Using JW Library backups on a Windows PC
How to back up JW Library on Windows, and how to merge a PC backup with your phone and tablet so notes, highlights and bookmarks stay together on every device.
JW Library runs on Windows as well as phones and tablets, and it makes the same .jwlibrary backup file. That means your PC can be part of the same study library as your phone — as long as you merge the backups rather than restoring one over another.
Step by step
Back up on Windows
In the JW Library Windows app, open the menu, go to Backup and Restore, and create a backup. Save the .jwlibrary file somewhere easy to find.
Back up your phone and tablet too
On each device: Personal Study → three-dot menu → Backup and Restore → Create a backup.
Merge them at jwsync.org
Open jwsync.org in any browser on the PC and load all the backup files. JW Sync combines the notes, highlights, bookmarks and tags from every device into one merged .jwlibrary file — locally, nothing uploaded.
Restore the merged file everywhere
Restore the merged file in the Windows app and on each mobile device. Now the PC, phone and tablet all carry the complete library.
Why the PC is the easiest place to do this
A desktop browser makes loading several files, reviewing the merge preview and saving the result far quicker than tapping on a phone. Many people keep their master merge routine on the computer and just restore the merged file back to their mobile devices.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Windows backup work with iPhone and Android backups?
- Yes — the .jwlibrary format is identical on every platform, so a Windows backup merges freely with phone and tablet backups.
- Do I need to install anything on the PC?
- No. JW Sync is a web page; it runs in Edge, Chrome or Firefox with nothing to install.