# 10. Backup, restore and sync

*Tabellum for mobile, chapter 10. On the web: https://tabellum.dudko.dev/manual/mobile/backup-restore-and-sync*

## 10.1 Backing up

Long-press a connection in the menu and choose **Back up…**.

![Backing up a database](https://tabellum.dudko.dev/manual/mobile/img/backup.jpg)

*Backing up a database*

On a phone, Tabellum backs up through the database connection itself: the schema and the rows are written as one SQL file (statements and `INSERT`s), as CSV or JSON Lines with one file per table, or as an Excel workbook with one sheet per table. **Tables** limits it to some tables. This is portable and works everywhere, but it is slower than the database’s own backup tools and no substitute for them on a very large database.

## 10.2 Restoring

**Restore…**, in the same menu, runs an SQL file statement by statement, or loads CSV or JSON Lines rows into a table, in one transaction where the database supports it.

![Restoring from a file](https://tabellum.dudko.dev/manual/mobile/img/restore.jpg)

*Restoring from a file*

## 10.3 Syncing the workspace with git

Sync keeps the workspace in your own git repository on GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket, so your computer — or another phone — sees the same connections, queries and dashboards.

![Connecting the workspace to a repository](https://tabellum.dudko.dev/manual/mobile/img/sync.jpg)

*Connecting the workspace to a repository*

Marked on the screenshot: (1) Your repository; (2) GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket; (3) An access token for that repository.

1. Choose **Sync** in the palette, or **Set up** at the bottom of the menu.
2. Enter the repository (1) and pick its host (2).
3. Paste an access token (3) that may read and write that repository.
4. Tap **Connect & sync**.

The phone syncs through the host’s API, so it needs no git of its own. Each sync commits your changes and brings in everyone else’s. When two people edit the same connection, dashboard or tunnel, Tabellum merges them field by field; a real conflict is shown side by side for you to choose.

> **Note:** Passwords, keys and tokens never go into the repository — only their names. On another device you type them once.