Where Does Subsurface Store Dive Logs?
Subsurface keeps dive logs in XML files you save yourself plus optional cloud sync. Plan dives on desktop; log from the mobile companion.
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Subsurface treats the logbook as a document. XML files hold dives with profiles, gas mixes, buddies, and notes, saved wherever you choose. Cloud sync mirrors the file for multi-device divers without forcing an account.
That file-first design suits dive travel: one logbook file per diver copies anywhere. Plan mode and decompression tissues compute from the same data on desktop. Keep computer download drivers current; new dive computer models need updated libdivecomputer support. Cloud PINs guard shared logs on public links.
Where Subsurface stores this, by platform
%userprofile%\Documents\Subsurface\
Logbooks are XML files you place and name. Exact default paths may vary by version. Save dated copies per trip plus cloud sync as second copy.
~/Documents/Subsurface/
Same XML logbook model as Windows. Download dives over USB or Bluetooth. Keep one file per diver for clean backups.
~/Documents/Subsurface/
Same file-first layout as other platforms. Grant Bluetooth and location permissions for mobile-adjacent imports. Version the XML in backups.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my dive log?
Save the log as XML after every trip with a dated name, and enable cloud sync as a second copy. Dive computers download through the desktop app over USB or Bluetooth. One XML holds the whole logbook, which keeps backups trivial.
Does the mobile app sync with desktop?
Yes for logs and selected settings on login. Download dives on the phone at the dock, then sync to desktop for planning and printing. Bluetooth imports need location permission on Android; grant it or downloads stall.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.