# Restoring Files
Whether you're switching devices, reinstalling Provenance, or migrating from a sideloaded build to the App Store version, this guide covers how to back up and restore your data.
***
## What Can Be Backed Up?
| Data | Location | Notes |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Battery saves** (in-game saves) | `Battery/` | Most important — these are your actual game progress |
| **Save states** | `Save States/` | Quick-save snapshots; may not survive app version changes |
| **ROMs** | `com.provenance.[system]/` folders | Your game files |
| **BIOS files** | `BIOS/` | System firmware files |
| **Cover art** | `Custom Artwork/` | Any custom images you've added |
| **Controller skins** | Skins storage | Custom `.deltaskin` files |
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Save states are not guaranteed to be compatible across app versions.** Core updates can break save state compatibility. Always create **in-game saves** (battery saves) before updating Provenance.
{% endhint %}
***
## Option 1: iCloud Sync (Easiest)
If you use **Provenance Plus**, iCloud automatically syncs your library, saves, BIOS files, custom artwork, and skins across all your devices.
**What syncs:**
* ROMs and game library
* Battery saves and save states
* BIOS files
* Controller skins
* Custom cover art
* Settings and preferences
**How to enable:**
1. Open Provenance → Settings
2. Enable **iCloud Sync**
3. Data syncs automatically in the background
**Restoring on a new device:**
1. Install Provenance from the App Store
2. Sign in with the same Apple ID
3. Subscribe to Provenance Plus (or restore your subscription)
4. Enable iCloud Sync — your library will download automatically
{% hint style="info" %}
**Apple TV users:** iCloud/CloudKit sync is included free — no Provenance Plus subscription required.
{% endhint %}
***
## Option 2: Manual Backup via Files App (iOS/iPadOS)
### Backing up
1. Open the **Files** app on your device
2. Navigate to **On My iPhone** (or **On My iPad**) → **Provenance**
3. You'll see folders like `Battery/`, `Save States/`, and system-specific ROM folders
4. **Select the folders you want to back up** → tap **Share** → save to:
* iCloud Drive
* A computer via AirDrop
* Any cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
### Restoring
1. Install Provenance (fresh install or update)
2. **Launch Provenance once** and open a game briefly — this creates the folder structure
3. Open the **Files** app → navigate to **Provenance**
4. Copy your backed-up files back into the matching folders:
* Battery saves → `Battery/`
* Save states → `Save States/`
* ROMs → import via normal [import methods](/using-provenance/importing-roms.md)
{% hint style="warning" %}
**Do NOT rename files.** ROM filenames must match exactly — Provenance links saves to ROMs by filename. If a filename changes, the app won't associate your saves with the correct game.
{% endhint %}
***
## Option 3: Manual Backup via Web Server
Best for **bulk transfers** and **Apple TV** (which doesn't have the Files app).
### Backing up
1. Open Provenance → tap **+** (or Settings → Import/Export) to start the Web Server
2. Note the IP address shown (e.g., `http://192.168.1.42`)
3. On your computer:
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Web Browser" %}
1. Go to `http://[device-ip]` in your browser
2. Browse to `Battery/`, `Save States/`, and ROM folders
3. Download the files you need
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="WebDAV (Finder/Explorer)" %}
1. **Mac:** Finder → Go → Connect to Server → `http://[device-ip]:81`
2. **Windows:** Map Network Drive → `http://[device-ip]:81`
3. Connect as Guest
4. Provenance mounts as a drive — copy files to your computer
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
### Restoring
1. Start the Web Server in Provenance (same steps as above)
2. Upload your files back:
* **ROMs and BIOS:** Upload to the `Imports/` folder — Provenance auto-sorts them
* **Battery saves:** Place directly into `Battery/`
* **Save states:** Place directly into `Save States/`
***
## Option 4: Desktop File Manager (USB)
For direct USB access to Provenance's files:
1. Connect your device to your computer via USB
2. **macOS (Catalina+):** Open **Finder** → select your device → **Files** tab → **Provenance**
3. **Windows/older macOS:** Use a third-party tool:
* [iMazing](https://imazing.com/) (recommended)
* [iExplorer](https://macroplant.com/iexplorer)
* [DiskAid](https://imazing.com/diskaid)
4. Browse Provenance's file structure and copy files in either direction
***
## Migrating Between Install Methods
### Sideloaded → App Store
The App Store and sideloaded versions use **separate data directories**. To migrate:
1. **Back up** from the sideloaded version (Files app, Web Server, or USB — see above)
2. **Delete** the sideloaded version
3. **Install** from the App Store
4. **Restore** your backed-up files into the new installation
5. If using Provenance Plus, enable iCloud Sync to prevent future data loss
### App Store → Sideloaded (or vice versa with different Bundle IDs)
Same process — back up, install the new version, restore files.
***
## Folder Structure Reference
```
Provenance/
├── Imports/ ← Drop ROMs and BIOS here for auto-import
├── Battery/ ← In-game saves (most important!)
├── Save States/ ← Quick-save state files
├── BIOS/ ← System firmware files
│ └── com.provenance.[system]/
├── Custom Artwork/ ← User-added cover art
└── com.provenance.[system]/ ← ROM storage by system
├── com.provenance.nes/
├── com.provenance.snes/
├── com.provenance.gba/
└── ...
```
***
## Troubleshooting
Saves don't appear after restoring
* Verify filenames match exactly (including extensions and capitalization)
* Launch the game once to create the folder structure, then quit and place your save files
* Force quit Provenance and reopen to refresh the database
Save states crash or don't load
Save states are tied to specific emulator core versions. If you've updated Provenance (or switched cores), old save states may be incompatible. **Battery saves** (in-game saves) are always compatible — use those for long-term game progress.
ROMs show as "Unknown" after restoring
Provenance matches ROMs by checksums (MD5/CRC). If you see unmatched games:
1. Long-press the game → **Game Settings** → manually assign the system
2. Or delete and re-import the ROM through the standard [import process](/using-provenance/importing-roms.md)
Can't access Provenance folder in Files app
* Make sure you're looking under **On My iPhone/iPad**, not iCloud Drive (unless you have iCloud Sync enabled)
* If the Provenance folder doesn't appear, launch and quit Provenance once to create it
* Check Settings → Provenance → ensure file access is enabled
***
{% hint style="success" %}
**Best practice:** Enable **Provenance Plus iCloud Sync** and let backups happen automatically. For extra safety, create in-game saves (not just save states) for your most important games.
{% endhint %}
---
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