Where Does Moneydance Store Data Files?
Moneydance stores each ledger as a .moneydance file in .moneydance/Documents. Never keep it in Dropbox or iCloud.
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Moneydance keeps each ledger in one .moneydance file that is really a folder on some systems. Default locations hide under .moneydance/Documents on Windows and Linux, or an app container on newer Macs.
The placement is deliberate. Cloud folders corrupt the ledger when two sides write at once. Keep the live file local and point automatic backups at the cloud instead. That split is straight from the vendor docs.
Where Moneydance stores this, by platform
C:\Users\<user>\.moneydance\Documents
Default ledger location. The .moneydance entry looks like a folder here, copy it whole. Keep out of synced folders.
~/Library/Containers/Moneydance/Data/Documents
Container path on Big Sur and newer. Older Macs used com.infinitekind.MoneydanceOSX in the same parent.
~/.moneydance/Documents
Same .moneydance folder convention as Windows. Back up the file, not an export.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move Moneydance to a new computer?
Copy the whole .moneydance file or folder to the new machine by USB or any direct transfer, then open it with File, then Open Other. Do not move it through a shared folder.
Is the .moneydance file a file or a folder?
On Windows it shows as a plain folder, on Mac as a single file with an icon. Both hold the same data. Copy the entire thing either way.
How do I find my Moneydance file quickly?
Inside Moneydance go to Help, then Show Documents Folder. That opens the exact default location for your OS and version.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.