Backup and Restore

Why backup matters

Cella's working vault lives on your iPhone. Losing the device or deleting the app can remove local data, so keep backups somewhere that survives the device.

Backups contain both vaults, their documents, the database, Smart Spaces, tags, and configured cloud-provider material in one encrypted file.

Received shared-space documents, invitations, participant details, and live sharing credentials are excluded. Restoring a backup does not recreate an active share. Export an individual shared document if you need a separate copy.

Use automatic backup

Automatic backup is on by default.

1. Open More > Settings > Backup and Restore.
2. Leave Automatic backup on.
3. Tap Backup folder.
4. Tap Change Folder and choose a folder in iCloud Drive or another cloud-storage app.

Cella checks for a changed, stale vault when the app enters or leaves the foreground. It does not run as an independent scheduled service while Cella is never opened. It keeps the three most recent automatic backups in the chosen destination.

The Last backup row shows the most recent success or a failure message.

Good to know: The default folder is inside Cella's own storage. It is visible in Files under On My iPhone, but it is removed if you delete Cella and does not protect against losing the phone. An external folder is safer.

Change or unlink the folder

Under Backup Folder:

• Tap Change Folder to choose or relink an external folder.
• Tap Use Default Folder to stop using the external location. Existing files in the old folder are not deleted.

If a linked folder cannot be reached, automatic backup pauses until you choose it again or return to the default folder.

Save the automatic backup key

Automatic backups use a generated key stored on this device only.

1. Tap Backup key.
2. Tap Show Key.
3. Authenticate with Face ID or the device passcode.
4. Tap Copy Key or Share Key.
5. Store it outside this iPhone, ideally in a password manager.

If the app or phone is lost, the on-device key is also lost. Automatic backup files cannot be opened without the saved key.

Create a manual encrypted backup

1. Tap Backup.
2. Enter and confirm a password of at least ten characters that mixes letters, numbers, and symbols.
3. Tap Create Encrypted Backup.
4. Use the iOS share sheet to save the resulting file.

Keep the password separately. Cella cannot recover a forgotten backup password.

Restore a backup

1. Tap Restore.
2. Tap Choose Backup File and select a Cella backup.
3. Enter the manual password or saved automatic backup key.
4. Tap Restore Backup.
5. Read the overwrite warning, then tap Restore to continue.

Restore merges the backup into the current installation. Matching documents and files are overwritten by the backup versions. The action cannot be undone, so create a current backup first when practical.

Restore requires a backup format compatible with the installed Cella version.