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What happens to your photos in a backup and restore

A backup contains your photo files. A restore does not put them back into the app.

The backup holds the image files

Back up my data creates a .zip file holding three things:

  • your complete data record, as a .json file
  • a photos/ folder with the check-in and equipment image files
  • a manifest linking every photo to its record

Restoring returns records, not images

Restoring reads the .json file.

That file holds all your records: workouts, meals, check-ins, weights, measurements, cardio, routines, and foods. All are restored.

Your check-in and equipment photos will not reappear in the app. MesoMetric does not copy the image files back in and re-link them.

Holds your pictures?Puts them back in the app?
Back up my data (.zip)Yes — the image files
Restore (reads the .json)No

Check-ins return with their dates, weights, and notes. The images are absent.

Keep the whole .zip

The .zip is the only copy of your photo files.

Restoring does not consume or replace it. Keep it after restoring. Deleting the .zip makes the photos unrecoverable.

Recovering an image manually

The images are ordinary files. Open the ZIP file on a phone or computer, then open its photos/ folder.

The manifest names the record each photo came from. Add the photo to a new check-in manually.

Which export carries what

Images included
Back up my dataThe image files
Data Export (No Image Files)None — references only
Daily Export / Coach ReportOnly when Photos is on
Share Check-inAttached directly