Data Portability and Long-Term Preservation of Personal Journals
A personal journal may matter for years, even after phones, apps, and software change. The safest approach is simple: keep the journal useful now, export important chapters when they matter, and keep extra copies of anything you would hate to lose.
Sync and export are not the same thing
iCloud sync helps keep your active journal available through Apple’s ecosystem. Exporting is different: it creates a copy you can keep outside the app, such as a Stillkeep Era PDF or a Moment photocard.
Know what each export actually gives you
A PDF gives you a readable copy of an Era, while a photocard gives you a shareable copy of one Moment. These are useful exports, but they are not the same as a complete raw database backup.
Keep more than one copy of irreplaceable memories
If a memory would be devastating to lose, do not rely on one app, one phone, or one cloud account alone. Important exports can also be saved as part of your wider personal backup or archive.
Export anything important before deleting your account
Stillkeep includes in-app account deletion. If there are Eras or Moments you want to keep, export them first because deletion is intended to remove the associated account data and content.
Use familiar file formats and check them occasionally
Long-term preservation is easier when important memories also exist in familiar formats such as PDF. It is worth checking exported files and backup locations from time to time instead of assuming one old copy will always remain easy to open.
20 common questions about preserving and exporting a digital journal
What does data portability mean for a journal?
It means being able to keep useful copies of your journal outside the app itself. Stillkeep can export whole Eras as PDFs and individual Moments as photocards.
Is an Era PDF a raw database export?
No. An Era PDF is a readable copy of that chapter, not a complete raw database export.
Why are common file formats useful?
Common formats such as PDF can usually be opened by many different tools, which makes important records less dependent on one app interface.
Can Stillkeep PDFs be printed?
Yes. PDF is widely supported by printers and printing services, so an exported Era can be used as the source for a physical copy.
What is a photocard export for?
A photocard turns one Moment into a simple graphic with its image and accompanying writing, making it easier to keep or share that single memory.
Should iCloud sync be my only backup plan?
No. If a journal is irreplaceable, it is better to keep more than one copy. Important Stillkeep exports can be part of a wider personal backup system.
What should I do before deleting my account?
Export any Eras or Moments you want to retain. Stillkeep states that account deletion cannot be undone; its Privacy Policy notes that removal may be subject to limited technical delay or legal retention obligations.
Can an exported PDF become a family archive?
Yes. An exported PDF can form part of a family archive, especially if you use clear file names, keep more than one copy, and check the files occasionally.
How often should I export?
There is no single right schedule. A good time to export is when an important Era is finished or whenever losing the current record would feel especially serious.
Does long-term preservation require one perfect format?
No. Important memories are usually safer when they exist in more than one useful format or location.
What is a digital time capsule?
A digital time capsule is a collection of memories you deliberately keep for the future. A completed Era plus a PDF copy can work well for that purpose.
Can I preserve travel journals separately?
Yes. Each trip can be its own Era and exported independently after the journey.
Can I preserve a baby milestone journal?
Yes. A family-stage Era can gather selected milestones, photographs, and writing, then be exported as a readable chapter.
What is digital legacy planning?
Digital legacy planning means deciding which digital memories matter, how you want to preserve them, and whether trusted people should be able to access them in the future.
Does Stillkeep promise files will remain readable for decades?
No. No app can honestly promise that every file will remain readable forever. Portable exports and occasional archive checks make long-term preservation more practical.
Does ownership mean I never need backups?
No. Owning your content does not automatically protect it from loss. If every copy disappears, the fact that you owned it does not bring it back.
Can I share an export without sharing my whole journal?
Yes. You can export one Era or one individual Moment without sharing your whole private journal.
How should exported files be named?
Use clear file names that include the Era name and, when useful, a date or year. Simple naming makes old exports easier to find later.
Is account deletion reversible?
Stillkeep’s legal materials describe deletion as permanent, so users should treat it as irreversible and preserve desired material first.
What is the simplest preservation rule?
Keep using the journal normally, export important completed chapters, and keep extra copies of anything you would really not want to lose.