---
title: Storing Data
description: Where Octarine stores notes, workspace data, settings, and local indexes
---

An Octarine workspace is a normal folder on your file system. Your notes are Markdown files, so you can open and edit them in any text editor.

Octarine watches the workspace for changes made outside the app and updates its file tree and indexes. You can put the folder anywhere your device can read it, including inside iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a Syncthing folder.

## What Is Stored in a Workspace

A workspace can contain both visible notes and hidden folders managed by Octarine:

```text
My Workspace/
├── Notes and folders/
├── Daily/
├── .attachments/
├── .files/
├── .templates/
└── .octarine/
    ├── inbox/
    ├── ai/
    ├── skills/
    ├── properties.json
    ├── themes.json
    ├── types.json
    └── views.json
```

Not every workspace uses every folder or file. Octarine creates them when the corresponding feature is used.

| Location | What it contains |
| --- | --- |
| Markdown files and regular folders | Your notes. Properties and other frontmatter are stored inside each note. |
| `Daily/` | Daily notes, Weekly notes. Only accepts YYYY-MM-DD.md formats. |
| `.attachments/` | Images, video, and other media embedded in notes. |
| `.files/` | Non media file attachments added to the workspace. |
| `.templates/` | Note templates. |
| `.octarine/inbox/` | Markdown captures waiting in the Inbox. |
| `.octarine/ai/slash_commands.json` | Custom Writing Assistant slash commands. |
| `.octarine/skills/` | Custom AI skill instructions. |
| `.octarine/properties.json` | Property definitions and options. |
| `.octarine/types.json` | Note Type definitions. |
| `.octarine/views.json` | Saved Views. |
| `.octarine/themes.json` | Workspace theme definitions. |

The contents of `.octarine` are part of the workspace. Include this hidden folder when copying or backing up a workspace if you want to preserve its Inbox captures, custom skills, properties, Note Types, Views, and themes.

## Device Settings (`.store.dat`)

Octarine also keeps a device-specific `.store.dat` file outside your workspaces. It contains the workspace registry and paths, workspace settings, app preferences, Git configuration, license state, and AI provider configuration.

| OS | Default folder |
| --- | --- |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Octarine` |
| Windows | `C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Octarine` |
| Linux | `~/.local/share/Octarine`, or `$XDG_DATA_HOME/Octarine` when that variable is set |

The `.store.dat` file can contain license details and API keys. Do not share or manually edit it. It is not inside a workspace, so copying a workspace or syncing it with Git or a cloud drive does not copy these device settings.

Deleting `.store.dat` does not delete your Markdown files, but Octarine will lose the device's workspace registrations and settings. Back it up before replacing or removing it.

## Local Index and Session Data

Octarine keeps device-local databases outside the workspace so it can load and search quickly. A private SQLite database stores searchable Markdown, headings, frontmatter, content statistics, embeddings, chat history, and recent reversible Agent changes. IndexedDB continues to hold some workspace caches and interface state.

Together, these local databases include:

- Ask Octarine history
- Recently viewed and recently searched notes
- Open tabs, pane layouts, and editor state
- Other workspace UI state and caches

Run `Cmd/Ctrl + K` → **Refresh Workspace** to clear this workspace's local database records and rebuild them from the files in the workspace. Your Markdown files and workspace-owned `.octarine` data remain intact, but chat histories, recent items, tabs, layouts, embeddings, and other device-local state can be lost or rebuilt.

## Sync and Backup Implications

- Cloud-drive tools sync whatever is inside the workspace folder, subject to that service's rules for hidden files and on-demand downloads.
- Git Sync follows the workspace's `.gitignore`. By default, media in `.attachments`, external documents in `.files`, and templates in `.templates` are ignored. Other workspace-owned `.octarine` data is included unless you ignore it yourself.
- `.store.dat`, the app-private SQLite database, and IndexedDB are stored outside the workspace and are not synced with it.
- Backing up only Markdown files preserves your note text, but not necessarily attachments, external files, templates, or workspace-owned `.octarine` data. Back up the complete workspace folder, including hidden files, for a complete copy.

## iCloud Workspaces After Restart

If Octarine remembers an iCloud-backed workspace but its notes do not appear after restarting your device, iCloud or macOS may not have made the folder readable yet.

Try the following:

- Wait for iCloud Drive to finish syncing, then reopen the workspace.
- In Finder, right-click the workspace folder and choose **Download Now** if it is available.
- On macOS, open **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access**, add Octarine, and turn it on.
- Fully quit Octarine and open it again.
- If the workspace still looks stale, run `Cmd + K` → **Refresh Workspace** to re-index it.

#### Quick Answers

### Where does Octarine store notes?

Octarine stores notes as plain Markdown files inside the workspace folder you choose on your device.

### Does Octarine upload my notes?

No. Octarine does not upload notes to its own servers. Sync and backup only happen if you place a workspace in a service like iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Syncthing, or configure Git Sync.

### Can I edit Octarine notes outside the app?

Yes. You can edit them with another text editor, and Octarine watches the workspace for file changes.

### What should I back up?

Back up the complete workspace folder, including hidden folders such as `.octarine`, `.attachments`, `.files`, and `.templates`. Back up `.store.dat` separately only if you also want to preserve this device's Octarine settings.