Where projects are stored and how to make a backup

Video Unique Booster keeps its files in the app folder. It does not write them to Windows system folders. The main consequence: as long as the app folder is intact, your projects are intact too. This page shows what is in that folder and how to keep your work safe.

Where the app keeps your files

By default the app folder is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Video Unique Booster. The paths below are relative to it.

What it is	Where it is
All projects: settings, thumbnails, sources, download history	the projects file
Service companions of this file	projects-wal and projects-shm
Global app settings	the globalsettings file
Work log	logs\app.log, plus app.log.1, .2, .3
Update log	logs\updater.log
Reports on freezes and crashes	the logs\hangs folder
Device state log	logs\resource_monitor.txt, if the setting is on
External tools	the extensions folder
Temporary tab files	folders whose names start with temp_videos_ and temp_thumbnails_

The projects and globalsettings files have no extension. This is not a mistake.

The projects-wal and projects-shm files may not exist at all. That happens too, and it is normal.

Where the things you created are

Created videos are not saved in the app folder. The app saves them where you told it to. The path is set by the "Folder to save videos to" setting on the "Export" page.

Downloads from sources go to the folder from the "Folder for downloaded videos" setting in the footer of the "Sources" section. While it is empty, the app uses the ClipSave subfolder inside the folder to save videos to. While that one is not chosen either, the ClipSave subfolder appears next to the app.

A project settings file you saved by hand is where you saved it. Read about it on the Moving project settings as a file page.

What stays in place during an update

When you install a new version over the old one, your files stay in place.

The update unpacks an archive over the app folder. It replaces only the files that are in the archive itself. The archive contains neither projects, nor globalsettings, nor the logs folder.

• Projects stay. This is the projects file.
• Global settings stay. This is the globalsettings file.
• The logs in the logs folder stay.
• The update does not affect the activation key: you do not need to enter it again.

Only the extensions folder with external tools is replaced. None of your files are there.

There is a flip side too. The update does not delete files from past versions. So over time the app folder takes up more space than right after installation.

How to make a backup

You need to copy four files. They are all in the app folder.

1. Close Video Unique Booster completely.
2. Open the app folder. By default it is %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Video Unique Booster.
3. Copy the projects, projects-wal, projects-shm and globalsettings files.
4. Put the copy on another drive or on removable media.

Please make the copy while the app is closed. Then all changes are already written to the disk, and the copy comes out whole.

The projects-wal and projects-shm files may not be in the folder. Copy the ones that are there.

It is worth copying the folder with created videos separately. It is where you chose it to be, not in the app folder.

How to restore data from a backup

1. Close Video Unique Booster completely.
2. Open the app folder.
3. Copy the previously saved projects, projects-wal, projects-shm and globalsettings files there. Agree to replace them.
4. Start the app.

The project list will be the same as it was at the moment of copying.

One caveat about moving to another computer. A project stores paths to folders and files of the device where it was created. After moving, check the folder to save videos to, the watermark file, the additional videos and the additional audio.

What happens when you uninstall the app

Uninstalling through "Add or remove programs" does not affect projects. The uninstaller removes only what it installed itself.

The app folder stays on the disk together with the projects and globalsettings files and the logs folder. You will not see a message about this.

If you delete the app folder by hand

All projects are deleted together with the folder. They are inside this folder, not in Windows system folders and not in the cloud.

Please copy the projects file somewhere else before deleting the folder.

The same goes for moving. If you move the app to another drive by copying the folder, move the projects and globalsettings files along with it.

Work log

The log is the logs\app.log file in the app folder. This is the file support asks you to send.

The log size is limited. The file grows to 5 MB, after which the app saves it as the previous one and creates a new one. The current file and three previous ones are kept at the same time.

Sometimes the app folder is closed for writing. This happens when the app is installed in Program Files. Then the log is written to a fallback path: %TEMP%\TekoSoftware\logs\app.log.

The debug.cmd file next to the app collects a detailed log. How to use it is described on the Installing the app page.

Temporary folders

While working, a tab creates temporary folders next to the app. Their names start with temp_videos_ and temp_thumbnails_.

Such a folder is deleted when the tab is closed. After the app crashes, it stays on the disk forever: there is no automatic cleanup at startup.

You can delete these folders by hand while the app is closed. None of your files are in them.

Free disk space

Before writing, the app checks the free space. Below 200 MB the "Low disk space" warning appears:

Less than 200 MB free.
There may not be enough space to save the project.

Free up space on the disk.

The warning appears again when free space drops below 200 MB after passing the 400 MB mark.

Free space is also needed to delete a project: after deletion the data file is compacted.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move projects to another computer?

Yes. Copy the projects and globalsettings files to the app folder on the new computer while the app is closed. After moving, check the paths to folders and files inside the projects: the new computer may not have such paths.

Are projects stored in the cloud?

No. All projects are in one file on your disk.

Why do the projects and globalsettings files have no extension?

That is just their name. You do not need to open them by hand, and you should not.

What is a file named like projects.corrupted-20260906-101500?

It is a copy of a damaged data file. The app moved it aside and created a new, empty project list. Please do not delete this copy: if it held data you need, write to support.

What should I send to support?

The logs\app.log file from the app folder and the "Installation ID" field. The "About the app" window in the header menu shows it, and it also has a copy button.

Where are created videos saved?

To the folder you chose in the "Folder to save videos to" setting. It has no default. The neighboring settings are covered on the Export settings page.