Backup packs this Host’s VibeX data into a portable .vibexbak file, optionally encrypted with a passphrase. Restore requires a preview first, so overwrite targets are visible before write. Use it when moving machines, reinstalling the OS, or keeping a copy before clearing local data.

This page is under desktop Settings → System. The current WebUI Settings sidebar has no System item.

A backup covers VibeX’s own store and config. It omits project Git repositories and each Agent’s official directories (for example ~/.claude, Codex auth.json). Move those files with each Agent’s own tools.

Entry point

Open the desktop Settings window, then System, then Backup & Restore.

Export

Export backup asks for a destination path with a .vibexbak suffix. Encrypt passphrase is optional; empty packs without encryption. Click Export.

While running, the page shows Exporting VibeX backup.... Success shows Backup exported. An empty path shows Please enter a backup export path.

The archive typically includes:

• config.json, profiles.json, and db.sqlite from the Host data directory
• version-control-settings.json, instructions-metadata.json, system-settings.json
• web-service-settings.json, chat-channel-settings.json, chat-channel-secrets.json
• settings.json and mcp.json under the user VibeX directory, plus files under skills/

The preview after export, or the preview before restore, is the authoritative file list. Missing files on disk are left out of the pack.

Keep the file on a disk you control, or on an encrypted volume. Treat a pack that contains chat-channel-secrets.json and the database as confidential.

Preview

Restore backup first takes a .vibexbak path. Encrypted packs also need the decryption passphrase. Click Preview.

A successful preview shows format, version, app version, created time, file count, and paths that would be overwritten. Rows marked Will overwrite replace the live file on restore. A wrong passphrase or a damaged file shows Backup preview failed.

Preview must finish before Restore is available. Skipping preview shows Please preview the backup to restore first.

Restore

After preview, click Restore and confirm. While running, the page shows Restoring VibeX backup.... Success shows Backup restored. Restarting the app is recommended. After restart, conversations, channels, instructions, and settings match the backup.

Restore writes the current Host data directory and replaces files marked in the preview. Conversations, channels, and settings created on this machine after the backup are replaced by those files. Git commits inside project workspaces stay.

Failures

Export or restore errors show Backup export failed or Backup restore failed plus a reason. Typical causes: no write permission on the path, insufficient disk space, passphrase mismatch, or a file that is not vibex-portable-backup. Change the path or passphrase and preview again.

Clear local data returns this Host’s VibeX configuration, conversation store, and caches to a freshly installed state, then registers built-in Agent rows again. Git repositories on disk, worktree folders, and each Agent’s official directories stay in place.

This page is under desktop Settings → System. The current WebUI Settings sidebar has no System item.

Clearing is permanent. Keep conversations, channels, and settings by finishing Backup and restore first.

Entry point

Open the desktop Settings window, then System, then Clear VibeX local data. Click Clear local configuration and cache.

A confirmation dialog asks for a second confirmation. Confirm to start.

What runs

The Host stops scripts and processes still running. If a process stays running, the operation aborts. Stop it by hand, then retry.

It then deletes local config files and the cache directory, empties business tables in the conversation database, writes default settings, and registers built-in Agents again. Desktop toasts and file watchers reset.

While running, the page shows Clearing local data.... Success shows Local data cleared and asks the app to reload. After reload the board is empty. Open projects, enable Agents, and configure channels again.

Removed and kept

Removed or reset: VibeX settings, conversations and turns, workflow runs, message channel config, automations, plugin enabled state, local caches.

Kept: project folders and their Git history, Git worktree directories already created, each Agent’s official config and login (for example ~/.claude), and .vibexbak files you saved yourself.

Opening the same project afterward registers it as a newly opened repo. Worktrees that still exist on disk need a new bind as in Worktree, or cleanup with Git.

Failures

On Clear local data failed, wait for the current attempt to finish. Confirm no Agent or terminal process is stuck, then retry. If another program holds the database file, quit that program and retry.