How to Save and Back Up Your Book
Your book is one Lacuna project file (.lacuna) that holds its text, images and styles. Save it with the Save button, let Auto Save save it for you, and turn on backups to keep dated copies in another folder.
How to save your book
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Click Save at the top right, or press Ctrl/Cmd+S⌘ Cmd+SCtrl+S.
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The first time, choose a folder and a name for your book.
| You see | It means |
|---|---|
| Save * | You have changes that aren't saved yet (the icon turns amber). |
| Save | Everything is saved. |
| Last Saved at 2:41 PM | The end of the window's title: when you last saved. |
If you close Lacuna or open another book before saving, Lacuna asks Save Changes? first.
How to turn on Auto Save
Auto Save saves your book for you every few minutes, whenever it has changes. New books start with it on, every 5 minutes.
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Turn on the Auto Save switch beside Save.
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Click the arrow beside the switch and choose how often, from 1 min to 1 hr.
Each book keeps its own Auto Save setting. The switch appears once you have saved a book for the first time.
How to save a copy under a new name
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Choose File › Save as, or press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+S⌘ Cmd+⇧ Shift+SCtrl+Shift+S.
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Choose a folder and a new name.
You keep working in the new copy. The old file stays as it was when you last saved it.
How to turn on backups
Backups are dated copies of your book, kept in a folder you choose, so your book file is never your only copy.
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Click the cogwheel (Lacuna Settings) on the right of the editor.
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Under Project Backups, click Choose Folder… and pick a folder.
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Turn on the switch beside Backups are off.
| Choose | To |
|---|---|
| Keep | Set how many copies of each book to keep: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 25. The oldest is removed when a new one goes past it. |
| Frequency | Set how often saving adds a copy: Every Save, or at most every 15 Minutes, 30 Minutes or 60 Minutes. |
Backups work for every book you open. Lacuna also makes one when you open a book, and a save that changes nothing never adds one.
Pick a folder on another drive, so your copies survive if your main drive fails. Don’t pick a cloud-synced folder: two computers can overwrite each other’s copies.
How to restore a backup
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In Lacuna Settings, click Open next to Backup folder. Each book has its own folder there, named after its file.
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Find the copy you want. Its name ends in the date and time it was made:
Pawsitively Sabotaged 2026-10-18 14-30-05.lacuna. -
Choose File › Open Project and open that copy.
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Choose File › Save as and save it with your books.
Always save it out of the backup folder before you work on it. Lacuna doesn’t back up a book inside the backup folder, and can remove it there as an old copy.
How to open your book again
Lacuna’s first screen lists your recent books under Projects. Double-click one, or hover it and click Open. For a book that isn’t listed, click Open Lacuna Project File.
With a book open, choose File › Open Recent Project or File › Open Project.
Questions
Does Lacuna save my book?
Yes, to your computer. Lacuna saves your book as a .lacuna file in the folder you choose, and Auto Save keeps saving it while you work.
Does Lacuna keep copies of my book on its site?
No. Your book is never uploaded: it stays in its file on your computer, and backups go to a folder on your computer that you choose.
Does Auto Save make backups?
Yes, when backups are on. Every save counts, whether you click Save or Auto Save does it, and Frequency decides how often one becomes a backup.
Why don’t I see the Auto Save switch?
It appears after you save a new book for the first time.
Why does my book say “Project no longer found”?
Its file was moved, renamed or deleted, or is on a drive that isn’t plugged in. Click Locate File and pick it where it is now.
Does removing a book from the list delete it?
No. The X on a recent book only takes it off the list; the file stays where it is.