Losing a tracking baseline means losing the reference point for all future comparisons. Your earliest photos and density readings are the most valuable data in your entire tracking history because they can never be recreated. This guide explains how to protect that data with automatic cloud backup and local export options.
Why Backup Is a Clinical Necessity
Hair loss tracking produces data that increases in value over time. A single density reading means little on its own, but 12 months of consistent readings reveal trends that inform treatment decisions.
If you lose your baseline photos or early density readings, you lose the ability to measure how far you have progressed or regressed. No amount of future tracking can recover that starting reference point. This makes backup not just a convenience feature, but a clinical necessity.
How Automatic Cloud Backup Works
myhairline.ai runs an automatic backup cycle every 24 hours. Here is what gets backed up and how.
| Data Type | Backup Frequency | Storage Format | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-resolution photos | Every 24 hours | Original JPEG/HEIC | AES-256 at rest |
| Density readings | Every 24 hours | Structured JSON | AES-256 at rest |
| Treatment logs | Every 24 hours | Structured JSON | AES-256 at rest |
| Photo metadata | Every 24 hours | Embedded EXIF + app metadata | AES-256 at rest |
| Analysis reports | Every 24 hours | AES-256 at rest |
Each backup is incremental, meaning only new or changed data is uploaded. This keeps the process fast and bandwidth-efficient even if you have hundreds of photos in your history.
Step-by-Step: Verify Your Cloud Backup Is Active
Step 1. Open myhairline.ai and navigate to Settings.
Step 2. Tap Data Management.
Step 3. Check the Cloud Backup section. You should see a green status indicator and a timestamp showing the last successful backup.
Step 4. If the status shows "Paused" or "Error," tap "Retry Backup" to trigger an immediate sync.
Step 5. Confirm that the backup size matches your expected data volume. A typical 6-month tracking history with weekly photos produces 500MB to 1.5GB of backup data.
Step-by-Step: Export a Local Backup
Even with automatic cloud backup, maintaining a local copy adds an extra layer of protection. Here is how to create one.
Step 1. Go to Settings, then Data Management, then Export All Data.
Step 2. Choose your export format:
- Full Export (ZIP): Contains all photos at original resolution, CSV files with density data, and PDF reports. This is the most complete option.
- Data Only (CSV): Contains only numerical density readings and treatment logs without photos. Smaller file size, useful for spreadsheet analysis.
- Report Only (PDF): A formatted summary with thumbnail images and charts. Best for sharing with a doctor.
Step 3. Tap "Generate Export." The app compiles your data into the selected format. For large histories (12+ months), this may take 2 to 5 minutes.
Step 4. Save the file to your device, cloud drive (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox), or email it to yourself.
Step 5. Set a calendar reminder to run a local export once per month. This ensures your local backup stays current even if you forget about it between sessions.
What Is Included in Each Export
A full ZIP export is organized by date and contains these components:
- /photos/: Folders organized by date (YYYY-MM-DD), each containing all photos from that session
- /density/: CSV files with zone-by-zone density readings for every session
- /treatments/: CSV log of all treatments, medications, and procedures you have recorded
- /reports/: PDF analysis reports generated at each session
- summary.pdf: A single document with your complete tracking timeline, trend charts, and key metrics
The CSV files use standard formatting that opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or any data analysis tool. Column headers include date, zone ID, zone name, density value (FU/cm2), hair count, and change from previous reading.
Protecting Your Data Across Devices
If you switch phones or use multiple devices, your cloud backup ensures continuity. Log into myhairline.ai on your new device with the same account, and your full tracking history syncs automatically. No manual transfer is needed.
For users who track on both a phone and a tablet, changes sync between devices within minutes. The conflict resolution system uses timestamps to ensure the most recent data takes priority if edits are made on two devices simultaneously.
Data Retention After Cancellation
If you cancel your myhairline.ai subscription, your data remains on our servers for 90 days. During this window, you can reactivate and pick up exactly where you left off.
Before canceling, always run a full local export. This gives you a permanent personal copy that exists independently of your subscription status. After 90 days without reactivation, all cloud-stored data is permanently deleted per our privacy policy.
Recovery Scenarios
| Scenario | Solution | Data Loss Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Lost or broken phone | Log in on new device, cloud backup syncs | None |
| Accidentally deleted app | Reinstall and log in, data restores | None |
| Canceled subscription (under 90 days) | Reactivate account | None |
| Canceled subscription (over 90 days) | Use local export if available | Full loss if no local backup |
| Cloud service outage | Local backup available offline | None if local backup exists |
Best Practices for Data Protection
Run monthly local exports. Cloud backup is reliable, but having a local copy eliminates all single points of failure.
Store local backups in two locations. Save one copy on your device and one on an external drive or separate cloud service.
Verify backups periodically. Open your exported ZIP file once per quarter to confirm the photos and CSV files are intact and readable.
Document your tracking protocol. If you ever need to share your data with a new provider, having a written note about your photo conditions (lighting, distance, timing) makes the data more clinically useful. See our data export walkthrough for details on formatting data for clinical use.
Start protecting your tracking history today. Upload your baseline photos at myhairline.ai/analyze and verify that cloud backup is active in your settings.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for guidance on hair loss treatment.