Stub keeps everything on your phone — there's no account and no server holding your receipts. That's good for your privacy, but it means one thing is up to you: keeping a backup. A backup is simply a file you save somewhere safe. With it, you can move everything to a new phone or recover after a reset. Here's how.
Why a backup matters: because your data lives only on your device, losing or replacing the phone without a backup means losing your records. A backup file — saved to your email, Google Drive, or Files — is your safety net. Stub reminds you weekly so it never slips.
Step oneThe two kinds of backup
In Settings → Backup & restore, you can make either:
Back up everything
Your receipts, your mileage, and every receipt photo. This is the one to use when moving to a new phone, so your pictures come along. It's larger because it carries the images.
Saved as Stub-Full-backup-2026-06-26.json
Back up data only
Your receipts and mileage without the photos. A much smaller file — handy for a quick records-only copy when you don't need the images.
Saved as Stub-data-only-backup-2026-06-26.json
The names tell them apart at a glance, so you'll always know which file is which.
The main oneMoving to a new phone
Two short halves: save a full backup on the old phone, then load it on the new one. You can start both right inside the app — open Settings → Moving to a new phone? and pick which phone you're on.
On your old phone
This phone
Backup file
Email / Drive / Files
Tap Back up everything. (Use the full backup, not data-only, so your photos transfer.)
Your phone's share sheet opens. Send the file somewhere you'll reach from the new phone — email it to yourself, or save to Google Drive or Files.
That's the old phone done. The file is now safely off the device.
On your new phone
Your backup file
Load into Stub
All restored
Install Stub and open it once.
Go to Settings → Moving to a new phone? → This is my NEW phone, then tap Load backup.
Pick the backup file you saved. Stub shows you its date and what's inside, then asks you to confirm.
Confirm — your receipts, mileage and photos are all back.
Do it before adding anything new. Loading a backup replaces whatever is in Stub on the new phone. On a fresh install there's nothing to lose — but if you've already added receipts there, restoring will overwrite them. So load first, then carry on.
Also usefulRestoring on the same phone
If you reset your phone or reinstalled the app, the steps are the same as the new-phone half: Settings → Restore from backup, pick your file, confirm. Because restore replaces everything currently in Stub, you'll see the backup's date on the confirmation screen so you always know exactly what you're loading.
Good habitsKeeping your backup safe
Keep it somewhere you'll find it. Email-to-self and Google Drive are reliable because they're tied to your account, not your phone.
Back up regularly. Stub nudges you weekly; a recent backup means less lost if anything happens.
The file is plain and portable. It isn't password-locked, so store it where only you can reach it — your own email or cloud drive, behind your login.
Your records, in your hands
No account, no server. Back up in a tap, restore in a tap, and never lose a year of deductions.
stub. helps you organize receipts and mileage for your own records. It is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Your data is stored on your device; backups are files you create and control.