How to Back Up Your forScore Library: Backup vs Archive Explained
To back up forScore properly, make an Archive, not just a Backup, from forScore's Backups panel, then copy that file off your iPad to a computer, cloud drive or USB drive. Both file types end in .4sb, but only an Archive contains your PDFs, so only an Archive can rebuild your library on a new or replaced iPad.
Backup vs Archive in forScore: what is the difference?
| Backup | Archive | |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Metadata, settings, setlists, bookmarks and annotations | Everything in a Backup plus a copy of every file (your PDFs and audio) |
| Restores a library on its own? | No. The PDFs must already be there | Yes. It is a complete copy |
| Size | Small | Large (can be many gigabytes) |
| Made automatically? | Yes, when forScore launches | No, you make it yourself |
forScore's own guide says a Backup "can not be used on its own" because it holds no PDFs, while an Archive includes a copy of every file in forScore's Documents folder.
If your iPad is lost, broken or replaced, only an Archive brings everything back.
How do you make a forScore Archive?
- Open forScore and go to the Backups panel in its tools menu.
- Choose to create an Archive, not a Backup.
- Keep the iPad plugged in and the app open. A large library can take several minutes.
- When it finishes, the Archive appears in your list of backups.
Menu labels move between forScore versions, so if you cannot find it, search forScore's help for "Archive".
Where should you keep a forScore backup?
An Archive that stays on the same iPad does not protect you if that iPad is lost. Keep a copy somewhere else:
| Place | How | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| A Mac | forScore's Mac utility can create an Archive over a USB cable | Big libraries |
| iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive | Move a copy through the Files app | Off-site copy. Check your free space first |
| A USB-C drive | Save straight to the drive in Files | A copy you hold in your hand |
How often should you back up forScore?
Make a fresh Archive:
- once a month
- before every iPadOS or forScore update
- before important concerts
- before turning sync on or off
Is iCloud sync a backup?
No. forScore's sync keeps your devices matching each other. It is not a history you can roll back to. forScore's help pages say synced data "cannot be reverted or restored." If a mistake syncs, it syncs everywhere.
Treat sync as convenience and Archives as protection. If sync is already misbehaving, see forScore sync not working.
What is the automatic Backup forScore makes?
forScore quietly makes a Backup each time it launches and keeps the most recent copy plus one from the last day you used it. These sit next to your files in forScore's folder. They help if setlists or settings get mixed up, but they do not include your PDFs.
What if a forScore backup will not restore?
Some musicians report large restores failing or coming back incomplete after an update. If that happens:
- Do not delete the Archive. Keep the original somewhere safe and work on a copy.
- Update forScore and iPadOS, then try again on a charged, plugged-in iPad.
- Contact forScore support with your version numbers and what you see.
- Remember the PDFs are inside the Archive, so the music itself is usually recoverable even when a full restore fails.
A 60-second checklist
- Make an Archive, not just a Backup
- Copy it off the iPad
- Repeat monthly and before updates
- Do not rely on iCloud sync as a backup
FAQ
What is the difference between a forScore Backup and an Archive? A Backup holds your metadata, setlists, bookmarks, settings and annotations but not your PDFs. An Archive holds all of that plus a copy of every file, so it can restore a library on its own.
Does a forScore Backup include my annotations? Yes. forScore says Backups store annotations, setlists, bookmarks, metadata and settings. They do not store the PDFs themselves.
How big is a forScore Archive? Roughly the size of all your PDFs and audio together, so a big library can be several gigabytes.
Can I open a .4sb file on a computer? Not as a normal document. It is a forScore-specific file meant for restoring into the app. Some other apps, including Folio Stand when it launches, plan to read it for importing.
How often should I back up forScore? Monthly, plus before any iPadOS or forScore update and before an important performance.
Sources: forScore user guide 14.3; forScore help pages on backups, syncing and iCloud (read 2 October 2026).
About us: we are building Folio Stand, a sheet music reader planned for early 2027 that will keep automatic backups you can see in Files and import a forScore Archive. This guide is meant to help forScore users whether or not they ever switch. See switch from forScore.