The most important distinction
BetterScreenShot separates temporary working data from files you deliberately save.
History
History is a local temporary workspace and recovery library. It can contain:
- Recent screenshots.
- Recordings and GIFs.
- OCR and QR results.
- Thumbnails.
- Internal editable projects.
- Search, tags, favorites, and recovery information.
History helps you continue recent work. It should not be your only long-term archive.
Saved files
A saved file is a normal image or recording in the folder configured in BetterScreenShot or chosen through Save As. It remains outside the temporary History lifecycle.
Exported editable projects
An exported .bssproj is a portable editable project. It can include the source assets needed to reopen the work on another supported BetterScreenShot installation.
How a capture is kept
Depending on your settings, a new capture may:
- Enter temporary History.
- Be copied to the clipboard.
- Show Quick Access.
- Open in the editor.
- Be saved automatically to your configured folder.
These actions are independent. A capture appearing in History does not necessarily mean a permanent file was saved.
Find a screenshot or recording
Check History
Use search, capture type, date, tags, favorites, saved/unsaved state, or availability filters. Select the item to reopen it.
Check the configured folder
Open Settings and review the current screenshot or recording folder. BetterScreenShot can open the configured folder from its file and History controls.
Check whether the item says unavailable
An unavailable item means the History record still exists but the referenced file cannot be found. This can happen when a saved or externally opened file was moved, renamed, disconnected, or deleted outside BetterScreenShot.
If the file still exists, use the relink action and choose the correct file. Do not create an empty replacement with the same name.
Configure retention
History settings can control:
- Whether captures enter History automatically.
- Age-based retention.
- Maximum item count.
- Storage cleanup.
- Whether favorites are protected from automatic pruning.
- The History storage location when supported.
Retention applies to app-managed temporary data. It does not delete separate files you saved or exported.
Favorite important temporary items, but also save or export anything you need as a long-term archive.
Delete from History
The branded confirmation explains that deletion is permanent for the selected History copy.
Confirming deletion removes:
- The History record.
- BetterScreenShot's managed temporary source and working files.
- The thumbnail.
- The internal editable image or media project.
It preserves:
- A separate file created with Save or automatic saving.
- An exported
.bssprojfile. - An external original that you opened in BetterScreenShot.
If the selected image is open in the main annotation workspace, BetterScreenShot can close that document, delete its History copy, and return to the empty starting screen.
Deletion may remain blocked while the item is being used by:
- Quick Access.
- A floating reference.
- The media editor.
- An active or recoverable recording.
- Another protected write or recovery operation.
Close the relevant surface or finish the operation, then try again. Do not manually delete files from BetterScreenShot's application-data folders.
Clear History
Before clearing multiple items:
- Save important screenshots and recordings.
- Export editable projects you want to keep.
- Open Recovery Center and recover unfinished work.
- Check favorites and unsaved filters.
- Create a local backup if the History state matters.
Clearing History is not a normal fix for a capture, hotkey, or performance problem.
Editable image projects
While editing, BetterScreenShot keeps the original source separate from the working document and stores annotation objects independently. Project autosave helps recover ongoing edits.
Use an exported .bssproj when you want to:
- Archive an editable screenshot.
- Move it to another computer.
- Share it with another BetterScreenShot user.
- Preserve annotations instead of saving only a flattened image.
Keep the exported project in a normal user folder or backup location.
Recording projects
Recording data is written progressively so an interrupted session can be recovered. The finalized recording and editable media project are different parts of the workflow.
Do not force-close BetterScreenShot while recording or finalizing. If an interruption occurs, use Recovery Center before deleting temporary files or reinstalling the app.
Recovery Center
Recovery Center can surface interrupted:
- Screen recordings.
- Media exports.
- Scrolling captures.
- Image autosaves.
To recover:
- Open BetterScreenShot.
- Open Recovery Center when prompted or from the app.
- Review each item and timestamp.
- Choose Recover for work you need.
- Save or export the recovered result.
Choose Keep for later if you are unsure. Choose Discard permanently only when you no longer need that recovery copy.
Local backup and restore
Use Settings > Advanced > Local Backup & Restore.
A local backup always includes key application state such as settings, presets, recent colors, shortcuts, and the History index. You can choose whether to include managed captures and editable projects.
Backups do not include credentials, caches, thumbnails, diagnostic logs, crash dumps, or update files.
Restore creates a rollback backup before replacing current settings and the History index. Even so:
- Do not restore while recording.
- Review unfinished work first.
- Keep the backup file in a safe user-controlled location.
- Do not edit the backup archive manually.
Before reinstalling or resetting
Reinstalling is rarely the first solution. Before any uninstall, reset, or data repair:
- Check Recovery Center.
- Save or export important work.
- Create a local backup.
- Record the installed version.
- Export a privacy-reviewed diagnostic report.
- Contact support when data appears missing or corrupted.