How to Recover Your File if Your Machine Crashes During a Project

Did you know you can recover your project even if FL Studio crashes and you didn’t save your changes in time? FL Studio automatically creates a .BAK (backup) file every 5-10 minutes. You can find it in your project’s backup folder:

• Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\Image-Line\FL Studio\Projects\Backup\
• Mac: Users/YourUsername/Documents/Image-Line/FL Studio/Projects/Backup/

To restore a backup, simply open FL Studio, navigate to File > Open, and select the latest .BAK file.

The Best Way to Backup Your FL Studio Track for Long-Term Storage

If you want to properly back up your FL Studio project, you should be saving it as a .ZIP instead of just relying on .BAK files. Here’s why:

1. .BAK files only include the FLP – This means if you move to another computer or try to reopen the project later, any missing samples or audio files will cause problems.
2. A .ZIP backup stores everything – A zipped project includes all samples and recorded audio along with the .FLP file, making it a more reliable option for moving projects, archiving, or long-term storage.

How to Create a Zipped Project Backup

Go to File > Export > Zipped Loop Package. You can save the .ZIP file to an external drive which you should use to backup all your production files and music.

What About Third-Party Plugins?

One thing to keep in mind: saving your project as a .ZIP does not include third-party plugins. If you revisit your project years later and a plugin is missing or discontinued, it may not load correctly.

To prevent this, a great practice is to export your track as stems. This way, even if your plugins aren’t available in the future, you can still work with the raw audio files.

How to Export Stems in FL Studio

1. Go to File > Export > WAV (or another preferred format).
2. In the Export settings, enable “Split Mixer Tracks”.
3. Save the exported stems in the same folder as your backup.

This ensures you always have access to your project, no matter what happens to your plugins.

Final Thoughts

For crash recovery, FL Studio’s .BAK backups are a lifesaver. But for long-term backup and portability, I’d recommend you always use a zipped Loop Package and export stems as an extra layer of security.

With these backup strategies, you’ll never lose an FL Studio project again.