Backups and Restore
A backup saves a portable copy of Assistela workspace data, verifies its contents, and creates a safety point before restoration.
When to create a backup
Create a backup before a major AI-account change, manual data work, migration to another Mac, restoration of an older state, or deletion of app data. It is also useful to make one regularly after important memory and configuration changes.
Open Assistela → Settings → Backup. One screen lets you create a new ZIP, import a ZIP from another Mac, verify a known local backup, or restore it.
Create and verify
Click Create Backup
Run the action under Create fresh backup. When complete, Assistela automatically verifies the file and reveals it in Finder.
Keep track of the date
The ZIP name identifies the backup. Copy it to an encrypted external drive or trusted storage if you also want protection against Mac failure.
Use Check
For a local backup, click Check. Assistela verifies the manifest, expected files, sizes, and SHA-256 checksums without overwriting current data.
Check is a safe archive test. Use it before moving to another Mac and again immediately before restoration.
What is and is not included
The backup is a ZIP with a manifest, schema version, included-file list, sizes, and checksums. It contains the main workspace data and configuration required to transfer app state.
For security and operational reasons, it excludes browser profiles, downloads, nested old backups, temporary files, diagnostic snapshots, and ordinary logs. Secrets stored only in macOS Keychain are not copied as plain backup content.
On a new Mac, you may need to save API keys, email passwords, CardDAV credentials, the Home Assistant token, or other Keychain-protected values again. Do not treat the backup as an unencrypted export of every secret.
Restore a local backup
Select the correct archive
In Local Backups, verify the name and use Check first.
Click Restore
Restoration changes current workspace data, so it is a destructive option with confirmation.
Confirm the exact file
Before overwriting anything, Assistela creates a safety backup of the current state. It then verifies and restores the selected archive.
Test after restoration
Check Chat, the AI account, memory, and services. Save any missing secret values again in their respective settings.
Import from another Mac
Click Choose Backup under Import Backup File and select the ZIP. Assistela copies it into known backups and verifies it. You can then restore it. Never restore a ZIP from an untrusted source or an archive of unknown origin.