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Libraries in Spacedrive organize your digital life into separate, manageable collections. Create libraries for different purposes, sync settings between devices, and maintain clean separation between personal and work files. This guide explains library management from basic operations to advanced multi-library workflows.

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Understand Libraries

A library is your personal file database containing:
  • Indexed file metadata and thumbnails
  • Tags, comments, and custom organization
  • Location mappings and folder relationships
  • Device pairings and sync settings
  • Job history and statistics
Libraries exist independently. Files in one library remain completely separate from others, ensuring privacy and organization.

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Create Additional Libraries

Beyond your first library, create specialized collections:
1

Open Library Switcher

Click the library name in the top bar or press ⌘L (Mac) / Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux).
2

Select Create Library

Choose “Create New Library” from the dropdown menu.
3

Configure Library

Name your library and optionally:
  • Set custom storage location
  • Choose encryption settings
  • Configure default indexing rules
4

Initialize Library

Click “Create” to build the database structure. Spacedrive switches to the new library automatically.
Each library maintains its own database file. Default location: ~/Library/Application Support/spacedrive/libraries/ on macOS.

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Switch Between Libraries

Navigate multiple libraries efficiently:

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Quick Switch

Press ⌘L / Ctrl+L to open the library switcher. Recent libraries appear at top.

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Keyboard Navigation

Use number keys 1-9 to switch to libraries by position in the list.

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Set Default Library

Right-click a library in the switcher and select “Set as Default”. This library opens on app launch.
Pin frequently used libraries to the top of the switcher for faster access.

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Library Settings

Customize each library independently:
1

Open Library Settings

Navigate to Settings → Library or press ⌘, / Ctrl+, then select Library tab.
2

General Settings

Configure basic options:
  • Name: Update library display name
  • Description: Add notes about library purpose
  • Storage Path: View database location
  • Statistics: See total files, size, and devices
3

Privacy Settings

Control library privacy:
  • Encryption: Enable database encryption
  • Network Visibility: Hide from network discovery
  • Sync Permissions: Limit which devices can sync
4

Advanced Options

Fine-tune behavior:
  • Indexing Rules: Default settings for new locations
  • Thumbnail Quality: Balance quality vs storage
  • Job Concurrency: Parallel processing limits

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Common Library Patterns

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Work/Personal Separation

Create distinct libraries for different aspects of life: Work Library
  • Project files and documents
  • Client assets
  • Meeting recordings
  • Professional photos
Personal Library
  • Family photos and videos
  • Personal documents
  • Entertainment media
  • Hobby projects
Libraries cannot share files directly. Use separate locations if you need files accessible from multiple libraries.

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Project-Based Libraries

Organize major projects independently: 
Film Project Library
├── Raw Footage (Location)
├── Audio Files (Location)  
├── Project Files (Location)
└── Exports (Location)
Benefits:
  • Archive entire project when complete
  • Share library with collaborators
  • Prevent accidental cross-contamination

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Device-Specific Libraries

Optimize for different device types: Mobile Library - Lightweight for phones/tablets
  • Photos and screenshots only
  • Minimal processing rules
  • Reduced thumbnail sizes
Desktop Library - Full features for computers
  • All file types indexed
  • Maximum quality thumbnails
  • Advanced processing enabled

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Sync Libraries Between Devices

Share organizational data across your devices:
1

Enable Library Sync

In Library Settings, toggle “Enable Sync” and note the Library ID displayed.
2

Add Library on Second Device

On another device, choose “Join Existing Library” and enter the Library ID.
3

Verify Connection

Confirm device pairing using the security code shown on both screens.
4

Configure Sync Options

Choose what syncs:
  • Metadata Only: Tags, comments (default)
  • Organization: Folder structures
  • Settings: Library preferences
  • Locations: Folder mappings (advanced)
Sync only shares organizational data. Actual files remain on their original devices unless explicitly transferred.

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Sync Behavior

Understanding sync helps avoid confusion: Immediate Sync
  • Tags and labels
  • File relationships
  • Custom metadata
Device-Specific
  • Location paths
  • Indexing progress
  • Local preferences
Never Synced
  • Actual file contents
  • Temporary data
  • Job history

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Back Up Libraries

Protect your organizational work:
1

Locate Library Database

Find your library file:
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/spacedrive/libraries/[id]/library.db
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\spacedrive\libraries\[id]\library.db
  • Linux: ~/.config/spacedrive/libraries/[id]/library.db
2

Create Backup

Copy the entire library folder to backup location. Include all .db files and thumbnails directory.
3

Automate Backups

Set up automated backups using:
  • Time Machine (macOS)
  • File History (Windows)
  • rsync scripts (Linux)
  • Cloud backup services
Name backup files with date stamps: library-personal-2024-01-15.db

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Restore Libraries

Recover from backups when needed:
1

Close Spacedrive

Quit the app completely. Ensure daemon stops.
2

Replace Library Files

Copy backup files to the library directory, overwriting existing files.
3

Restart Spacedrive

Launch app. The restored library appears in the switcher.
4

Verify Restoration

Check recent files and tags to confirm successful restore.

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Delete Libraries

Remove unwanted libraries cleanly:
1

Switch to Different Library

Ensure you’re not currently using the library to delete.
2

Open Library Manager

Access via Settings → Libraries → Manage.
3

Select Library

Choose the library and click “Delete Library”.
4

Confirm Deletion

Type the library name to confirm. This permanently removes:
  • Database files
  • Thumbnails
  • Organizational data
  • Sync relationships
Library deletion cannot be undone. Back up important libraries before deleting.

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Troubleshooting

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Library won’t open

  • Check disk space for database
  • Verify file permissions
  • Try recovery mode (hold Shift on launch)
  • Restore from backup if corrupted

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Sync not working

  • Confirm both devices online
  • Check Library IDs match
  • Verify network connectivity
  • Re-pair devices if needed

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Performance issues

  • Reduce thumbnail quality
  • Limit concurrent jobs
  • Archive old data
  • Split large libraries

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Missing locations

  • Locations are device-specific
  • Re-add locations after sync
  • Check paths still exist
  • Verify permissions

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Advanced Library Management

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Library Templates

Create template libraries for repeated setups: 
Photo Workshop Template
├── RAW Import (Location preset)
├── Working Files (Location preset)
├── Client Delivery (Location preset)
└── Archive (Location preset)
Export and import library configurations without data.

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Multi-User Libraries

Share libraries safely: Read-Only Access - Others can view but not modify Contributor Access - Add files and tags Admin Access - Full control including settings
Multi-user features require Spacedrive Cloud (coming soon) or self-hosted server.

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Library Analytics

Monitor library usage:
  • File type distribution
  • Growth over time
  • Most active locations
  • Tag usage patterns
  • Device contribution
Access analytics in Settings → Library → Statistics.

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Best Practices

Name Clearly: Use descriptive names indicating purpose or content type. Regular Backups: Automate weekly backups of important libraries. Prune Regularly: Remove unused locations and clean up old jobs. Document Purpose: Add descriptions explaining library organization. Test Sync: Verify sync works before relying on it. Your libraries now provide organized, separate spaces for different aspects of your digital life. Each library maintains its independence while enabling powerful organization features.