Data and storage

Use data exports to transfer your library between devices. Use the storage view when you need to locate the desktop profile or understand disk usage.

Open the desktop profile directory

1. Open Settings → Data & Storage.
2. Select Storage.
3. Choose Open profile directory to open the current profile folder in your file manager.

This is more reliable than assuming a fixed path: portable apps, sandboxed packages, and development builds can use different locations. Android and iOS use private application storage and do not offer the same desktop file-manager workflow.

Default data locations

The Android path shown is for the device’s primary user; other users and work profiles have a different user number in place of 0. Nightly uses org.opentubex.app.nightly in that path instead, and Lite builds add .lite, as in org.opentubex.app.lite. On iOS and iPadOS, <UUID> is the system-assigned identifier for this installation’s app container. These mobile directories are not accessible through normal file managers. Use data exports to back up or transfer your library.

Understand the desktop files

Each database can have -wal and -shm files beside it that hold recent changes. Copy them together, and only while OpenTubeX is closed. A profile created by OpenTubeX 0.36.1 or earlier also keeps its earlier .db file for each of these. OpenTubeX imports it once and leaves it unchanged, so an older version can still open it. That older version shows your library as it was when it was imported. On desktop, changes you make there are added back the next time you open the newer version.

These are application data files, not downloaded video files. Downloads are saved in your configured Download Folder. The profile folder may contain additional caches, session data, and files used by other features.

Back up or move to another device

For normal transfers, use the export and import actions. They let you choose what to transfer without copying device-specific settings indiscriminately.

The unified ZIP backup includes watch statistics, but individual category exports and the ZIP do not include saved tab sessions. A full desktop profile backup includes their database files along with the rest of the profile; it can also contain credentials and sync keys, so keep the whole backup private.

For regular backups without copying files by hand, turn on scheduled backups, which save a ZIP backup to a folder you choose.

If you need a full desktop profile backup, close OpenTubeX before copying its profile directory to a private backup location. Copy downloaded media separately. Do not edit or replace live database files while the app is running.

Free storage

1. Open Settings → Data & Storage → Storage and review the categories and their descriptions.
2. Prefer clearing a replaceable cache when you only want to reclaim cached data.
3. Read the confirmation before clearing history or other library records.
4. To remove downloaded media, use the Downloads panel and review whether the action clears its list entry or removes the file. On desktop, removed files go to the trash.

The Storage tab separates downloaded media, records, and replaceable caches so you can choose what to clear.

Cleared caches may need to be fetched again, which uses your connection. A cache is not a backup of your subscriptions, playlists, or history. See Privacy and watch history for retention and deletion controls.