Where to find auto save in Krita

Auto save in Krita is turned on through the Settings menu, and it saves your work automatically at intervals you choose. Open Krita, then go to Settings in the top menu bar. Click Preferences (on Windows and Linux) or Settings (on Mac). A window will open with a list of categories on the left side.

Look for File Handling in that left-side list and click it. You will see a section labeled Autosave with a checkbox next to "Enable autosave". Check that box to turn auto save on. Once you check it, the rest of the auto save options become available for you to adjust.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto save is found in Settings > Preferences > File Handling, and you turn it on by checking the "Enable autosave" box.
  • Krita saves your work to a backup file every 15 minutes by default, but you can change this interval to any number of minutes you prefer.
  • Auto save creates a separate backup file and does not replace your manual saves, so you still need to save your work yourself when you are done.
  • If Krita crashes, you can recover your work from the backup file by opening the recovery dialog that appears when you restart the program.

Setting the auto save interval

The default auto save interval is 15 minutes, which means Krita saves a backup copy of your work every 15 minutes. If you want Krita to save more or less often, you can change this number. In the same Autosave section, find the field that says "Autosave interval" and shows a number with "minutes" next to it.

Click in that field and type a new number. If you are working on a large file or want more frequent backups, try 5 or 10 minutes. If you prefer fewer interruptions and your computer is stable, 20 or 30 minutes works too. The lower the number, the more often Krita saves, which uses slightly more disk space but protects you better if something goes wrong.

Understanding where auto save files are stored

Auto save creates backup files separate from your main project file. These backups are stored in a folder on your computer that Krita manages automatically. You do not need to find or manage these files yourself — Krita handles them in the background.

If Krita crashes or closes unexpectedly, the next time you open the program, a recovery dialog appears. This dialog shows you the backup files Krita saved and lets you open them. You can then save the recovered work as a new file with your own name. If Krita closes normally, the backup files are cleaned up automatically.

The difference between auto save and manual save

Auto save creates a backup, but it does not replace the need to save your work yourself. When you finish a project or reach a point you want to keep, you still need to go to File > Export As (for image formats like PNG or JPG) or File > Save As (for Krita's native .kra format) and save the file with a name you choose.

Think of auto save as a safety net. It protects you if something unexpected happens, but your actual project file is the one you save manually. Auto save backups are temporary and are meant to help you recover work if the program crashes — they are not meant to be your permanent copies.

Turning off auto save if you do not want it

If you prefer not to use auto save, you can turn it off by unchecking the "Enable autosave" box in the same Settings > Preferences > File Handling menu. Some people turn it off if they are working on a very slow computer or if they have limited disk space, though auto save backups are usually small.

Even with auto save off, Krita still lets you undo your recent changes using Edit > Undo or by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows and Linux) or Command+Z (Mac). Undo works within your current session, but it disappears if you close the program, so auto save is still useful as a backup against crashes.

What to do if Krita crashes and you need to recover your work

When you restart Krita after a crash, a recovery dialog usually appears automatically. This dialog shows the backup files Krita saved before the crash. Click on the file you want to recover, then click the button to open it. The recovered file opens in Krita as a new, unsaved document.

Once the file is open, go to File > Export As or File > Save As and save it with a name you choose. This saves the recovered work as a permanent file on your computer. If the recovery dialog does not appear, you can also go to File > Open Recent and look for a file with "autosave" or "backup" in its name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does auto save slow down Krita while I am working?

Auto save may cause a brief pause every time it saves, especially on slower computers or with very large files. Most people do not notice the pause with the default 15-minute interval. If you do notice slowdowns, try increasing the interval to 20 or 30 minutes, or turn auto save off if your computer is struggling.

Will auto save overwrite my main project file?

No. Auto save creates a separate backup file and never touches your main project file. Your main file only changes when you manually save it yourself using File > Save As or Export As. Auto save is purely a safety backup.

How long does Krita keep auto save backup files?

Krita keeps auto save backups until you close the program normally or until the backup is recovered after a crash. Once you close Krita without a crash, the old backups are deleted. This is why auto save is meant as a crash recovery tool, not as a way to keep multiple versions of your work.

Can I change where auto save stores its backup files?

Krita does not give you an option to change the backup folder location. The backups are stored in Krita's system folder, which varies by operating system. You do not need to manage these files — Krita handles them automatically. If you want to keep multiple versions of your work, save different versions manually with different names.