How Automatic Snapshots Work
Recovery & backups
When Is a Snapshot Taken?
Snapshots run on a timer in the background. They don’t run code on the pages you visit.
- Every 5 minutes, for every open window
- Whenever a window closes
How Do I Restore From a Snapshot?
Open the Recovery screen
It lists all automatic snapshots, browsable by date.
Find the right time
Pick the snapshot from just before the crash or the closed window.
Restore it
The windows and tabs from that snapshot open again.
What About Browser and Extension Updates?
Before every update, BelayTab backs up its own database. An update can’t wipe your sessions, which is the failure other tab managers are known for.
Snapshots live in your browser on this computer. To protect against a dead laptop, turn on the rolling export file, or use Sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to turn snapshots on?
No. They start working as soon as BelayTab is installed, on the free plan.
Do snapshots slow down my browser?
No. The work happens in the background on a timer, and BelayTab runs no scripts on the pages you visit.
What’s the difference between a snapshot and a saved session?
A saved session is one you created on purpose. A snapshot is taken automatically so you have something to fall back on if you didn’t save.
Related Articles
- HelpUsing the Recovery Screen to Get Lost Tabs BackThe Recovery screen gathers every way back to lost tabs: deleted sessions, automatic snapshots, recently closed windows and export files.
- HelpSetting Up Automatic Export BackupsTurn on BelayTab’s rolling export so a JSON copy of every session is written to your Downloads folder on a schedule you choose.
- HelpHow Version History WorksBelayTab keeps the last 20 versions of every session. Restoring an older version adds a new one, so nothing is overwritten.
- FeaturesHow to Recover Tabs After a Crash, a Close or an UpdateHow to recover tabs in any browser right now, with shortcuts for each. Then how BelayTab snapshots, version history and trash stop you losing them again.
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