Settings

Settings Backup

Export a portable JSON document from Settings > General > Advanced > Settings Backup. It is designed for moving configuration to another Mac without transferring machine identity, credentials, or live workspace state.

Included

  • Portable preferences and appearance choices
  • Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad shortcut bindings
  • App Routing and App Exceptions lists
  • AI provider and Recipe configuration, but not API keys
  • The Snap Wheel's safe built-in layout
  • Custom TabStack layout presets

Stays on this Mac

  • License, activation, device identity, and account state
  • AI API keys and other credentials
  • Stages, open windows, and Saved Workspaces
  • Display IDs, hardware identities, and display nicknames
  • Onboarding and migration state
  • Custom Action definitions, command files, and foreign Custom Action slot authority

Import behavior

BetterStage validates the document and every known value before it changes your settings. Import replaces only keys known to the exporting version, ignores unknown future keys, and atomically replaces custom TabStack layouts. Cached settings take effect after BetterStage relaunches.

The imported Snap Wheel base contains built-in actions only. Any slots that referred to Custom Actions on the source Mac must be reassigned to actions saved locally on the destination Mac.

Settings backup is not a Saved Workspace

Use a Settings backup for preferences and reusable configuration. Use Saved Workspaces when you want BetterStage to remember Stages, displays, layouts, apps, and window groups on the same Mac.

Reference

All Settings →