backup notes with any existing notes. Notes with the same ID may be overwritten, but new notes are preserved.
How often should I backup my notes?
We recommend backing up daily or after any important writing session. Since notes live in browser localStorage, they can be lost if you clear browser data.
Can I restore a backup on a different device?
Yes. Download the backup on one device, transfer the ZIP file (email, USB, cloud), then use Restore Backup on the other device.
Why did my notes disappear?
Notes are stored in browser localStorage. They can be lost if you clear browser data, use a new browser or device, or browse in private/incognito mode. Always keep a backup.

Ready to Back Up Your Notes?

Open Notepad Online and go to File → Backup Notes right now.

Open Notepad Online →

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