Cross-Device Sync

Overview

Pontius Sync lets you export your complete configuration to an encrypted file and import it on another device. This includes:

• Account configurations (email, labels, settings)
• Account credentials (passwords, app passwords)
• All configured aliases and their SMTP settings
• Knowledge base (contacts, templates, rules, patterns)
• Drafts
• Invoice history and company info

Exporting Your Configuration

Create an encrypted backup of your setup:

$ pontius sync export
Enter encryption password: ********
Confirm password: ********
Exported to: ./pontius-sync.enc
Contains:
  - 2 accounts
  - 5 aliases
  - 23 contacts
  - 8 templates
  - 3 drafts
Keep this file safe. You'll need the password to import.

Export Options

# Export to specific location
$ pontius sync export ~/Desktop/pontius-backup.enc
# Export to current directory (default)
$ pontius sync export

Importing on a New Device

On your new device, import the encrypted file:

$ pontius sync import pontius-sync.enc
Enter decryption password: ********
Imported:
  - 2 accounts
  - 5 aliases
  - 23 contacts
  - 8 templates
  - 3 drafts
Setup complete. Run 'pontius' to get started.

Import Modes

Choose how to handle existing data when importing:

Merge Mode (Recommended)

Intelligently combine imported data with your existing setup:

$ pontius sync import backup.sync --merge
Enter decryption password: ********
Merging...
  Contacts: 45 local + 38 imported = 52 merged (31 overlapping)
  Templates: 12 local + 8 imported = 15 merged (5 overlapping)
  Rules: 2 local + 2 imported = 2 merged (2 overlapping)
Merge complete.

Merge logic per data type:

Force Mode

Replace everything without confirmation:

$ pontius sync import backup.sync --force
Enter decryption password: ********
Imported (replaced existing):
  - 2 accounts
  - 5 aliases
  - 38 contacts
  ...

Default Mode

Without flags, Pontius warns about data loss and asks for confirmation:

$ pontius sync import backup.sync
Enter decryption password: ********
⚠️  Import will OVERWRITE your local data.
    Local: 45 contacts, 12 templates
    Import: 38 contacts, 8 templates
Options:
  --merge   Merge imported data with local (recommended)
  --force   Overwrite without confirmation
Proceed with overwrite? (y/n): n
Cancelled. Use --merge to merge instead.

Encryption Details

Sync files are secured with:

• AES-256-GCM — Military-grade encryption for the file contents
• Argon2id — Modern key derivation from your password
• Random salt — Each export uses a unique salt

Choose a strong, unique password. If you forget it, the file cannot be recovered.

What's Included

Typical Workflow

Moving Pontius to a new laptop:

1. Old device: Run pontius sync export
2. Transfer: Copy the .enc file to new device (AirDrop, USB, cloud storage)
3. New device: Install Pontius
4. New device: Run pontius activate with your license
5. New device: Run pontius sync import file.enc
6. Old device (optional): Run pontius deactivate if you're at your device limit

Troubleshooting

Wrong Password

If you enter the wrong password:

$ pontius sync import pontius-sync.enc
Enter decryption password: ********
Error: Decryption failed. Check your password and try again.

Corrupted File

If the file was damaged during transfer:

$ pontius sync import pontius-sync.enc
Error: File integrity check failed. The export file may be corrupted.

Try transferring the file again from the source.

Existing Configuration

If you import into a device with existing Pontius configuration, use--merge to preserve local data:

# Recommended: merge data
$ pontius sync import pontius-sync.enc --merge
# Alternative: replace everything
$ pontius sync import pontius-sync.enc --force

See Import Modes for details on merge behavior.

Backup Strategy

Consider exporting periodically as a backup:

• After adding new accounts or aliases
• After building up your knowledge base
• Before major system updates
• Monthly as a habit

Store the encrypted file somewhere safe — it's a complete backup of your email setup.