Configure Kdenlive Auto Backup to Network Storage

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to configure Kdenlive’s automatic backup feature to save alternate project files to a network-attached drive. You will learn how to prepare your network mount, adjust Kdenlive’s path settings, and ensure your video editing progress is continuously secured against local hardware failures.

Step 1: Mount the Network Drive to Your Operating System

Before Kdenlive can write backups to a network drive, the network folder must be permanently mounted to your local operating system so Kdenlive can recognize it as a local path.

• On Windows: Open File Explorer, select This PC, click Map network drive in the top ribbon, choose a drive letter (e.g., Z:), enter the network path (e.g., \\NAS\Backups), and check Reconnect at sign-in.
• On Linux: Mount your network share (via SMB or NFS) to a local directory, such as /mnt/network-backup, and add it to your /etc/fstab file to ensure it mounts automatically upon booting.

Step 2: Configure Kdenlive’s Default Paths

Once the network drive is mounted, you must point Kdenlive’s project and backup directories to this network location.

1. Launch Kdenlive.
2. Go to the top menu and select Settings > Configure Kdenlive (on macOS, select Kdenlive > Preferences).
3. In the configuration window, select the Environment tab from the left-hand sidebar.
4. Navigate to the Default Folders section.
5. Locate the Project files field. Click the folder icon next to it and select your mounted network drive folder.
6. Locate the Storage folder (cache) field. If you want your cached recovery files to also live on the network, set this path to a dedicated folder on your network drive. Note that network speed may affect timeline preview performance if the cache folder is on a slow network.
7. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Step 3: Set Project-Specific Backup Paths

If you prefer to configure this on a per-project basis rather than globally, you can adjust these settings within your individual project properties.

1. With your project open, go to Project > Project Settings.
2. Select the Cache data tab.
3. Check the box to enable custom folders and set the primary project folder to your network directory. Kdenlive automatically saves recovery files (.kdenlive.keep files) to this designated project folder.

Step 4: Verify the Auto-Backup Functionality

Kdenlive automatically creates recovery backups at regular intervals while you work. To verify that your configuration is working:

1. Make a few edits in your timeline.
2. Wait for the default autosave interval to pass (usually 3 to 5 minutes).
3. Open your network drive in your system’s file manager.
4. Navigate to the directory you configured and look for the hidden or auto-saved .kdenlive backup files, which typically contain the suffix .keep or are stored inside a dedicated backups subfolder.