Procreate saves all data, including artwork, locally on your iPad’s internal storage. This means it can be lost permanently if you delete the Procreate app, overwrite your internal storage, or lose access to your iPad. To avoid this, you should regularly export your artwork or back up your iPad using one or more of the options below.

Export multiple files from the Gallery

Artwork can be exported to cloud storage or another location from the Procreate Gallery. These files can then be reimported to Procreate later if needed.

1. From the Gallery, tap Select from the top menu

2. Tap the canvases and Stacks you want to back up. A checkbox with a tick will indicate the ones you’ve selected

3. Tap Share at the top

4. Choose the Procreate format to back up the artwork with layer information and settings, and your Time-Lapse Replay

5. ‘Exporting’ and a progress indicator will appear

6. When the iPadOS share sheet appears, select Save to Files and select your preferred storage location from the left sidebar. You may need to tap the Ellipsis → Edit Locations in order to see your cloud services or other storage locations

From the share sheet you can also export to other locations and apps, or send to another device using AirDrop. Consider saving your files in the .procreate format to multiple secure locations to ensure strong data-integrity practices.

Export files using drag and drop

Head to the iPad's Settings app and locate 'Apps' in the list on the left. Enter this, then tap on Procreate and find the 'Preferred Image Format' and 'Preferred File Format' options.

Your Preferred Image Format decides the format for images that you drag and drop from Procreate's Gallery into the iPad's Photos app

Your Preferred File Format decides the format for images that you drag from Procreate's Gallery into the Files app

Select your desired options here, then head to the Procreate Gallery. To export canvases using drag and drop:

1. From the Gallery, tap Select from the top menu

2. Tap the artworks you want to back up. A checkbox with a tick will indicate the ones you’ve selected

3. Tap and hold one of the selected artworks to pick up the group of them

4. Keep that finger held down, and use another finger to swipe up from the bottom of the iPad screen

5. Navigate to either Photos or Files and hold your initial finger over where you'd like to export the files

6. Release (raise) your finger to have the artworks export in the formats you've chosen in Settings → Apps → Procreate

Back up your entire iPad

Backing up your iPad will back up apps and files stored on your iPad either to iCloud or a computer. This can later be restored to your current iPad or a new iPad.

Follow the steps in this article from Apple to back up your iPad to iCloud, a Mac or a PC.