How do I save my files?

Saving every single note on your script is important. Here's how saving works.

iPad / iPhone

On iOS, Scriptation automatically does a Quick Save after every single annotation. This saves all of your notes if you have to exit the app right after making an annotation, or in the unlikely event of a crash.

✅ TIP: Want to see the Quick Save in action? Make an annotation and quickly close the app — when you re-open it, the annotation will be there.

Scriptation also automatically does a Full Save:

When you switch tabs;
When you close the document.

The Full Save also compresses the document's size, optimizing for memory performance.

📝 NOTE: When you first install Scriptation, the default setting is for your documents to be stored locally on your device. For Industry Pro users, it's easy to save to a cloud service so a backup always lives in the cloud.

✅ TIP: Wondering how your notes sync with cloud providers? See How often are files uploaded to the cloud?.

Mac

On a Mac, Scriptation documents must be saved manually, just like any other desktop application. From the menu bar, click File → Save, or use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + S.

Save-on-Close (Recommended)

Scriptation can also automatically save documents when you close them. It's on by default and we recommend leaving it that way. To check or change the setting:

In Scriptation 6.0 and later — tap the three-dot menu (⋯) at the top-right, select Settings, and look for the Save-on-Close option in the General tab;
In Scriptation 5.1.16 and earlier — click the three-line icon (☰) at the upper-left of the screen to open the File Browser, then click Settings at the bottom-left of that panel.

⚠️ Heads Up: The Save on Close setting is temporarily unavailable in Scriptation 6.0.0 and will return in a future update. This setting is currently enabled by default. Regardless of the setting, Scriptation will never close without either saving your changes automatically or prompting you to save them first. If the setting is off, you'll get a prompt asking whether to save the file before closing — so you won't lose work either way.

📝 NOTE: On macOS, Scriptation also performs Quick Saves to a non-accessible temporary system file, which can recover your notes in the unlikely event of a crash. However, you must save all files manually.

✅ TIP: To confirm your changes are being saved, make a quick note in your document on Mac, fully close Scriptation, then reopen the file — your note should still be there. As an extra safeguard, get in the habit of saving manually with ⌘ + S (or File → Save) whenever you finish making changes, especially before closing your laptop or stepping away, since unsaved changes can't sync to the cloud or to your other devices until they're saved.

If your work isn't saving

If you make an annotation and it disappears the next time you open the file, or Scriptation seems to just reopen a tutorial file instead of your actual document, check the following:

Make sure you're opening the right file. From the home screen, click Select File and navigate to the actual file in your cloud folder (e.g. Dropbox) or on your device — don't confuse the tutorial guides at the top of the home screen with your real files.
Always close the file (and give it time to sync) before quitting the app. Scriptation needs to finish writing/syncing the file before the app fully closes; quitting too quickly, especially right after annotating, can cause recent changes to not be saved.
Never edit your script PDF in another program (like Preview) after annotating it in Scriptation. If the underlying PDF is changed outside of Scriptation, the app will detect the file has changed and prompt you to update to the new version. Accepting this prompt will replace Scriptation's version — including your annotations — with the externally edited one. If you ever see this "document updated" prompt, always choose Keep Current to preserve your annotated version in Scriptation and create a separate copy of the newer file, rather than overwriting your work.
Use Dropbox instead of iCloud when possible. Dropbox keeps a version history of every save, so if something does go wrong you can restore an earlier version. See How to Restore an Earlier Version of your file with Dropbox. iCloud does not offer this kind of version history.
If you're still running into issues, send a screen recording showing you opening the app, annotating a file, closing it, and reopening it, along with your exact Scriptation version (how to find your version), through the Troubleshooting Portal so it can be investigated further.

What's Next

Moving or copying your files to the cloud

What's Next

Moving or copying your files to the cloud
Where are my files stored?
How often are files uploaded to the cloud?

Updated on: 04/08/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!