> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/FALAK097/typesteps/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Data Management

> Export, import, backup, and reset your typing statistics

TypeSteps provides comprehensive data management tools to backup your typing statistics, transfer data between devices, and start fresh when needed.

## Overview

Your TypeSteps data includes:

* **Daily statistics**: Keystroke counts per day
* **Hourly statistics**: Activity breakdown by hour
* **Minute statistics**: Recent per-minute activity (last 2 hours)
* **App statistics**: Keystrokes per application
* **Project statistics**: Keystrokes per project/repository
* **Settings**: WakaTime API key, daily goals
* **Milestone notifications**: Which goals you've already been notified about

All data is stored locally on your Mac using `UserDefaults`.

## Exporting Your Data

### How to Export

1. Open the TypeSteps dashboard
2. Navigate to **Settings** > **Data Management**
3. Click **Export Data**
4. Choose a location to save the file
5. Your data will be saved as a JSON file (e.g., `typesteps-backup-2026-03-03.json`)

### What Gets Exported

The export includes all your data in JSON format (StorageManager.swift:324-343):

```swift theme={null}
func exportData() -> Data? {
    let notified = UserDefaults.standard.dictionary(forKey: notifiedKey) as? [String: [Double]] ?? [:]
    let goal = UserDefaults.standard.integer(forKey: "daily_goal")
    
    let backup = BackupData(
        dailyStats: dailyStats,
        hourlyStats: hourlyStats,
        minuteStats: minuteStats,
        appStats: appStats,
        projectStats: projectStats,
        appBundleMapping: appBundleMapping,
        notifiedMilestones: notified,
        wakaTimeApiKey: wakaTimeApiKey,
        dailyGoal: goal
    )
    
    let encoder = JSONEncoder()
    encoder.outputFormatting = .prettyPrinted
    return try? encoder.encode(backup)
}
```

### Export File Structure

The exported JSON file contains:

```json theme={null}
{
  "dailyStats": {
    "2026-03-01": 15234,
    "2026-03-02": 18956,
    "2026-03-03": 12450
  },
  "hourlyStats": {
    "2026-03-03-09": 1250,
    "2026-03-03-10": 2340,
    "2026-03-03-11": 1890
  },
  "minuteStats": {
    "2026-03-03-11-30": 45,
    "2026-03-03-11-31": 52
  },
  "appStats": {
    "Visual Studio Code": 45000,
    "Xcode": 38000,
    "Safari": 12000
  },
  "projectStats": {
    "typesteps": 25000,
    "my-app": 18000
  },
  "appBundleMapping": {
    "Visual Studio Code": "com.visualstudio.code",
    "Xcode": "com.apple.dt.xcode"
  },
  "notifiedMilestones": {
    "2026-03-01": [1.0],
    "2026-03-02": [1.0]
  },
  "wakaTimeApiKey": "your-api-key-here",
  "dailyGoal": 15000
}
```

<Warning>
  Your export file contains your WakaTime API key. Keep it secure and don't share it publicly.
</Warning>

## Importing Data

### How to Import

1. Open the TypeSteps dashboard
2. Navigate to **Settings** > **Data Management**
3. Click **Import Data**
4. Select your previously exported JSON file
5. Confirm the import

<Warning>
  **Importing will replace ALL current data** with the data from the backup file. Make sure to export your current data first if you want to keep it.
</Warning>

### Import Process

The import process (StorageManager.swift:345-363):

```swift theme={null}
func importData(from data: Data) -> Bool {
    guard let backup = try? JSONDecoder().decode(BackupData.self, from: data) else { 
        return false 
    }
    
    DispatchQueue.main.async {
        self.dailyStats = backup.dailyStats
        self.hourlyStats = backup.hourlyStats
        self.minuteStats = backup.minuteStats
        self.appStats = backup.appStats
        self.projectStats = backup.projectStats
        self.appBundleMapping = backup.appBundleMapping
        self.wakaTimeApiKey = backup.wakaTimeApiKey
        
        UserDefaults.standard.set(backup.dailyGoal, forKey: "daily_goal")
        UserDefaults.standard.set(backup.notifiedMilestones, forKey: self.notifiedKey)
        
        self.saveStats()
    }
    return true
}
```

The import:

1. Validates the JSON structure
2. Decodes the backup data
3. Replaces all current statistics
4. Restores your settings (API key, goals)
5. Saves everything to UserDefaults
6. Updates the UI immediately

### Import Validation

<Accordion title="Invalid File Format">
  **Error**: "Invalid backup file"

  **Causes**:

  * File is corrupted
  * JSON structure doesn't match expected format
  * File was manually edited incorrectly

  **Solution**:

  * Use only files exported by TypeSteps
  * Don't manually edit export files
  * Try exporting a fresh backup and compare structure
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Partial Import">
  TypeSteps imports ALL or NOTHING. If any field is invalid, the entire import fails.

  This prevents partial/corrupted data states.
</Accordion>

## Use Cases

### 1. Backup Before Reset

<Steps>
  <Step title="Export current data">
    Save your complete history before resetting
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reset statistics">
    Clear all data to start fresh
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep backup">
    Store the export file for future reference or restore
  </Step>
</Steps>

### 2. Transfer to New Mac

<Steps>
  <Step title="Export on old Mac">
    Export all your typing data from your current machine
  </Step>

  <Step title="Transfer file">
    Copy the JSON file to your new Mac (AirDrop, iCloud, USB, etc.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Import on new Mac">
    Install TypeSteps on new Mac and import the backup file
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify">
    Check that all statistics, goals, and settings are restored correctly
  </Step>
</Steps>

### 3. Merge Data from Multiple Devices

<Note>
  TypeSteps doesn't automatically merge data. To combine statistics from multiple devices:

  1. Export from each device
  2. Manually merge the JSON files (combine the stats objects)
  3. Import the merged file

  This requires manual JSON editing and is advanced.
</Note>

### 4. Periodic Backups

Set a reminder to export your data:

* **Weekly**: If you're building streaks and don't want to lose progress
* **Monthly**: For regular users who want historical records
* **Before macOS updates**: System updates can sometimes affect app data

## Resetting Your Data

### Full Reset

To completely erase all typing statistics:

1. Open the TypeSteps dashboard
2. Navigate to **Settings** > **Data Management**
3. Click **Reset All Data**
4. Confirm the action (this cannot be undone without a backup)

<Warning>
  **This action is permanent!** Export your data first if you might want to restore it later.
</Warning>

### What Gets Reset

The reset function (StorageManager.swift:365-391):

```swift theme={null}
func resetStats() {
    dailyStats = [:]
    hourlyStats = [:]
    minuteStats = [:]
    appStats = [:]
    projectStats = [:]
    appBundleMapping = [:]
    
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: statsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: hourlyKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: minuteKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: appStatsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: projectStatsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: appBundleMappingKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: notifiedKey)
    
    // Note: WakaTime API key and daily goal are preserved
    
    saveStats()
}
```

**Cleared**:

* All keystroke statistics
* App and project tracking data
* Hourly and minute-level data
* Milestone notification history

**Preserved**:

* WakaTime API key (so you don't need to re-enter)
* Daily goal setting (maintains your configured goal)

<Note>
  If you want to reset everything including settings, you can manually clear the API key and goal after resetting stats.
</Note>

### Partial Reset Options

TypeSteps doesn't have built-in partial reset, but you can manually edit an export file:

<Accordion title="Reset Just App Stats">
  1. Export your data
  2. Open the JSON file
  3. Clear the `appStats` and `appBundleMapping` objects: `{}`
  4. Import the modified file
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Reset Old Data (Keep Recent)">
  1. Export your data
  2. Open the JSON file
  3. Remove old entries from `dailyStats` and `hourlyStats`
  4. Import the modified file
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Keep Stats, Reset Settings">
  1. Export your data
  2. Open the JSON file
  3. Modify `wakaTimeApiKey` and `dailyGoal` to new values
  4. Import the modified file
</Accordion>

## Data Storage Details

### Storage Location

All data is stored in macOS UserDefaults:

```swift theme={null}
private let statsKey = "typing_stats_daily"
private let hourlyKey = "typing_stats_hourly" 
private let minuteKey = "typing_stats_minute"
private let appStatsKey = "typing_stats_apps"
private let projectStatsKey = "typing_stats_projects"
private let appBundleMappingKey = "typing_app_bundles"
private let notifiedKey = "typing_notified_milestones"
```

UserDefaults location:

```text theme={null}
~/Library/Preferences/[bundle-id].plist
```

### Data Retention

* **Daily stats**: Kept forever
* **Hourly stats**: Kept forever
* **Minute stats**: Last 120 minutes only (automatically pruned)
* **App/Project stats**: Kept forever

<Note>
  Minute-level stats are automatically cleaned to save space (StorageManager.swift:70-73):

  ```swift theme={null}
  if minuteStats.count > 120 {
      let keys = minuteStats.keys.sorted().prefix(minuteStats.count - 120)
      for key in keys { minuteStats.removeValue(forKey: key) }
  }
  ```
</Note>

## Backup Best Practices

<Steps>
  <Step title="Regular Schedule">
    Export monthly or after significant milestones
  </Step>

  <Step title="Multiple Locations">
    Store backups in multiple places:

    * Local external drive
    * iCloud Drive
    * Time Machine backups
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Restores">
    Occasionally test importing a backup to ensure it works
  </Step>

  <Step title="Secure Storage">
    Remember backups contain your WakaTime API key - keep them secure
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Export Button Does Nothing">
  **Possible causes**:

  * No data to export yet (start typing first)
  * File permission issues

  **Solution**:

  * Verify you have write permissions to the save location
  * Try saving to Desktop first
  * Check Console.app for error messages
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Import Fails Silently">
  **Possible causes**:

  * Invalid JSON format
  * File corrupted during transfer
  * Version incompatibility

  **Solution**:

  * Validate JSON structure at jsonlint.com
  * Try exporting fresh data and comparing structure
  * Ensure file wasn't modified by text editor
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Data Missing After Import">
  **Check**:

  * Did you import the correct file?
  * Is the file from an old version of TypeSteps?
  * Was the export incomplete?

  **Solution**:

  * Open the JSON file and verify it contains your expected data
  * Try importing again
  * If still missing, restore from another backup
</Accordion>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/guides/troubleshooting">
    Fix data and tracking issues
  </Card>

  <Card title="Daily Goals" icon="target" href="/guides/daily-goals">
    Protect your streak with backups
  </Card>
</CardGroup>