Backup and privacy

Where to find it

1. Settings
2. →
3. Data
4. →
5. Export backup

“Import backup” is right next to it. On first launch with no data, Setonomy also offers “Import backup” or “Start without data.”

Where your data lives

Setonomy stores everything on your iPhone, with no account, no server of its own and no syncing over the internet. There's no tracking, no ads and no third-party SDKs; Premium purchases go through Apple. More in the privacy policy.

Backups of your iPhone to iCloud or a computer can include the app's data.

Exporting a backup

“Export backup” creates a JSON file with the date in its name, such as setonomy_backup_2026-10-21.json, and hands it to iOS with “Share …”: save it in the Files app, on a computer, or wherever you like. There's no automatic backup.

The file contains your workouts, history, body weights, profile and settings, plus plans, the trash and, if entered, your year of birth and maximum heart rate.

Encrypting with a password

With “Encrypt with password,” you enter a password twice, at least 8 characters; longer is safer. Setonomy encrypts the file with AES-256-GCM and derives the key with PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 and 600,000 iterations, fresh for every export. Only a header stays readable: the format version, time, app version and build, plus the encryption details: method, iterations, salt and IV.

There is no recovery. Setonomy doesn't store your password anywhere and has no server that could reset it.

Importing a backup

Under “Import backup,” choose a JSON file; if it's encrypted, Setonomy asks for the password. “Import backup?” then shows what's in the file. If there's already data on the iPhone, the import irreversibly replaces all of it; nothing is merged.

A backup is only imported as a whole: if the file is damaged, everything stays as it was. You can't import during a workout.

What isn't in the backup

• Weigh-ins from Apple Health; after the import, Setonomy fetches them from Health again.
• The Apple Health switches; they apply per device (Apple Health).
• Premium; it's tied to your Apple Account (Premium).
• “Keep screen on,” “Carry over values from previous set” and “Input during workout” under “Effort (RPE)”; they apply to this device only.

If you delete the app

Deleting the app deletes all its data on your iPhone. Exported files and iPhone backups remain, and so does whatever Setonomy wrote to Apple Health.

Premium

Frequently asked questions