Passify

Backing Up Your Data

Passify provides the ability to make backups of your data on demand. Unlike syncing, backups are snapshots of a moment in time and stored in a single, static file that does not change.

Once a backup is made, you can move the files off-device for safe keeping, or even move them to a different device without using a Sync Provider.

Like all Passify data, backups are encrypted. Normally, encryption is performed using a device-specific key. In the case of backups that need to be more portable however, they are encrypted using an encryption key that you provide. See the Frequently Asked Question "How is encryption handled when synchronizing or backing-up? for more information.

Performing a Backup

  1. Tap the Passify menu icon and tap "Settings"
  2. Swipe up to the bottom of the Settings panel and tap the "Backup My Generators" button

  3. Enter an encryption key for your backup. You must use the same key in order to restore from this backup in the future. Be sure to keep the encryption key in a safe place. If you use Passify to generate your encryption key, be sure to write it down or save it outside of Passify.

    Use a long encryption key Longer encryption keys are better for security. It is recommended to use at least 16-20 characters in your encryption keys.

  4. Passify performs the backup and if successfull will display a confirmation with the filename in the form of "Passify-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.pbak"
  5. Note the filename and tap the "OK" button

Move your backups to a location outside Passify's folder! If you remove the Passify app from your device, the operating system will also remove any data, including any backup files, from the Passify app folder.

Moving Backups

Passify creates its backups in an app-specific folder. If you remove the Passify app from your device, the operating system will also remove all data, including any backup files, from this folder. For that reason, it is very important to move your backup files to a safe location.

Locating Passify Backups

To locate the Passify app-specific folder and created backups:

  1. Launch the "Files" app on your device
  2. Tap the "Browse" folder icon on the bottom
  3. Navigate to the root folder by tapping the back arrow at the top if not already there
  4. Tap "On my device" (will state iPhone, iPad, etc)
  5. Tap the Passify folder

Move to a safe location on same device

  1. Using the "Files" app on your device, locate the backup file to move (see Locating Passify Backups above)
  2. Tap and hold on the Passify backup file
  3. From the pop-up menu, tap "Move"
  4. When prompted for destination, tap "On my device"
  5. Create a new folder for your backups or locate an existing one you already created
  6. Tap the "Move" button

Move to a difference device (AirDrop)

Make sure that AirDrop receiving is enabled on the destination device.

  1. Using the "Files" app on your device, locate the backup file to move (see Locating Passify Backups above)
  2. Tap and hold on the Passify backup file
  3. From the pop-up menu, tap "Share"
  4. Tap "AirDrop" and select the device to receive.

Move to a difference device (iCloud)

Make sure iCloud drive is enabled in order to move between devices using iCloud.

  1. Using the "Files" app on your device, locate the backup file to move (see Locating Passify Backups above)
  2. Tap and hold on the Passify backup file
  3. From the pop-up menu, tap "Copy"
  4. Tap back button until you are at the root
  5. Tap "iCloud" Drive
  6. Tap and hold on the background somewhere (not on a file) until menu appears and select "Paste"
  7. On the destination device, ensure iCloud Drive is enabled and you will be able to access the backup file to move or copy using the "Files" app, or perform a backup restore from the file directly within Passify.

Using Sync Files as Backups

Passify uses the same file format for both Sync and Backup. This means that advanced users can make a backup manually, or through automation by simply copying the sync data file (sync.pbak) from their provider to a new location.

You'll need to use the same encryption key that was configured in your provider settings in order to restore from these files.

Rename the data file If you copy your sync files as backups, you may want to rename the copy to help differentiate it. For example: "Passify-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.pbak" where "YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS" is the year, month, date, hour, minute and second of the file's timestamp.

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