Data Management

TypeSteps provides comprehensive data management tools to backup your typing statistics, transfer data between devices, and start fresh when needed.

Overview

Your TypeSteps data includes:

Daily statistics: Keystroke counts per day
Hourly statistics: Activity breakdown by hour
Minute statistics: Recent per-minute activity (last 2 hours)
App statistics: Keystrokes per application
Project statistics: Keystrokes per project/repository
Settings: WakaTime API key, daily goals
Milestone notifications: Which goals you’ve already been notified about

All data is stored locally on your Mac using UserDefaults.

Exporting Your Data

How to Export

Open the TypeSteps dashboard
Navigate to Settings > Data Management
Click Export Data
Choose a location to save the file
Your data will be saved as a JSON file (e.g., typesteps-backup-2026-03-03.json)

What Gets Exported

The export includes all your data in JSON format (StorageManager.swift:324-343):

func exportData() -> Data? {
    let notified = UserDefaults.standard.dictionary(forKey: notifiedKey) as? [String: [Double]] ?? [:]
    let goal = UserDefaults.standard.integer(forKey: "daily_goal")
    
    let backup = BackupData(
        dailyStats: dailyStats,
        hourlyStats: hourlyStats,
        minuteStats: minuteStats,
        appStats: appStats,
        projectStats: projectStats,
        appBundleMapping: appBundleMapping,
        notifiedMilestones: notified,
        wakaTimeApiKey: wakaTimeApiKey,
        dailyGoal: goal
    )
    
    let encoder = JSONEncoder()
    encoder.outputFormatting = .prettyPrinted
    return try? encoder.encode(backup)
}

Export File Structure

The exported JSON file contains:

{
  "dailyStats": {
    "2026-03-01": 15234,
    "2026-03-02": 18956,
    "2026-03-03": 12450
  },
  "hourlyStats": {
    "2026-03-03-09": 1250,
    "2026-03-03-10": 2340,
    "2026-03-03-11": 1890
  },
  "minuteStats": {
    "2026-03-03-11-30": 45,
    "2026-03-03-11-31": 52
  },
  "appStats": {
    "Visual Studio Code": 45000,
    "Xcode": 38000,
    "Safari": 12000
  },
  "projectStats": {
    "typesteps": 25000,
    "my-app": 18000
  },
  "appBundleMapping": {
    "Visual Studio Code": "com.visualstudio.code",
    "Xcode": "com.apple.dt.xcode"
  },
  "notifiedMilestones": {
    "2026-03-01": [1.0],
    "2026-03-02": [1.0]
  },
  "wakaTimeApiKey": "your-api-key-here",
  "dailyGoal": 15000
}

Your export file contains your WakaTime API key. Keep it secure and don’t share it publicly.

Importing Data

How to Import

Open the TypeSteps dashboard
Navigate to Settings > Data Management
Click Import Data
Select your previously exported JSON file
Confirm the import

Importing will replace ALL current data with the data from the backup file. Make sure to export your current data first if you want to keep it.

Import Process

The import process (StorageManager.swift:345-363):

func importData(from data: Data) -> Bool {
    guard let backup = try? JSONDecoder().decode(BackupData.self, from: data) else { 
        return false 
    }
    
    DispatchQueue.main.async {
        self.dailyStats = backup.dailyStats
        self.hourlyStats = backup.hourlyStats
        self.minuteStats = backup.minuteStats
        self.appStats = backup.appStats
        self.projectStats = backup.projectStats
        self.appBundleMapping = backup.appBundleMapping
        self.wakaTimeApiKey = backup.wakaTimeApiKey
        
        UserDefaults.standard.set(backup.dailyGoal, forKey: "daily_goal")
        UserDefaults.standard.set(backup.notifiedMilestones, forKey: self.notifiedKey)
        
        self.saveStats()
    }
    return true
}

The import:

Validates the JSON structure
Decodes the backup data
Replaces all current statistics
Restores your settings (API key, goals)
Saves everything to UserDefaults
Updates the UI immediately

Import Validation

Invalid File Format

Error: “Invalid backup file”Causes:

File is corrupted
JSON structure doesn’t match expected format
File was manually edited incorrectly

Solution:

Use only files exported by TypeSteps
Don’t manually edit export files
Try exporting a fresh backup and compare structure

Partial Import

TypeSteps imports ALL or NOTHING. If any field is invalid, the entire import fails.This prevents partial/corrupted data states.

Use Cases

1. Backup Before Reset

Export current data

Save your complete history before resetting

Reset statistics

Clear all data to start fresh

Keep backup

Store the export file for future reference or restore

2. Transfer to New Mac

Export on old Mac

Export all your typing data from your current machine

Transfer file

Copy the JSON file to your new Mac (AirDrop, iCloud, USB, etc.)

Import on new Mac

Install TypeSteps on new Mac and import the backup file

Verify

Check that all statistics, goals, and settings are restored correctly

3. Merge Data from Multiple Devices

TypeSteps doesn’t automatically merge data. To combine statistics from multiple devices:

Export from each device
Manually merge the JSON files (combine the stats objects)
Import the merged file

This requires manual JSON editing and is advanced.

4. Periodic Backups

Set a reminder to export your data:

Weekly: If you’re building streaks and don’t want to lose progress
Monthly: For regular users who want historical records
Before macOS updates: System updates can sometimes affect app data

Resetting Your Data

Full Reset

To completely erase all typing statistics:

Open the TypeSteps dashboard
Navigate to Settings > Data Management
Click Reset All Data
Confirm the action (this cannot be undone without a backup)

This action is permanent! Export your data first if you might want to restore it later.

What Gets Reset

The reset function (StorageManager.swift:365-391):

func resetStats() {
    dailyStats = [:]
    hourlyStats = [:]
    minuteStats = [:]
    appStats = [:]
    projectStats = [:]
    appBundleMapping = [:]
    
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: statsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: hourlyKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: minuteKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: appStatsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: projectStatsKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: appBundleMappingKey)
    UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: notifiedKey)
    
    // Note: WakaTime API key and daily goal are preserved
    
    saveStats()
}

Cleared:

All keystroke statistics
App and project tracking data
Hourly and minute-level data
Milestone notification history

Preserved:

WakaTime API key (so you don’t need to re-enter)
Daily goal setting (maintains your configured goal)

If you want to reset everything including settings, you can manually clear the API key and goal after resetting stats.

Partial Reset Options

TypeSteps doesn’t have built-in partial reset, but you can manually edit an export file:

Reset Just App Stats

Export your data
Open the JSON file
Clear the appStats and appBundleMapping objects: {}
Import the modified file

Reset Old Data (Keep Recent)

Export your data
Open the JSON file
Remove old entries from dailyStats and hourlyStats
Import the modified file

Keep Stats, Reset Settings

Export your data
Open the JSON file
Modify wakaTimeApiKey and dailyGoal to new values
Import the modified file

Data Storage Details

Storage Location

All data is stored in macOS UserDefaults:

private let statsKey = "typing_stats_daily"
private let hourlyKey = "typing_stats_hourly" 
private let minuteKey = "typing_stats_minute"
private let appStatsKey = "typing_stats_apps"
private let projectStatsKey = "typing_stats_projects"
private let appBundleMappingKey = "typing_app_bundles"
private let notifiedKey = "typing_notified_milestones"

UserDefaults location:

~/Library/Preferences/[bundle-id].plist

Data Retention

Daily stats: Kept forever
Hourly stats: Kept forever
Minute stats: Last 120 minutes only (automatically pruned)
App/Project stats: Kept forever

Minute-level stats are automatically cleaned to save space (StorageManager.swift:70-73):

if minuteStats.count > 120 {
    let keys = minuteStats.keys.sorted().prefix(minuteStats.count - 120)
    for key in keys { minuteStats.removeValue(forKey: key) }
}

Backup Best Practices

Regular Schedule

Export monthly or after significant milestones

Multiple Locations

Store backups in multiple places:

Local external drive
iCloud Drive
Time Machine backups

Test Restores

Occasionally test importing a backup to ensure it works

Secure Storage

Remember backups contain your WakaTime API key - keep them secure

Troubleshooting

Export Button Does Nothing

Possible causes:

No data to export yet (start typing first)
File permission issues

Solution:

Verify you have write permissions to the save location
Try saving to Desktop first
Check Console.app for error messages

Import Fails Silently

Possible causes:

Invalid JSON format
File corrupted during transfer
Version incompatibility

Solution:

Validate JSON structure at jsonlint.com
Try exporting fresh data and comparing structure
Ensure file wasn’t modified by text editor

Data Missing After Import

Check:

Did you import the correct file?
Is the file from an old version of TypeSteps?
Was the export incomplete?

Solution:

Open the JSON file and verify it contains your expected data
Try importing again
If still missing, restore from another backup

Next Steps

Troubleshooting

Fix data and tracking issues

Daily Goals

Protect your streak with backups

Get Started

Core Features

Integrations

User Guide

Overview

Exporting Your Data

How to Export

What Gets Exported

Export File Structure

Importing Data

How to Import

Import Process

Import Validation

Use Cases

1. Backup Before Reset

2. Transfer to New Mac

3. Merge Data from Multiple Devices

4. Periodic Backups

Resetting Your Data

Full Reset

What Gets Reset

Partial Reset Options

Data Storage Details

Storage Location

Data Retention

Backup Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Troubleshooting

Daily Goals

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Features

Integrations

User Guide

Documentation Index

​Overview

​Exporting Your Data

​How to Export

​What Gets Exported

​Export File Structure

​Importing Data

​How to Import

​Import Process

​Import Validation

​Use Cases

​1. Backup Before Reset

​2. Transfer to New Mac

​3. Merge Data from Multiple Devices

​4. Periodic Backups

​Resetting Your Data

​Full Reset

​What Gets Reset

​Partial Reset Options

​Data Storage Details

​Storage Location

​Data Retention

​Backup Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Troubleshooting

Daily Goals

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Exporting Your Data

How to Export

What Gets Exported

Export File Structure

Importing Data

How to Import

Import Process

Import Validation

Use Cases

1. Backup Before Reset

2. Transfer to New Mac

3. Merge Data from Multiple Devices

4. Periodic Backups

Resetting Your Data

Full Reset

What Gets Reset

Partial Reset Options

Data Storage Details

Storage Location

Data Retention

Backup Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps