> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.squirrel365.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.squirrel365.io/the-designer/saving-a-project.md).

# Saving a Project

This article describes how to save a project

## Saving a new project

By default, Squirrel365 saves project files securely to the Squirrel365 cloud platform. 

Projects saved to the Cloud have versioning enabled (requires a paid plan).

{% hint style="info" %}
For information on file 'versioning', view [this article here](/the-designer/version-history.md).
{% endhint %}

Use `ctrl+s` on windows, `cmd+s` on mac, or got to `FILE > Save` to save your project. 

When saving for the first time, or choosing `Save As`, you will be prompted with the save modal. 

<figure><img src="https://911720298-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FkLBGzn2hXrIMe50klQCv%2Fuploads%2FvqyNknPkJTD1JihQ0lLE%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=413d2018-5dbe-4d9e-980c-c3a3e8c73b0b" alt=""><figcaption><p>The new Save As modal, offering options to name the project, create folders.</p></figcaption></figure>

Give you project a name and navigate to the location where you want it saved.

* **Project name** - an input field to enter the name of the cloud-stored project
* **New Folder** - select this button to create a folder to organize your projects within the file explorer
* **Cancel** - Select to cancel the save operation. Alternatively, select the "X" in the top right corner.
* **Save** - Saves the project to the cloud, **not** to your local environment
* **Save Local** - This option only appears in the desktop client for users on a paid plan and allows you to save to your local filesystem.

{% hint style="info" %}
Users on a paid plan can also choose to download a local copy of the .sqrl file from the file manager.
{% endhint %}

Subsequent save actions create a version and invite you to provide a description to help you manage versions.

<figure><img src="https://911720298-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FkLBGzn2hXrIMe50klQCv%2Fuploads%2FgIvFwmpzrDSZhQM8ZIBW%2FSaveVersion.png?alt=media&amp;token=1b255f0f-2a9a-4835-ad0a-82fdbfb4ff59" alt="" width="552"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you do not wish to add descriptions to saved versions again, select the 'Don't ask for description again' checkbox to disable it, then click 'Save version'.

{% hint style="info" %}
For more information on viewing and restoring project versions, see [this article](/the-designer/version-history.md#restoring-save-versions).
{% endhint %}

### Autosave

{% hint style="success" %}
**Who can use this feature?**

The **Autosave** functionality can be used by those with the **Creator** and **Builder** subscription plans.

For more details, see our [**pricing comparison matrix**](https://squirrel365.io/pricing/).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
The Auto-save feature is only available to **cloud-saved projects**. Any projects saved locally will not trigger auto-save. For more information, see [**this article**](/the-designer/saving-a-project.md)
{% endhint %}

The project will trigger an auto-save whenever 50 actions have been made in the designer, be it selections, property changes, or spreadsheet updates. You can track if an autosave has triggered from the top bar above the canvas:

<figure><img src="https://911720298-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FkLBGzn2hXrIMe50klQCv%2Fuploads%2FewvLoMCOuzSG8rJ4U1RW%2Fproject_autosave.png?alt=media&amp;token=dc477ff8-3013-49e3-95d4-a30023483834" alt="" width="264"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Selecting the <img src="https://911720298-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FkLBGzn2hXrIMe50klQCv%2Fuploads%2FOkpbIZacUpjpgOK58Tlf%2FIcon_autosave_changes%20saved.png?alt=media&amp;token=4fd59aa6-6fe8-4a12-9299-6faf94bc6131" alt="" data-size="line"> icon at the top of the designer will display the save status of the project. Any cloud-saved project, by default, will have auto-save enabled on its first manual save.

From this pop-out menu, you can opt to turn Autosave off, view Version History to restore older versions, and check/uncheck 'Don't ask for description' when manually saved.