Where does Kontuly store my books on my computer?
Kontuly keeps each business in its own file in the app's data folder on your computer, not online. On a Mac that's ~/Library/Application Support/Kontuly, on Windows %APPDATA%\Kontuly, and on Linux ~/.config/Kontuly.
| Computer | Data folder |
|---|---|
| Mac | ~/Library/Application Support/Kontuly |
| Windows | %APPDATA%\Kontuly |
| Linux | ~/.config/Kontuly |
Inside it, businesses holds one file per business and backups holds the automatic backups, in a folder per business.
Should I copy these files myself?
No. Don't move, rename or edit the files in the data folder. Copying a business's file by hand while Kontuly is running can give you an incomplete copy. Use the buttons in Settings → Backups instead:
- Export… saves a complete backup file you can keep anywhere. See How do I export a backup of my books?
- Show backups folder opens the folder holding the business's backups.
- Off-site copies copy every business to a drive of your choosing each day.
What's in a business's file?
Everything about that business travels together: transactions, contacts, settings, tax rates, bank rules, email templates, attachments and the audit log. Two things don't:
- your email (SMTP) password, which is encrypted with this computer's keychain and can't be read on another computer;
- app-wide preferences such as light or dark mode.
Where are the log files for support?
Open About in the sidebar. Under Troubleshooting, Show logs and Show crash reports open the folders support may ask for.
Related questions
- How does Kontuly back up my books?Kontuly backs up every business automatically each day and keeps the last 14, plus one before updates and deletes. How to see backups and take one now.
- How do I export a backup of my Kontuly books?In Kontuly, open Settings → Backups and click Export… to save the open business as one .kontuly file you can keep on a USB drive or send to someone.
- Is Kontuly cloud software? Where are my books kept?Kontuly is desktop software, not cloud. Each business is a file on your own computer. Here's what does go online, and how your books are kept safe.
More about backups, data and security
- How do I keep a copy of my Kontuly books off the computer?Set up off-site copies in Kontuly and it copies every business each day to a USB drive, network drive (NAS) or other folder you choose. Nothing is sent online.
- How do I restore a Kontuly backup?Restoring a backup in Kontuly always adds it as a new, separate business, so your current books are never overwritten. How to restore a listed backup or a file.
- How do I move Kontuly to a new computer?Export a backup of each business, deactivate the licence on the old computer, then install Kontuly on the new one, activate and restore. Step by step.
- Is Kontuly secure? How are my books protected?Your Kontuly books stay on your computer. Protect them with disk encryption, an optional app password and a backup password that encrypts copies.
- How do I set an app password in Kontuly?Set an app password in Kontuly's Settings → Security so it asks for it on opening, after idle time and on sleep. A forgotten password can't be recovered.