> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://praison.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Data & Privacy

> Where your data lives, how to export it, and what stays local

Everything runs on `127.0.0.1`, transcripts stay in your own space, and secrets live only in the macOS keychain.

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
from praisonaiagents import Agent

agent = Agent(
    name="Assistant",
    instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
)
# This agent runs on your machine — its transcripts stay local.
agent.start("Nothing leaves this Mac unless the model does")
```

```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
graph LR
    You[👤 You] --> App[🖥️ App]
    App --> Local[(📁 Local Data)]
    App --> Keychain[(🔐 Keychain)]

    classDef you fill:#8B0000,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef app fill:#6366F1,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef store fill:#10B981,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff

    class You you
    class App app
    class Local,Keychain store
```

## Quick Start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find your data">
    Everything lives under `~/Library/Application Support/PraisonAI`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export it">
    Use **Export all** — it copies your data to the clipboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete it">
    **Delete all** removes stored conversations; **Reveal in Finder** opens the folder.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Where Data Lives

The data directory is `~/Library/Application Support/PraisonAI`, overridable with the `PRAISONAI_DESKTOP_HOME` environment variable.

| Path                                  | Contents                                    |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `chats/*.json`                        | One append-only transcript per conversation |
| `settings.json`                       | Your settings — **no secrets**              |
| Engine log ring buffer                | Recent engine activity (in memory, bounded) |
| macOS keychain (`ai.praison.desktop`) | Secrets such as `api_key`                   |

```mermaid theme={"theme":{"light":"vitesse-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
graph TB
    Home[📁 Application Support/PraisonAI] --> Chats[chats/*.json]
    Home --> Settings[settings.json]
    Keychain[(🔐 Keychain)] --> Secret[api_key]

    classDef home fill:#6366F1,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef file fill:#10B981,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff
    classDef key fill:#F59E0B,stroke:#7C90A0,color:#fff

    class Home home
    class Chats,Settings file
    class Keychain,Secret key
```

<Note>
  Export writes to the **clipboard**, not a file. The webview sandbox blocks self-initiated downloads, so the app copies your data out instead.
</Note>

***

## What Stays Local

Nothing leaves your machine unless the model itself does — the engine listens only on `127.0.0.1`, and cloud API keys are the sole path off-device.

<Warning>
  Secrets are never written to `settings.json`. The `api_key` is stored in the macOS keychain and stripped before the file is saved.
</Warning>

***

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Back up the chats folder">
    Transcripts are plain JSON you can read, diff, and back up. Copy `chats/` to keep your history safe across app updates.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Override the home for isolation">
    Set `PRAISONAI_DESKTOP_HOME` to point the app at a separate data directory — useful for testing or keeping profiles apart.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use a local model for full privacy">
    Point `base_url` at a local server so even the model runs on-device and no data leaves the machine.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Models & API Keys" icon="key" href="/docs/features/desktop/models">
    How keys are kept in the keychain
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conversations" icon="comments" href="/docs/features/desktop/conversations">
    How transcripts are written and stored
  </Card>
</CardGroup>