Can I back up or export my LocalPM data?

LocalPM saves everything automatically in your browser's local storage, and nothing is sent to a server. That keeps your data private, but it also means the only copy is in that one browser. A backup file is how you get a second copy.

Export all your data

1. Select Backup in the LocalPM toolbar. The Backup & restore panel opens.
2. Select Export all data (JSON).
3. Your browser downloads a file named like localpm-backup-2026-11-03.json. It contains every project in this browser.

Save the file somewhere outside the browser, such as a cloud storage folder or an external drive. A file left only in your Downloads folder is lost if that computer fails.

LocalPM shows the date of your last backup. If you make a lot of changes without backing up, the dashboard shows a reminder.

Import a backup

1. Select Backup, then choose a LocalPM backup .json file to import.
2. LocalPM shows what the file contains before changing anything.
3. Choose how to bring it in:
   • Merge into current data adds records that aren't already in this browser. It never overwrites existing ones. If an imported project's key is already in use, the imported project gets a new key, such as ALPHA2.
   • Replace current data replaces everything in this browser with the contents of the file. LocalPM asks you to confirm first, because whatever you have now is removed.

Use Merge to bring in a project from another browser without touching your current work. Use Replace to restore a backup exactly as it was.

Export one project

Open a project and go to its Overview page. There you can:

• Export (JSON) to download a backup of just that project.
• Stories (CSV) to download that project's stories as a CSV file you can open in a spreadsheet or import into another tool.
• Edit project to change its name, key, or description.
• Delete the project. LocalPM asks you to confirm first.

Move to another browser or computer

There's no automatic sync and no account, so you move data yourself:

1. On the old browser, select Backup and then Export all data (JSON).
2. Copy the file to the new computer.
3. On the new browser, open LocalPM, select Backup, and import the file.

The same applies on iPhone and iPad between Safari and LocalPM added to the Home Screen, because they keep separate storage. See How do I install LocalPM and use it offline?

After that, the two browsers are separate again. Changes in one don't appear in the other unless you export and import again. Read Does LocalPM work offline or across devices? for more.

What can erase your data

Your projects live in the browser, so anything that clears this site's stored data removes them from it:

• Clearing browsing data or "cookies and site data" for all sites, or for selfmadepm.com
• Using a private or incognito window, which discards everything when the window closes
• Removing or resetting the browser profile you used
• Browser cleanup tools or extensions that wipe site storage

LocalPM asks your browser to keep its storage persistent, so it isn't cleared automatically when your device is low on space. Browsers may grant or decline this. The Backup & restore panel shows how much storage the site uses and whether the browser marked it persistent. None of the actions above are prevented by it.

There's no server copy. Your most recent backup file is the only way to get the data back, so export before you clear browsing data or switch computers.

How often to back up

• Export at the end of each sprint, or weekly if you use LocalPM every day.
• Export before clearing browsing data, changing browsers, or replacing your computer.
• Keep a few older files too. The date in the file name makes it easy to find a specific version.

If LocalPM can't read your saved data

If LocalPM ever finds its saved data unreadable, it keeps a copy instead of overwriting it. You can download that copy from Backup & restore, under Recovery.

To see exactly where the data is stored, read Where does LocalPM store my data?.