DailyBetter doesn't ask you to sign up: your entries are saved on the device itself. That's great for privacy, but it means the backup is in your hands. There are two ways to protect your journal, and you can use both at once.

Option 1: export a backup file

This is the most reliable way, because you know exactly where the copy is.

  1. In DailyBetter, open the export backup option.
  2. The app creates a file with your entries and opens the Android share sheet.
  3. Choose where to save it. Google Drive is a good choice, but you can also save it to another folder, another cloud service or send it to yourself.

The file is a JSON file with your mood entries, notes, activities, sleep, energy and the rest of your journal data.

To restore on your new phone

  1. Install DailyBetter from Google Play.
  2. Open the import backup option.
  3. Select the file you saved. If it's in Google Drive, it shows up in the Android file picker when Drive is set up on the device.

Option 2: Android automatic backup

Many Android phones automatically back up app data to your Google Account. When this is on, the system may restore DailyBetter with your entries when you set up a new device with the same account.

To check, search for Backup in Android settings. The path varies by manufacturer, but it's usually under Settings › Google › Backup or Settings › System › Backup.

This backup is made by Android, not by DailyBetter. The app doesn't access your Google Account, and the exact timing of the copy depends on the system. That's why it works best as a second layer of protection.

Good practices

  • Export regularly. The file is a snapshot of the moment you export it. Entries made afterwards aren't in it.
  • Always export before switching phones, factory-resetting your device or uninstalling the app.
  • Keep the file somewhere you trust. It contains your journal and has no extra encryption. Don't share it with anyone who shouldn't read your entries.
  • Check the restore on the new device before wiping the old one.

Quick questions

Does DailyBetter access my Google Drive?

No. The app only opens the Android share sheet. You choose Drive as the destination, and Android handles the upload. Details are in the Privacy Policy.

I lost my phone and had no backup. Can I get my entries back?

If Android automatic backup was on, try setting up the new device with the same Google Account. Without either backup, recovery isn't possible, because entries aren't stored on DailyBetter servers.

Something went wrong with the import

Get in touch and tell us your phone model and Android version. You don't need to send the contents of your journal.