# Settings, data, and backups

> Settings save automatically and most take effect straight away. Restoring a backup and installing an update need a restart.

Last verified: 2026-09-14
Canonical page: https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/settings-data-backups-and-cloud-sync
Product: Copilink Standalone
Markdown of: https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/settings-data-backups-and-cloud-sync


## Quick facts

- Product: Copilink Standalone
- Direct Tradovate and Rithmic desktop workflow
- Windows x64, macOS Intel, and macOS Apple silicon
- Local copying with per-follower sizing, account safeguards, analytics, and journaling

## What it does

Appearance, desktop and sound alerts, voice cues, screenshot privacy, cloud sync and its time zone, where your data lives, and how to back up, restore, or move to a new computer.

## Why traders choose Copilink Standalone

- Choose a direct Tradovate and Rithmic desktop workflow on Windows or macOS, or stay entirely inside NinjaTrader 8 with the dedicated add-on.
- Manage exact or ratio-based follower sizing, per-account safeguards, and prop-firm-style risk rules from one focused workflow.
- Keep copying local on the trader's machine while cloud sync powers web analytics and journaling.

## Appearance and alerts

- Appearance: System, Light, or Dark.
- Desktop notifications and Alert sound: Critical only (the default), Warnings and critical, or Off. Notifications appear only when Copilink isn't the focused window and your system allows them. A repeated problem doesn't replay the sound.
- Audio notifications: spoken cues for Order filled, Order rejected, Copy failed, Accounts out of sync, Opposite position detected, Risk limit reached, Positions flattened, Flatten failed, Connection lost, Connection restored, and Replication paused. Each cue has its own switch and a Play button. The master switch mutes all notification audio.
- Screenshot privacy: replaces account and connection names in the main tabs with stable aliases, so you can share screenshots. Your trading IDs and saved data don't change.

Alerts add to Activity. Turning them off doesn't turn off protection, limits, or Activity.

## Live P&L and Risk Management

Live P&L holds the Tradovate snapshot fallback switch, explained in [Market data and Live P&L](https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/market-data-and-live-pnl). Risk Management holds the Trading-day time zone and Session close that decide when daily limits reset, explained in [Account risk limits](https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/account-risk-limits).

## Copilink Cloud

Sync trades to Copilink Cloud is on by default. It uploads the trades Copilink records so you can review them on copilink.com. It doesn't upload broker usernames, passwords, or session tokens, and it doesn't keep copying running after you close the app. Turn it off to keep history on this computer only; copying isn't affected either way.

Journal & analytics time zone sets trade times and day grouping on Dashboard, in the journal, and on the web. It starts as this computer's time zone. Changing it regroups your cloud history but doesn't affect trading or risk limits.

_Copilink Cloud statuses_
| Status | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Cloud sync off | Trades stay on this computer. |
| Cloud sync waiting for sign-in | Sign in again to sync. |
| Preparing cloud history | Copilink is preparing older trades, usually after you first turn sync on. |
| Cloud sync syncing | Trades are uploading. |
| Cloud sync up to date | Every recorded trade has synced. |
| Cloud sync offline - will retry | Copilink Cloud can't be reached. Trades wait on this computer and Copilink retries by itself. |
| Cloud sync needs attention | Something needs you, such as an update or signing in again. Read the message, fix it, then press Sync now. |

Sync now retries anything waiting. It can't upload a trade Copilink never recorded.

## Where your data lives

Your trade history, profiles, risk settings, and preferences are stored on this computer. Data & storage shows where, and how big the database is; Open data folder opens it. Don't edit, move, or delete these files while Copilink is running.

Broker passwords and sessions are kept separately, in Windows Credential Manager or macOS Keychain.

If Copilink warns that it can't save settings, risk data, or trades, read which one. Unreadable risk data blocks starting a profile. If trades can't be recorded, Copilink stops copying into live accounts. Check free disk space, don't delete files to clear the warning, and contact support if it continues.

## Back up your data

Press Export data backup and choose a private location. A backup holds your trade history, profiles, risk settings, and preferences, up to about 2 GB. It doesn't include broker passwords, broker sessions, or your Copilink sign-in.

Copilink also makes an automatic backup about once a day when no profile is running.

> **Backups are sensitive.** A backup reveals your accounts, trades, and settings. Store it privately and don't send it to support unless they ask for it through a secure channel. For support, use the support bundle instead.

## Restore a backup

> **Restoring replaces your data.** Restoring replaces this computer's history and settings with the backup. Anything recorded after the backup was made is gone from this computer. Broker positions and orders aren't touched.

1. **Stop copying.** Disable the profile and deal with open positions and orders at your broker.
2. **Choose the backup.** Press Restore backup and pick the file. Copilink checks it and prepares the restore straight away; there's no second confirmation.
3. **Restart Copilink.** The restore happens at the next start. Copilink backs up your current data first.
4. **Reconnect your brokers.** Sign in to Tradovate again and re-enter Rithmic passwords. Auto-reconnect is off for restored connections.
5. **Review before trading.** Check profiles, ratios, and risk limits, and your broker positions, before you enable a profile.

## Move to a new computer

1. **Back up the old computer.** Stop copying, then Export data backup.
2. **Free a machine slot if needed.** Remove the old computer under Subscription & machines in your web dashboard.
3. **Install, sign in, and restore.** Install Copilink on the new computer, sign in, restore the backup, and restart.
4. **Reconnect and review.** Reconnect your brokers, then review your profiles and limits before you enable anything.

Copilink doesn't promise what uninstalling removes. Export a backup first if you want to keep your data.

## If something goes wrong

- A setting shows Could not save: don't rely on the change. Check free disk space and read Activity.
- Backup fails: try another folder with enough free space.
- Restore fails: keep your files as they are, keep profiles off, and contact support before trying again.

## Sources

- https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/settings-data-backups-and-cloud-sync
- https://copilink.com/standalone
- https://copilink.com/standalone/user-guide/safety-and-limitations