Export a complete encrypted local backup

Step 1

Find Local Backup in Data Transfer

1. Open Settings > Data Transfer
2. Use Local Backup, not Back up now

Open Settings, Data Transfer, then Local Backup. Local export needs regular paid Premium, but does not need a Google account.

Step 2

Keep a complete restorable snapshot

1. Export an encrypted file
2. Keep the file safe for a later import

Local Backup explains that Export creates an encrypted file you can keep safely or move to another device.

The complete snapshot contains your Pennie history, not a selected-month analysis report. Import replaces the destination device's data.

Step 3

Tap Export Data once

1. Use the actual Export Data button
2. Wait while Pennie prepares the backup

Tap Export Data and let Pennie finish preparing the file. The button is temporarily disabled during this action.

Our genuine encrypted test snapshot preserves both synthetic months, with two transactions and eleven categories. Nothing is uploaded by creating this local file.

Step 4

Backup ready is not yet a saved external copy

1. Review the actual Backup ready choices
2. Choose how to keep the encrypted file

Backup ready offers Share backup, Save locally and, on a supported device, Upload to Google Drive.

Preparing the file is separate from distributing it. This lesson uses Save locally, not the separate cloud upload or sharing actions.

Step 5

Choose Save locally

1. Choose Save locally
2. Select and approve a destination on your phone

Choose Save locally. On Android, select and approve your preferred destination through the phone's file-saving interface.

The phone's folder picker is not shown here. The actual native row instead reaches a disclosed synthetic owned-folder transport, never your real folders.

Step 6

Check your saved file, not just this page

1. Check successful save feedback on your phone
2. Locate and keep the encrypted backup safely

After the action finishes, Export Data is available again. That button alone does not prove a copy was saved outside Pennie's cache.

On your phone, check successful save feedback and locate the file. Our synthetic saved copy is byte-for-byte identical to the genuine encrypted export; no OS success toast is shown.

Step 7

Cancel does not save a copy to your folder

1. Use Cancel to stop distribution
2. Do not rely on the temporary cache file

Choose Cancel in Backup ready if you do not want to distribute this file. It remains in Pennie's cache until the next export.

Cancel does not create a copy in your chosen folder. Keep a separately saved file before relying on this backup for recovery.

Step 8

Save cancelled means no confirmed copy

1. Read the actual Save cancelled dialog
2. Use OK, then try Export Data again when ready

If the destination action does not save successfully, the actual app shows Save cancelled. Do not treat it as a saved backup.

Use OK to return safely. The original ledger is unchanged; Export Data becomes available again after the action finishes.

Step 9

A failed destination is not a successful backup

1. A save error can show the same cancellation message
2. Choose an available destination before retrying

This synthetic destination deliberately fails. The actual app shows the same Save cancelled message, not a successful-save confirmation.

On your phone, check your chosen destination and available storage, then retry Export Data. Do not assume that returning to the page means the file was saved.

Step 10

Encrypted backup and Excel have different jobs

1. Encrypted backup is for restoration
2. Excel reports are for reading your analysis

Keep the encrypted file safe. Import Data is a separate action on an empty destination, and it replaces that device's data.

Settings, Reports exports local Excel analysis, not a restorable backup. Neither account sign-in nor creating an export automatically synchronizes your ledger.