linkHow local backup sync works

Amplenote Desktop can maintain local backup copies of your notes on your device for offline access, backups, and external workflows.

When you make a change to a note inside Amplenote, that change is written both to your local backup files and, when connected to the internet, synced to Amplenote’s servers. These notes are saved in Markdown format (.md), and use internal identifiers to maintain backup continuity.

Renaming backup files or moving them from their original locations can break continuity with future backups. When this happens, Amplenote may generate a new backup file for the original note instead of continuing to update the renamed file.

However, it's important to understand that local backups are a one-way export from Amplenote. Changes made to local files are not synced back into the app, and local modifications may be overwritten by future updates from Amplenote.

linkUsing external tools with local backups

You can use external tools to interact with locally saved notes just as you would with any other file stored on your device. While workflows vary depending on the tool being used, some common use cases include:

These workflows can work well for experimentation, offline analysis, or temporary workflows.

linkUsing AI tools with local backups

As AI workflows become more common, some users choose to use AI tools that can directly access files stored on their devices, such as Claude Cowork.

Because Amplenote saves local backups as Markdown (.md) files, AI tools can read and modify them like any other text file stored on your computer. However, changes made by these tools to local backup files are not synced back into Amplenote and may be overwritten the next time the original note is updated inside the app.

For this reason, local backups are best suited for experimentation, information analysis, temporary workflows, or providing additional context to external tools rather than serving as a primary editing workflow.

This behavior helps ensure that Amplenote remains the single source of truth while reducing the risk of accidental changes or deletions in the local backup folder affecting notes stored inside the app.

linkCommon misconceptions

linkIf I edit a local file, will the note update inside Amplenote as well?

No. Changes made to local backup files are not imported back into Amplenote.

linkCan my local edits be overwritten?

Yes. Future note updates from Amplenote may replace the contents of local backup files.

linkCan I rename my backup files?

You can, but Amplenote may generate a new backup file for the original note instead of continuing to update the renamed file.

linkAre local backups safe to use with external AI tools?

That depends on your own privacy and security preferences, as well as the external tool being used. Amplenote does not control how third-party tools process data.

linkWhen to use external AI tools vs Ample Agent Pro

Ample Agent Pro is a paid plugin for Amplenote that allows you to use frontier AI models within your app.

Depending on your workflow, external AI tools and Ample Agent Pro may serve different purposes:

linkBest practices