Chrome Web Store ↗What to know
- Saved text and available local previews do not depend on the author keeping the original page online.
- A downloaded video is different from a video cover image or an external link.
- Keep a Full backup with available media; JSON alone does not contain downloaded files.
Before you start
Check the individual saved record and the download result before relying on it. A post appearing in Library does not prove that every picture, video or comment was captured.
This guide concerns content already saved successfully. Smylte cannot recover a deleted post that you never saved, restore unavailable media from a thumbnail, or bypass access restrictions.
How to do it
Open the record in Library
Find the post using the Library search field. Read the stored text and check which pictures, replies and media are actually available. The Original link still points to the source website; that destination may stop working after deletion.
Check downloaded media separately
Review the confirmed download status and open the local file where available. A poster or thumbnail represents an image, not the underlying video. Failed, cancelled, unconfirmed or Partial results need attention before you treat the media as safely retained.
Make a complete local backup
Open Backup & Restore and choose Full backup. Select the library folder containing the downloaded photos and videos when asked. Read whether the result is complete or Partial; a Partial archive lists media it could not include.
Keep the backup independently
Preserve the resulting .plbackup file and any files not included in it. Before moving computers or removing a browser profile, follow the restore guide and verify the destination Library. Having an export file is not proof that you have checked its contents.
What survives depends on what was saved
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Stored text and saved text comments | Available from the local record, limited to what the import actually collected. |
| Local image previews | The saved preview can remain, but it may not match the original picture resolution. |
| Confirmed downloaded photos or videos | The local files remain usable while you keep them and the relevant local data. |
| Source links or media that remain remote-only | The original website may remove them, require login or stop serving the file. |
The same rule applies across supported sources
For example, a successfully saved recipe from Threads or Instagram, a supported Facebook text post, an X record, or an accessible Patreon entry can provide useful local text. These are illustrative cases, not a promise that every entry or attachment is supported. Source access and capture limits still apply.
Pinterest is download-only: downloading a Pin does not create a Library entry. Keep the confirmed downloaded files themselves. The Library backup should not be treated as a backup of unrelated download-only files.
Local does not mean permanent
Deleting browser data, losing the device, removing local files or discarding backups can remove your copy. There is no automatic cloud sync or developer-hosted recovery service to reconstruct it. Keeping a source URL is useful for attribution, but does not preserve the source content by itself.
Limits to keep in mind
- Local copies and backups must be retained by you; permanent availability is not guaranteed.
- Only successfully saved content is preserved, including the original capture limits and missing comments.
- A preview image, remote URL or download request is not evidence of a confirmed saved video.
Questions and answers
Will the Original link still open after the author deletes the post?
It may not. The link points to the source page, while the saved local record is a separate copy of the content successfully retained.
Can Smylte retrieve a deleted post I never saved?
No. This is a local preservation workflow for content saved while available, not a deleted-post recovery service.
Does Export JSON protect my saved videos?
No. JSON preserves post data but excludes downloaded media. Use Full backup with the readable library folder, and check its missing-media report.