Does Capcut backup everything? Videos presets and all? Formatting PC

Hi,

Okay, let us break down how CapCut handles data and how you can manage your account before formatting your PC.

1. CapCut Cloud Backup & Verification

• Does CapCut back up everything? No, not automatically or comprehensively in the way you might expect a full system backup.

  • Project Files/Drafts: CapCut (especially the desktop version) offers cloud storage (called "CapCut Space"). When you explicitly save or upload your projects to this cloud space, the project data (your edits, timeline, effects used, etc.) is backed up online and associated with your account. Projects saved only locally on your PC are not automatically backed up to the cloud.
  • Source Media (Your Videos/Photos): Crucially, CapCut's cloud backup typically does not automatically back up your original video files, images, or audio files (the source media) that you imported into your projects. These large files usually remain stored locally on your PC unless you specifically upload them to a separate cloud drive (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or CapCut's own cloud drive feature if used for file storage).
  • Conclusion: Only project data explicitly saved to CapCut's cloud is backed up by CapCut itself. Your original media files need separate backup.
• Ensuring Cloud Backup of Your Data:
  • CapCut provides cloud storage for your media files, allowing you to upload up to 1 GB of data for free. To ensure your videos and presets are backed up:​
  • Upload Your Media: Open CapCut, navigate to the upload section, and add your videos and presets to the cloud storage.
  • Verify Backup: After uploading, you can access your media from any device by logging into your CapCut account. This cross-device accessibility confirms that your data is securely stored in the cloud.

• How can I verify the backup?

  1. Check CapCut Cloud Space: Open CapCut on your desktop. Look for a section labeled "Cloud," "Space," "Cloud Projects," or similar. Any projects listed here should be saved in the cloud. CapCut provides cloud storage for your media files, allowing you to upload up to 1 GB of data for free.
  2. Log In Elsewhere: The best verification is to log into your CapCut account on another device (like the CapCut mobile app or potentially the web version if available) or even just log out and log back into the desktop app. If your projects appear in the cloud section after logging in, the project data is synced.
  3. Manual Check: Ensure you actively saved the projects you care about to the cloud option within CapCut. Don't assume autosave always pushes to the cloud.

Recommendation Before Formatting:

• Manually back up your original video/photo/audio files to an external hard drive or a separate cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.). This is the most critical step.
• Open CapCut, load each important project, and ensure you use the "Save to Cloud" or "Upload to Space" option.
• As an extra precaution, find where CapCut saves project files locally (often in your Documents or Videos folder under a CapCut directory) and copy this entire folder to your external backup drive as well.

2. Presets and Restoration

• Presets, Effects, Filters: Generally, standard presets, effects, filters, transitions, and fonts provided by CapCut, as well as any you've marked as "favorites" within the app, are tied to your CapCut account. When you log back into CapCut on your newly formatted PC using the same account, these should sync and be available again.
• Custom Templates/Settings: Custom-made templates or specific local configuration settings will be stored locally and may not automatically restore. If you have highly customized setups, backing up the local CapCut application data folder (if you can locate it) might be wise, but restoring it perfectly isn't guaranteed.
• Project Restoration: When you open a cloud-saved project after reinstalling, CapCut will have the edit information. However, it will likely need to locate the source media files. You may need to relink the project to where you restored your original video/audio files on your formatted PC. If the source files are missing, the project won't load correctly.

In summary: Your editing timeline and applied standard effects/presets (linked to your account) should restore if the project was saved to the cloud. However, the project will only work if you also restore the original media files and potentially relink them.

Use CapCut's Preset Feature: CapCut allows you to save your custom presets. To do this:​

• Create a compound clip in your project.​

• Right-click on the compound clip and select "Save Preset."​

• Access your saved presets under "Media" > "Yours" > "Your Presets."

3. Finding Your CapCut Account Information & Logging In

This is a tricky situation if you don't know the email associated with your account. Here's how to approach it:

1. Check Login Methods: Did you originally sign up using Google, Facebook, TikTok, or Apple ID instead of a direct email/password? Try logging in using those social/platform login buttons first. If one works, that's the method your account is linked to.
2. Check CapCut Settings (Before Formatting!): If you still have access to CapCut before formatting, go into the Account Settings, Profile, or similar section within the app. It will display the email address or login method currently associated with your account. Take a screenshot or write it down.
3. Search Email Inboxes: Systematically search all your possible email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.). Look for emails from "CapCut". Search terms like "Welcome to CapCut," "CapCut verification," "CapCut password," or just "CapCut". Finding these emails will likely reveal which email address you used.
4. Check Browser Saved Passwords: If you ever logged into CapCut via a web browser, your browser's password manager might have saved the login credentials, including the email/username.
5. Account Recovery: If you suspect your account is linked to an email you no longer have access to, you might face challenges.
6. Contact CapCut Support: If none of the above works, your last resort is to contact CapCut's customer support. Explain your situation (formatting PC, need to recover account, don't know the email). Write an email to capcut.support@bytedance.com. They will be able to help if you can provide other identifying information (e.g., a possible username, phone number if linked, approximate date of account creation, names of some projects), but recovery without the primary email or login method can be difficult.

It is crucial to identify your account login details before you format your PC. Otherwise, regaining access to your cloud-saved projects and account-linked presets will be very challenging, if not impossible.