Where Does Bike Outliner Save Files?
Bike saves plain .bike files where you choose on Mac, with versions handled by macOS itself.
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Bike files are plain text .bike documents in folders you pick. The app adds no database layer. Each outline is a single file, so Finder search and version control work without any export step. Save early, save in Documents, and let Time Machine do the rest.
Row focused editing changes nothing about storage. Autosave writes through to the same file. For history, use macOS Revert To from the File menu rather than hunting a hidden backup folder that does not exist.
Where Bike stores this, by platform
User chosen folder for .bike files
Plain text format, readable outside Bike. Keep outlines in Documents or iCloud Drive for sync. No library to rebuild after reinstall.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bike keep automatic backups?
It relies on macOS autosave and versions. Browse history with File, then Revert To. For real safety keep Time Machine or another backup running underneath.
Can I open .bike files elsewhere?
Yes. The format is plain text XML, so any editor shows the content. TaskPaper style tools and scripts read rows fine. Bike specific styling may not carry over.
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