PN Web OS Backup & Restore: FAQ

Do I really need to backup my PN Web OS data?

A: YES, absolutely!

PN Web OS stores everything locally in your browser. If you clear browser data, switch devices, or experience a browser crash, your data is gone forever unless you have a backup.

Think of it like this: Would you use a computer without backing up? Same principle applies here.

How often should I create backups?

A: It depends on how much you'd hate to lose:

• Daily work: Backup daily or after major changes
• Weekly use: Backup weekly
• Occasional use: Backup after each session
• Critical projects: Backup immediately after finishing

Rule of thumb: If losing the work would upset you, back it up now.

Where should I store my backup files?

A: Use the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies total (original + 2 backups)
• 2 different types of storage (USB + cloud)
• 1 copy off-site (cloud storage)

Recommended:

• Primary: External USB drive
• Secondary: Cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive)
• Optional: Email yourself (for small backups)

NOT recommended:

• Only on same computer
• Only in Downloads folder
• Only one copy total

How large will my backup file be?

A: Approximately 110-130% of your actual data size.

The extra 10-30% is from encryption overhead, account metadata, settings, and file structure information.

⚠️ Warning: If your backup is only 20-30 KB but you have megabytes of files → PROBLEM! See troubleshooting guide.

Is my backup file encrypted?

A: YES, with military-grade encryption:

• Algorithm: AES-256-GCM (same as used by banks)
• Key Derivation: PBKDF2-SHA256 with 600,000 iterations
• Encryption Layers: Dual (password + recovery phrase)

In simple terms: Without your password, the backup is useless random data.

Can PN access my backup files?

A: NO. Absolutely impossible.

Why:

1. Your data never leaves your browser
2. We don't have your password
3. We don't store your backups
4. Zero-knowledge architecture means we CAN'T decrypt even if we wanted to

Bottom line: We have zero access to your data. It's truly private.

What if I forget my password?

A: Use your 12-word recovery phrase to reset your password.

💡 Important: Your recovery phrase is the master key. You can use it to:

• Reset your password (to regain access to PN Web OS)
• Decrypt backups (to restore your files)

Step-by-Step Password Reset Process:

1. Go to Password Recovery: Visit www.pn.com/webos/auth/recover
2. Select Your Account: Choose your username from the list (or enter it manually)
3. Enter Recovery Phrase: Type your 12-word recovery phrase
4. Set New Password: Create a new password for your account
5. Login: Use your username and new password to login to PN Web OS
6. Restore Backups (if needed): Import your backup files to restore your data

Alternative: Try to Remember Password

• Check your password manager
• Try common password variations
• Check written notes or secure storage
• Try passwords you've used for similar services

Is it safe to store backups in cloud storage?

A: YES! Your backups are fully encrypted.

Even if:

• Dropbox employees access the file
• Google scans your Drive
• A hacker breaches the cloud service
• Government subpoenas the data

They see only encrypted gibberish. Without your password, it's useless.

Safe cloud storage options:

• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• iCloud Drive
• Any file hosting service

What file format are backups?

A: Plain text file (.txt extension) containing encrypted data.

Structure:

Filename: pn-webos-backup-{username}-{date}.txt
Example: pn-webos-backup-alice-2025-11-01.txt

Contents:

• Encryption metadata (algorithm, salts, IVs)
• Encrypted account data
• Encrypted files and contents
• Encrypted settings and preferences

Can I open it?

• Yes (it's a text file)
• But you'll only see encrypted characters
• Not human-readable without decryption

What's included in backups?

A: EVERYTHING in PN Web OS:

✅ Included:

• All files and their contents
• Complete folder structure
• File metadata (dates, sizes, permissions)
• Account information
• Settings and preferences
• App data and configurations
• Command history
• Literally everything in PN Web OS

❌ NOT included:

• Browser bookmarks (use browser's sync)
• Browser extensions (reinstall manually)
• Downloaded files outside PN Web OS
• Website login sessions (re-login needed)

How long do backups take to create?

A: Depends on data size:

Note: Import is slower than export due to decryption and database writing.

Can I have multiple backups?

A: YES! Recommended.

Best practice:

• Keep weekly backups for 1 month
• Keep monthly backups for 1 year
• Delete old backups to save space

Example structure:

/Backups/PN-WebOS/
├── pn-backup-2025-10-weekly-01.txt
├── pn-backup-2025-10-weekly-08.txt
├── pn-backup-2025-10-monthly.txt
└── pn-backup-2025-11-01-latest.txt  ← Most recent

Can I rename backup files?

A: YES! Filename doesn't affect functionality.

Original:

pn-webos-backup-alice-2025-11-01.txt

You can rename to:

IMPORTANT-Alice-Project-Alpha-Nov2025.txt
Alice-Before-Big-Update.txt

Keep:

• .txt extension
• Descriptive name
• Date somewhere in name

What happens if import is interrupted?

A: Import fails, no data changed.

Scenarios:

1. Browser crash during import:

• No data imported
• Original account unchanged (if exists)
• Try import again

2. Close window during import:

• Partial data may be written
• May need to clear and retry
• Use fresh browser profile

3. Computer restart during import:

• Same as browser crash
• Nothing damaged
• Try again

Safety: Import is atomic-ish - either works completely or not at all.

Which browsers work best?

A: Ranking by compatibility:

Can I use backups across different browsers?

A: YES! Cross-browser compatible.

Works across:

• Chrome → Firefox
• Firefox → Edge
• Safari → Chrome
• Any browser → Any browser

Even works across:

• Windows → Mac
• Mac → Linux
• Desktop → Desktop

Limitations:

• Desktop to mobile may have issues
• Mobile browsers have storage limits
• Recommend desktop for large backups

Do backups work across different computers?

A: YES! That's the whole point.

Use cases:

• Work computer → Home computer
• Old computer → New computer
• Desktop → Laptop
• Windows → Mac
• Any device to any device

Requirements:

• Supported browser
• Enough storage space
• Your password or recovery phrase

My backup is only 20-30 KB but I have lots of files. Why?

A: CRITICAL ISSUE - backup is incomplete!

Cause:

• Using old version (before Nov 1, 2025)
• Bug that didn't include file contents
• Only metadata was exported

Solution:

1. Hard refresh PN Web OS (Ctrl+Shift+R)
2. Clear browser cache
3. Try export again
4. Verify file size now matches your data size × 1.2

⚠️ If still small: See Troubleshooting Guide for advanced solutions

Import says "incorrect password" but I know it's right. Why?

A: Several possibilities:

1. Caps Lock is on - Check keyboard indicator
2. Extra space at end - Type carefully
3. Wrong backup file - Using backup from different account
4. Password changed - Use OLD password from when backup was created
5. Need recovery phrase - Try 12-word recovery phrase instead
6. Corrupted backup - Re-download from cloud storage

I accidentally cleared my browser data. How do I recover?

A: Don't panic. Import your backup:

1. Open fresh PN Web OS
2. Go to Settings → Data Management
3. Click "Import Backup"
4. Select your most recent backup file
5. Enter password
6. Complete import
7. Log back in
8. Everything restored

Lost data: Only changes since last backup. This is why regular backups are important!