Sync, Backup & Export

Jotaid is local-first: everything works fully offline, and your data lives on your device. iCloud sync, encrypted backups, and exports are optional layers on top.

iCloud Sync

Jotaid syncs through iCloud (CloudKit) so your notes stay in step across your Mac and iPhone.

• Sync is automatic — it follows your iCloud account. There is no in-app on/off switch; if you're signed into iCloud, sync runs in the background.
• If you're not signed in, Jotaid works fully locally. To change sync, sign in or out of iCloud in your system settings.
• Your Inbox works on the free tier; syncing notes across additional projects is part of Pro.

Sync Health

To see how sync is doing, open Settings → Sync Health. It runs live checks:

• iCloud Connection — whether your account is available, signed out, or restricted
• Sync Configuration — whether the CloudKit zone is set up (with a Fix action if not)
• Data Integrity — orphaned attachments or structural issues, paused while a sync is in progress

Rebuild from iCloud

Sync Health includes a Rebuild from iCloud action. It wipes local data and re-downloads everything from iCloud — a last resort for a stuck device. Unsynced local changes are lost, though Jotaid makes a backup first. Use it only when advised.

Sync Health does not show a "last synced" timestamp or a pending-item count — CloudKit handles timing internally.

Encrypted Backups

For a portable, self-contained copy of everything, use Export Backup (⌃⌘B on macOS). A backup is a single encrypted file.

• You set a password; it's required to restore on any device
• Encryption is strong (PBKDF2 + AES-GCM); use at least 12 characters
• There is no recovery if you lose the password — Jotaid cannot reset it

Restore with Import Backup (⌥⇧⌘B). Importing merges the backup into your current library and may report a partial result (for example, missing attachments). Keep a backup before any major change or device move.

Export

Export the current note to a standard format:

• Markdown (⇧⌘E) — portable .md
• PDF — a polished, printable document (LaTeX and Mermaid render correctly)

On macOS you can also batch export a whole selection to a folder, one .md per note. On iOS, export goes through the system share sheet (no batch export).

TIP

Exports contain your text, not your image attachments. To move everything — notes and attachments — use an encrypted backup instead of an export.

Import Markdown

Bring existing Markdown into Jotaid from Import in the menu:

• Import File(s) — one or more .md files land in the current location
• Import Folder — a folder maps to your structure automatically:
  • the folder itself becomes a Project
  • each top-level subfolder becomes a Theme
  • deeper subfolders are folded in as #tags

Files over ~10 MB or non-UTF-8 files are skipped and listed in the import report.

Trash

Deleting a note doesn't destroy it — it moves to the Trash:

• A Restore / Undo option appears right after you delete
• Restore anytime from the Trash view
• Empty Trash permanently removes everything — and it syncs

WARNING

If you try to empty an unusually large Trash, Jotaid asks a second time — a safeguard against a sync glitch permanently deleting a big batch. There is no automatic time-based purge; Trash stays until you empty it.

Next Steps

• Free vs Pro — What sync and projects unlock
• Troubleshooting — Sync and backup issues