Backing Up Your Records
MTDify stores your bookkeeping data in a single file:
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db.sqlite3 - db is the name of the file (its important to know that!)
This file is located in the same folder as the MTDifyLocal.exe file you use to run the software.
Automatic Backups (Enabled by Default)
MTDify Local Edition includes a built-in automatic backup system.
How it works
Every time you open MTDify Local:
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The software checks whether a backup already exists for today
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If not, it automatically creates one
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Backups are stored in a folder named:
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backups
next to your MTDifyLocal.exe file.
Example backup files
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db-2026-01-10.sqlite3
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db-2026-01-11.sqlite3
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db-2026-01-12.sqlite3
Each file is a complete snapshot of your bookkeeping data for that date.
What is backed up?
Everything:
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income
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expenses
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categories
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suppliers
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user accounts
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dashboard totals
How often?
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Once per day
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Triggered when you start the software
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Backups will not create duplicates for the same day
Backup retention
Old backups may be automatically removed after 90 days to save space.
Where to find your backups
Your backups are located here:
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MTDifyLocal/
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MTDifyLocal.exe
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db.sqlite3
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backups/
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db-2026-01-10.sqlite3
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db-2026-01-11.sqlite3
If you do not see the backups folder after a week of normal use, contact support.
Restoring a Backup
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Close MTDify
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Open the backups folder
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Choose the backup you want
- Remove the date so the name is db only e.g. db-2025-01-12.sqlite3 remove -2025-01-12. It is now db.sqlite3
- Replace the existing file. Delete the current db database file and replace it with the one from your backup folder.
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Start MTDify again and log in
Your data will instantly return to the version from that day.
Additional Safety (Recommended)
Because backups are stored locally on your device, you should occasionally copy the backups folder to:
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a USB memory stick
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cloud storage
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an external hard drive
This protects your bookkeeping data from hardware failure or accidental deletion.