Backup & Restore

Import & Backup

Backup & Restore

Learn how Lode backs up your data automatically with iCloud and how to create or restore a local backup file.

Your data is backed up automatically

Lode keeps your data on your device and syncs it to your iCloud account automatically. As long as you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account, your transactions, accounts, budgets, and goals are always up to date — across all your devices, with no manual steps required.

You can check it in Settings → Backup & Sync: the iCloud Sync row shows whether syncing is working, and explains what’s wrong if it isn’t — for example, when you’re not signed in to iCloud or your iCloud storage is full.

If you reinstall Lode or get a new iPhone, simply sign in with your Apple Account and your data will restore automatically.

Manual backup

For an extra layer of safety, you can export a local backup file at any time. Exporting needs Premium; restoring a backup is free.

  1. Go to Settings → Backup & Sync
  2. Tap Export Backup
  3. Save or share the .json file — to Files, iCloud Drive, email, or anywhere you like

The backup holds your accounts, categories, tags, transactions, bills, budgets, goals, debts, trips, places and projects. Export CSV in the same section saves your transactions as a spreadsheet — handy for reading elsewhere, but it is not a backup you can restore.

We recommend doing this before major changes, like deleting a lot of transactions or switching devices.

Restoring from a backup file

  1. Go to Settings → Backup & Sync
  2. Tap Restore from Backup
  3. Choose your .json backup file
  4. Check the summary of what’s in the file and tap Restore — Lode merges the backup into your current data

How restore works: Lode matches items by their ID. Existing items with the same ID are replaced by the backup’s version — any changes you made to them after the backup was created are lost — and any items missing from your current data are added back. It does not delete transactions that aren’t in the backup.

Use Restore from Backup for Lode’s own backups, not Import: a restore puts your records back by ID, while an import would create copies of them.

What if I delete the app?

Once your data has synced to iCloud, deleting Lode does not delete it. Reinstall the app, sign in with the same Apple Account, and everything will be restored. If you’re not signed in to iCloud, your data exists only on that device — export a backup before deleting the app.

Questions? Reach out — we’re happy to help.