Back up superwhisper and move your modes and vocabulary to a new Mac
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
superwhisper keeps its configuration in one folder in your home directory, ~/superwhisper. To back up or move to a new Mac, copy that folder, or just the subfolders you need, into the same place on the other computer and restart the app. Older installs may use ~/Documents/superwhisper.
I make YapToText, a different dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about superwhisper with that in mind. Every fact about superwhisper here is from its own docs, read on October 10, 2026. The pages are Backing up settings and Advanced settings.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
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What is in the folder
From superwhisper's docs page Backing up settings, read October 10, 2026. This describes macOS. Windows uses a different folder.
| Subfolder | Contents |
|---|---|
| models | Configuration files for custom models you added |
| modes | Every mode you created or customized |
| settings | Vocabulary lists and text replacements |
| recordings | Your dictation history files |
To confirm where yours is, open Settings, Advanced settings, App folder location.
Back it up
- Open ~/superwhisper in Finder. Press Shift-Command-G and paste the path.
- Copy models, modes and settings for a setup-only backup.
- Skip recordings if you do not need your history. It is the large one.
- Or copy the whole folder for a complete backup.
- Check that the copy holds every folder you meant to take.
Restore on another Mac
- Install superwhisper on the new Mac.
- Copy your backup folders into its configuration location.
- Restart the app.
The docs also suggest this route for sharing a setup with a colleague. The license page covers activating the new Mac.
What Filesync does instead
Filesync, in Advanced settings, syncs configuration files across installs registered under the same license. Filesync does not include recordings or transcripts, so it is not a backup of your history. The phone apps do not take part yet: the docs say modes and vocabulary are stored per device there. The history page covers the recordings folder and how long it keeps things.
Moving YapToText
YapToText has Export Preset and Import Preset in Settings, Advanced, Backup & sharing. A preset holds your modes, dictionaries, commands, AI actions and settings in one file. It never includes history. Nothing is synced by the app, so the file is the only thing that moves. The superwhisper alternative page compares the two apps.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
The short version
- Folder. ~/superwhisper, or ~/Documents/superwhisper on older installs.
- Setup only. models, modes and settings.
- Everything. Add recordings.
- Restore. Copy into place, restart.
- Filesync. Configuration only, never history.
If superwhisper moves this folder, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Related
Sources
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/backing-up-settings (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/settings-advanced (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://superwhisper.com/docs/get-started/ios (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-10)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-10)
Questions
How do I back up superwhisper settings?
Copy the ~/superwhisper folder, or its models, modes and settings subfolders, to a safe place.
How do I move superwhisper to a new Mac?
Copy your backup folders into the superwhisper configuration location on the new Mac, then restart the app.
Where are superwhisper modes stored?
In the modes folder inside ~/superwhisper. Older installs use ~/Documents/superwhisper.
Does superwhisper Filesync back up my recordings?
No. Its docs say Filesync syncs configuration only, not transcripts or audio.
Can I share my superwhisper modes with someone?
Yes. Copy the modes folder, or single mode files from it, into their configuration folder.