Where Does Haiku Store User Data?
Haiku keeps user files in home with settings beside them, plus packages in system storage managed by the depot.
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Haiku follows BeOS habits with a home folder at the center. Documents, mail, people files, and settings live under home where Tracker browses freely. System packages sit in managed storage outside home.
That split makes home the backup unit. Copy it whole before reinstalls and the new system feels familiar immediately. Applications reinstall from the depot rather than transferring. Confirm package states after reinstalling, since versions move fast on nightly builds.
Where Haiku stores this, by platform
/boot/home
Documents, mail, and settings in the home tree. Copy it whole with the system idle. Skip system folders, which the installer rebuilds.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up Haiku before reinstalling?
Copy the home folder to the new install. Documents, mail, and settings travel together. System packages reinstall through the depot, so skip system folders in the copy.
Where are Haiku applications installed?
In the package manager through installed packages, stored in system storage. User settings stay in home regardless. Reinstall applications from the depot after a fresh install instead of copying them.
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