Data, backup and import
Where your data lives and how to move or restore it.
Your tasks, sessions and settings are in one SQLite file on your PC.
Location
%APPDATA%\app.taskdock.desktop\taskdock.db
%APPDATA%\app.taskdock.desktop\backups\
Settings → Data → Data folder opens it in Explorer.
Backups
- Back up now writes a full copy to
backups\. - Automatic backups: off, daily or weekly. Old automatic backups are removed to keep the folder small.
- Keep your own copy elsewhere (another drive or cloud folder you control) if the data matters to you. Backups in the same folder do not protect against disk failure.
Export
| Format | Contains | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | Everything: tasks, projects, tags, sessions, distractions, settings | Complete backup, moving to another PC |
| CSV | Tasks only | Spreadsheets |
CSV export escapes cells that start with =, +, - or @, so opening the file in a spreadsheet cannot run formulas.
Import
- Settings → Data → Import backup (JSON) or Import tasks (CSV).
- TaskDock validates the file and shows a summary: what it found, and any problems.
- You confirm explicitly. Choose merge to add to what you have, or replace to swap everything.
- The import runs as a single transaction. If anything fails, nothing is changed.
Only .json and .csv files are accepted, with a size limit, and invalid files are rejected with a plain message.
Erase all data
Erase all data asks for confirmation and cannot be undone. Export first.
Damaged database
If the database cannot be opened, TaskDock shows a recovery screen. It never deletes the file. Start fresh renames it to taskdock.db.corrupt-<time> and creates a new one, so you can still recover data by hand or restore a backup.
Moving to a new PC
- On the old PC: Export everything (JSON).
- Install TaskDock on the new PC.
- Import the JSON with replace.
Upgrades
Database changes between versions are applied automatically and in order. Upgrading an existing database keeps your data.