Backup

What a backup needs

Two things:

1. The database ~/.local/share/nuvo/library.db.
2. The key, or its 24-word recovery phrase.

A copy of the database without the key cannot be opened. The recovery phrase is the key. Keep it offline, apart from the backup.

You do not need to back up the audio cache. Nuvo refills it.

Make a backup

Close Nuvo, then copy the file:

cp ~/.local/share/nuvo/library.db /path/to/backup/library.db

Close Nuvo first, because the database uses a write-ahead log. If you cannot close it, use an export.

Restore on the same machine

1. Close Nuvo.
2. Put the file back at ~/.local/share/nuvo/library.db.
3. Start Nuvo. If the keyring still holds the key, it opens.

Restore on a new machine

1. Copy library.db to the same path.
2. Start Nuvo. The keyring has no key, so Nuvo shows the lock screen.
3. Enter your 24 words. Nuvo unlocks the library and stores the key in the new keyring.

Automatic backups

Before a database migration, Nuvo copies the database to ~/.local/share/nuvo/backups/library-<time>-v<version>.db. It keeps the three newest. If an update goes wrong, close Nuvo and copy a backup back to library.db. The matching older Nuvo version must open it. A database from a newer version is refused.

Exports that anyone can read

Exports do not need the key and do not include settings or secrets.

Nuvo JSON imports back exactly. See local files and imports.

Lost both key and phrase

The library cannot be opened. Nuvo does not hold a copy of your key anywhere else.