Where Does tldraw Store Boards and Files?
Where tldraw keeps boards in browser storage versus local files, and how to back them up safely. Full paths are listed below.
Last updated
tldraw is browser first like Excalidraw. Boards you never exported live in IndexedDB under the tldraw.com origin. Files you saved go to downloads. Dot tldraw rooms sync a subset when signed in.
New browsers show empty recents even with the same login when boards stayed local. For keeps, export .tldraw plus PNG per board. Desktop wrappers cache the same way with an app folder beside web data. Clearing site data wipes unsaved boards, so export before touching storage settings. Check the in app storage readout when sizes look wrong on different releases.
Where tldraw stores this, by platform
%localappdata%\tldraw (cache, boards as .tldraw files)
Boards live in browser IndexedDB per origin unless exported. Save .tldraw files to Documents for moves. Signed in rooms sync only a subset to cloud.
~/Documents (exports, browser boards in IndexedDB)
Same browser storage model on Mac with exports in Documents. Export boards before switching machines. Clearing site data deletes unsaved work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move tldraw boards to a new computer?
Export each board to .tldraw files plus PNG backups, then copy them to the new machine. Browser boards live in IndexedDB per origin, which does not transfer. Open the files on the new PC to restore. Cloud rooms need separate export too.
Are tldraw boards in the cloud?
No. tldraw web stores boards in browser local storage under the site origin. Files you saved live wherever downloads land, often Documents. Signed in rooms sync a subset to cloud. Treat exports as the backup, not the browser cache.
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