Modula Modula documentation

Your data

Backup

Your texts live in Chrome, on this computer, and nowhere else. That's what guarantees their privacy — and what makes backups essential: uninstalling Modula, resetting Chrome or clearing browser data deletes the library, with no way back.

Backing up now Basic

A backup is a file that holds your content and your settings. It lets you get everything back, on this computer or another.

How to
  1. Options, Settings → Data management, Backup tab.
  2. Click 💾 Back up now.
  3. The first time, Chrome asks for permission to save files: accept.
Good to know

If you refuse the permission, the backup is still downloaded, into your download folder.

Choosing the location, opening the folder Advanced

With Ask me where to save ticked (the default), Chrome lets you choose where to put the file: a USB stick, a synced folder, a network drive — anywhere but this computer, which is the whole point. Unticked, the backup goes straight into the Modula subfolder of your download folder.

The path of the last file written is shown below the button, and 📂 Open the folder takes you there. Each manual backup carries its date in its name (modula-backup-2026-09-28-1430.json) and never replaces another.

The backup reminder Basic

When you have changed your library since the last backup, and that backup is at least 7 days old, Modula reminds you:

  • a ! badge on the Modula icon, and a line in its menu;
  • a banner at the top of the Options, with Back up now and Later (24 hours of respite).

Only your content, categories and quick actions count: a settings change doesn't trigger a reminder. No tab opens to remind you.

Setting the reminder delay Advanced

In the Backup tab, Remind me to back up every … days, if I have changed my library: from 3 to 90 days. Untick it to stop being reminded.

A system notification Advanced

Tick Also notify me with a system notification to get the reminder even when Chrome is in the background. Chrome asks for permission to show notifications.

Automatic backup Advanced

Tick Automatic backup: Modula writes at most one backup per day on which you changed something, without asking, into the Modula subfolder of your download folder. The first one is written at once.

Five files are kept, modula-backup-1.json to modula-backup-5.json, overwritten in turn. Their number says nothing about their age: sort the folder by modification date to find the most recent.

Good to know

An automatic backup stays on this computer. Now and then, make a manual backup to another medium.

Sharp drop: the automatic backup waits Expert

If your library contains far fewer items than at the last backup — at least 20% and at least 5 items fewer — the automatic backup is suspended. An accidental deletion mustn't replace a complete backup with an incomplete one.

A banner warns you, with two choices:

  • Back up anyway if the drop is intentional (you tidied up);
  • Restore a backup… if it isn't.
Good to know

Before restoring, look at the bin and the History tab: a recent deletion is often simpler to undo there.

Restoring a backup Basic

How to
  1. Settings → Data management, Import / Export tab.
  2. ⬆ Import a file…, choose the backup, then the Import and replace mode: your SmartTexts and SmartMails go back to the file's state. Those created since are not deleted. See Import and export.
  3. For settings, categories and quick actions: ⬆ Restore from a file…, in the ⚙ Configuration card, with the same file.

A good routine Basic

  • Turn on automatic backup: it protects you from mistakes.
  • Once a month, and before any change of computer or reinstall of Chrome, make a manual backup to another medium.
Good to know

A backup also contains your settings, including your site lists. It's a personal file: to pass texts on to someone, use export instead.