External backup for Scrivener iOS files?

[_jai]

@AmberV

There is a better way of creating backups in my opinion. If you go to the main project screen and tap the Edit button you’ll find a gear button along the bottom. Tap that, and then select the project you wish to back up and “share” it. This will present a few options based on your configuration. I have an app called “FileApp” (which I think is free) that serves as a general file storage utility. I can stash zipped copies of the project there. But I believe you might also be able to use Apple’s new Files app for that as well. At the least you could email yourself a copy.

I believe the fundamental downside to this is that all of these methods are one-way backups. You can’t actually restore a zipped backup back into Scrivener using nothing but iOS, owing to limitations in the operating system itself. Some utilities (like FileApp) can unzip, but the result is a folder of files that iOS lacks the infrastructure to send as a whole unit to another app. (It’s a bit of a curious limitation, since you can readily send folder/package formats to iOS from a Mac with AirDrop, so it’s not like this is impossible for Apple to implement, they already have—it’s just not allowed.)

But that aside, it is a safer way of keeping redundant copies completely outside of any cloud mechanisms and the Scrivener app storage area.

I use FileApp and backup zips just as you do. However, you can import them back to Scrivener:

Tap to unzip
Tap to open folder
Long press on the .scriv file
Choose “Actions” from the menu
Choose “Open in Scrivener”

I’ve used this to go back to a previous version of my work, but doing this may overide the existing project so use with caution.