Where Does Skim Store Bookmarks and Notes?
Where Skim keeps prefs, bookmarks, templates plus notes on Mac, and how to back each store up safely.
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Skim keeps preferences in the standard defaults domain with a plist backing file on Mac. Bookmarks live in a separate domain that exports through its own command. Templates and scripts live in Application Support folders you may need to create.
Notes follow their own rules apart from prefs: embedded or sidecar per the General toggle. The sidecar sits next to its PDF with a matching name. Back up prefs, bookmarks and notes as three separate jobs. Reading bar positions share the plist files, so copy prefs with notes.
Where Skim stores this, by platform
~/Library/Preferences/net.sourceforge.skim-app.skim.plist
Defaults plist for prefs with bookmarks in a separate domain. Templates and scripts in Application Support. Notes embed or sidecar per toggle.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up Skim bookmarks?
Run the defaults export command for the bookmarks domain to a plist file of your choosing. Copying the live plist while Skim runs risks half written data. Import on the new machine with the matching defaults command.
Are my Skim notes inside the PDF or beside it?
Notes either embed inside the PDF or sit in a sidecar file beside it with the skim extension. Check the General prefs toggle to learn which mode is active. Sidecars travel with their PDFs or links break.
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