go-ethereum/content/docs/fundamentals/Backup--restore.md

---
title: Backup & Restore
---

**Keep secure backups of your keystore and password!**

## Data Directory

All data relating to a specific Geth instance gets written inside a data directory.
The default data directory locations are platform specific:

* Mac: `~/Library/Ethereum`
* Linux: `~/.ethereum`
* Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Ethereum`

Accounts are stored in the `keystore` subdirectory. The contents of this directories
should be transportable between nodes, platforms, and client implementations.

To configure the location of the data directory, the `--datadir` parameter can be
specified. See [CLI Options](../interface/command-line-options) for more details.
There may exist multiple data directories for multiple networks (e.g. a separate directory
for Ethereum Mainnet and the Goerli testnet). Each would have subdirectories for their
blockchain data and keystore.

It is important to backup the files in the keystore securely. These files are encrypted
using an account password. This needs to be securely backed up too. There is no way to
decrypt the keys without the password!

## Cleanup

Geth's blockchain and state databases can be removed with:

```sh
geth removedb
```

This is useful for deleting an old chain and sync'ing to a new one. It only affects data
directories that can be re-created on synchronisation and does not touch the keystore.

## Blockchain Import/Export

Export the blockchain in binary format with:

```sh
geth export <filename>
```

Or if you want to back up portions of the chain over time, a first and last block can be
specified. For example, to back up the first epoch:

```sh
geth export <filename> 0 29999
```

Note that when backing up a partial chain, the file will be appended rather than
truncated.

Import binary-format blockchain exports with:

```sh
geth import <filename>
```

And finally: **REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORD** and **BACKUP YOUR KEYSTORE**