DunneNote · Tutorial
Encrypted backup and restore
Back up a notebook to an encrypted folder, lock and unlock it with your recovery code, and restore a copy.
In this tutorial you'll back up a notebook to an encrypted folder, such as a USB drive, and restore it as a separate copy. You'll also practise getting back in with your recovery code, so you know it works before you need it.
Backup is marked In progress because it is still going through final acceptance testing. The steps below were tested in DunneNote 0.9.0 and are unchanged in 0.9.2.
You'll need#
- A notebook open, ideally with a few kinds of canvas in it.
- An empty folder for the backups, outside any notebook folder. A folder on a USB drive or external disk is ideal.
- Paper and a pen for the recovery code.
Choose the destination#
- Open Settings ▸ Backup.
- Choose Choose destination… and pick your empty folder.
Turn on encryption#
Encryption must be turned on before the first backup to a destination.
- Choose Encrypt backups at this destination….
- Enter a new passphrase. You're choosing it now; it isn't an existing password. Choose Continue.
- DunneNote shows your recovery code. Write it down on paper.
- Choose I have recorded it — continue, then type the code back in.
- Choose Turn on encryption. DunneNote confirms with "Encryption is on for this destination."
Back up and verify#
- Choose Back up now. DunneNote confirms with "Backed up and verified — N items…", and the backup appears in the list.
- Choose Verify backup. You'll see "Backup verified: N items…".
Practise with the recovery code#
- Choose Lock now, then Forget them. DunneNote forgets every saved backup passphrase (and any cloud access keys) on this computer. Your backups are not touched.
- Choose Back up now. DunneNote refuses: "These backups are encrypted and no key is available on this computer yet. Unlock the destination to continue."
- Choose Unlock with recovery code and type the code from your paper.
- Choose Back up now again. It succeeds.
Restore a copy#
A restore always creates a new notebook. It never overwrites the one you're using.
- Select the backup in the list and choose Restore….
- Choose Choose where to put it…, pick a location outside the open
notebook and outside the backup folder, and name it
My Notes restored. - Choose Restore this backup.
- Open the restored copy with Open a notebook and check that everything is there.
If you restore again with the same name, DunneNote leaves the existing folder untouched and asks you to choose a different name.
If you lose the notebook entirely#
On the launch screen, choose Lost a notebook?, answer Where are the backups? by pointing at your backup folder, unlock it, and restore from the list.
What you've learned#
- Backups are per notebook, and each Back up now is checked when it finishes.
- Encryption is turned on for an empty destination before its first backup, and gives you a recovery code.
- Lock now forgets saved secrets, and the recovery code gets you back in.
- A restore always creates a new notebook, and Lost a notebook? works from the launch screen.
Next#
- Back up to another computer
- Backup and restore, the full reference
Something unclear or out of date? Open a support ticket.