Sync and offline access

Local Mode works without an account in the desktop and mobile apps. It stores scripts on your device without upload. Your scripts stay in the same Library after sign-in.

With a paid plan, sign-in starts automatic sync to your private workspace. Screencake keeps the local copy. Without a paid plan, you can continue to write locally.

Local scripts belong to the first account you use with them. They do not upload to another account or server.

Script text, comments, breakdown tags, shot lists, and production structure sync across your devices. Each device has its own theme, focus mode, and panel layout.

Screencake saves edits on your device first. While connected, it also syncs edits with the server. Offline edits stay on the device and sync automatically when you connect again.

• Saved: the server has your latest changes.
• Saving…: sync is in progress.
• Offline: the server is not reachable.
• Saved on this Mac / PC / device: the device has a local copy.

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Background tabs pause their connection. When you return, the script syncs before editing becomes available. Screencake stores pending edits on disk so they stay after you close the app.

Personal scripts are the scripts in your private workspace. Library cards and the editor title bar show the sync state of each personal script. In a browser, the labels say “in this browser” instead of “on this Mac”.

• Saved on this Mac · Synced: the cloud has your latest changes. The editor shows Saved on this Mac and in the cloud.
• Syncing… or Saved on this Mac · Waiting to sync: the device has changes that are not in the cloud. Screencake sends them automatically when a connection is available.
• Not downloaded to this device: the device does not have the script yet. Screencake downloads it when the device is connected.
• This Mac's storage is full · Free up space, then retry: Screencake cannot save sync data on the device. Free up space, then select Retry sync.
• Cloud sync needs a paid plan: your plan does not include cloud sync. Select See plans to upgrade. Sync starts again automatically after the upgrade. The Android app does not show this button.
• No permission to sync this script: your account cannot write to this script in the cloud. Sync starts again when your access returns. You can also select Retry sync.
• Sign in again to resume sync: your session ended. Sign in to the same account. Sync starts again after sign-in.
• Kept on this Mac · Too large for cloud sync: the script is larger than the cloud accepts. It stays on this device. Your next edit starts a new attempt. To keep another copy, export the script.
• Kept on this Mac · The cloud couldn't accept this script: the server refused the script content. The script stays on this device. Your next edit starts a new attempt.
• Kept on this Mac only: this copy stays on the device and does not sync. Select Delete to remove it.
• Sync needs attention: sync stopped for a different reason. Select Retry sync.

In the desktop and mobile apps, downloaded, unencrypted scripts from your private workspace stay in your Library. You can edit them without an account. Sign in to the same account to sync those changes.

In a browser, sign-out removes your scripts and account data from the browser. This includes changes that did not sync. Sign-out in one tab also signs out all other tabs of that browser, and those tabs go to the signed-out page. Before you sign out in a browser, make sure that your changes are synced.

Team, shared, and encrypted scripts require account access. They are not part of the Library available after sign-out.

A personal script leaves the Library on each device after you archive or delete it in the cloud. Screencake does not create it again.

A script that you share with other people is no longer a personal script. Your account can still open it, as with a team script. Devices do not keep it after sign-out.

If a device has changes to that script that did not sync, the device keeps them in a separate copy. Its card shows Kept on this Mac only. This copy does not sync. Export it or delete it.

Screencake combines edits from collaborators and offline devices without a conflict dialog. It combines inserted text and deletes the applicable text. It does not replace the complete draft with the latest saved copy.

A collaborator's deletions also sync. To recover earlier text, open Version history.

• Works offline in the desktop app: writing, beats, outlines, story threads, breakdown tags, shoot days, shot lists, stripboards, and storyboards.
• Connection necessary: sides, share links, production PDFs, and version captures.
• Revision exports: connect once per session before exporting revised pages.
• Local Mode: does not capture version history.

The desktop app keeps a .screencake file in Documents containing script text, comments, and storyboard pictures. Include it in your backups or copy it to a different Mac or PC to open there.

You can export screenplays as PDF, Final Draft, or Fountain on any plan. AV scripts export as PDF only.

An expired subscription does not delete your scripts. You can read and export them. Cloud editing and sync stop. A banner explains the change.

Downloaded personal scripts remain editable in the local Library. Edits stay on the device until your account can sync again.

For other eligible scripts, a move to Local Mode archives the cloud copy. Text, comments, revision history, and pending device edits move to the device. Select Move to this Mac or Move to this PC in the desktop app. This recovery copy stays local and does not upload automatically.

On the web, export your script to keep a copy.

Encrypted scripts cannot be moved or exported by the server. For a readable cloud copy, disable encryption before the subscription expires.

Syncing resumes when cloud editing is available for your workspace again.

Encrypted scripts sync the same way, but the server stores an unreadable copy. Only devices holding the key can open it. See Encrypted scripts.