7. Sync and Backup

7.1. iCloud Sync

iCloud Sync stores your library in iCloud and keeps it in sync across all your Mac computers where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. Sync settings are in Settings > Sync.

Sync settings with iCloud Sync turned on Sync settings with iCloud Sync turned on

7.1.1. Turning On iCloud Sync

iCloud Sync requires the following:

  • You’re signed in to your Apple Account.

  • iCloud Drive is turned on in System Settings.

  • SnippetsLab has permission to store documents in iCloud.

Note

SnippetsLab doesn’t appear as a folder in iCloud Drive in the Finder. Like Notes and Calendar, it keeps a single library in iCloud instead of separate documents.

7.1.2. Turning Off iCloud Sync

When you turn off iCloud Sync, a confirmation dialog appears with the option Keep a copy of my library on this Mac. If you select this option, the local library is overwritten with the contents of the iCloud library. SnippetsLab then closes the iCloud library and opens the local library on this Mac.

Turning off iCloud Sync doesn’t delete the iCloud library. It’s still available on your other Mac computers, and on this Mac when you turn iCloud Sync on again.

7.1.3. Troubleshooting iCloud Sync

  • “The iCloud library is being downloaded, please try again later.”

    The iCloud library is still downloading, which is common on a new Mac or if you haven’t used the app in a while. To protect your data, SnippetsLab doesn’t open the library until the download is complete. This usually takes a few minutes, but may take longer while other apps are syncing with iCloud.

  • “Do you want to upload your current library to iCloud?”

    This dialog appears when you turn on iCloud Sync while the local library has snippets. Because the local and iCloud libraries are separate, you need to decide whether your local library should replace the one in iCloud.

    If you haven’t used iCloud Sync before, click Upload to move your library to iCloud. If you already have a library in iCloud, click Don’t Upload to use it. Upload overwrites the iCloud library with your local library.

    To merge a local library with an existing iCloud library, first choose Library > Export and export your library in the SnippetsLab Library format. Then turn on iCloud Sync and import the exported library.

  • “The iCloud service is unavailable.”

    SnippetsLab can’t reach iCloud. Check your Apple Account and iCloud Drive settings. On a managed Mac, iCloud may be restricted by the administrator. For help with iCloud setup, contact Apple Support.

7.2. Library Location

When iCloud Sync is off, you can change where your library is stored. Go to Settings > Sync and use the buttons next to Library:

  • Move Library: Saves the current library to a new location and uses that library instead.

  • Open Library: Switches to a different library (.snippetslablibrary). The previous library is left as is.

  • Reset to Default: Saves the current library to the default location and switches to it. This overwrites any library that is already at the default location.

7.3. Managing Backups

SnippetsLab automatically backs up your library while you edit and keeps backups at these intervals:

  • Every 20 minutes for the past 6 hours

  • Hourly for the past 24 hours

  • Daily for the past month

  • Weekly for the past 6 months

  • Monthly for the past 2 years

To save storage space, older automatic backups are removed as they fall outside these intervals. Backups you create manually are never removed automatically, so you can keep snapshots of your library for as long as you need.

Backups are managed in Settings > Advanced:

  • To back up manually: Click Back Up Now.

  • To restore a backup: Click Browse and Restore, select a backup, and click Restore Selected. To check a backup before restoring it, select it and click Show Contents.

  • To change the backup location: Click the gearshape.fill button and choose Move Backup Folder. Existing backups are moved to the new location unless you deselect Migrate existing backup files. To go back to the default location, choose Reset To Default from the same menu.

  • To show backups in the Finder: Click the gearshape.fill button and choose Reveal In Finder.

  • To turn off automatic backups: Deselect Back up automatically. Automatic backups are on by default.

Warning

Choose a custom backup location to protect your data. Backups in the default location can be lost if the app is deleted or a disk cleanup utility removes them.