How-to guide

Back up and recover your data

For a normal Windows installation, the application is under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Nawa; your profile is under %APPDATA%\Nawa. Updates replace application files and retain the profile. External project folders and custom storage directories are separate.

Make a consistent backup

1. Finish or stop active work, then quit Nawa from its tray menu. Closing only the window can leave the engine running.
2. Copy the entire profile to a private backup location. Include configuration, data and runtime authentication files, not just the database. The authentication key is necessary to decrypt saved account settings; do not publish it or a debug copy containing it.
3. Back up external project folders and any configured storage directories separately. Keep generated files you need outside disposable chats.

Do not copy only a live SQLite database while the engine is writing: its WAL may contain data not yet checkpointed. A stopped, complete profile copy avoids that inconsistency.

Restore or move computers

Install a compatible Nawa build, quit it, and preserve the new machine's existing profile before restoring your backup. Restore the whole profile to its expected location. Keep the original backup until you have verified chats, artifacts and settings.

On another computer, check project paths, installed native apps, plugin runtimes, provider connections and device permissions. A copied profile is not a guarantee that outside folders, browser sessions, device-bound credentials or OS permissions are portable. Reconnect anything that cannot authenticate and adjust paths explicitly.

Recover from interruption

After a restart, inspect the last conversation and partial output, then send a new message to continue. Nawa should report an interrupted turn instead of silently starting it again. For an update/startup problem, keep your profile and consult Troubleshooting before reinstalling.

Uninstalling the app does not remove the profile. Deleting a chat, memory, saved artifact or external file affects different storage; none is a substitute for erasing every copy. Backups and provider-side retention are separate from Nawa's local deletion.