# Save an Excalidraw diagram

Saving is explicit, as it is in every editor here. The scene is written as Excalidraw JSON, including any embedded images.

One behaviour worth knowing: the canvas seeds once when the editor opens. It does not re-seed while you are working, which is what stops an incoming update from wiping your unsaved changes.

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## What this is for

* Understanding what is stored and where.
* Restoring an earlier version of a sketch.
* Working out why a restored version does not appear until you reopen.

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## How it works

| **Action**      | **How**                                                                |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Save            | Explicit, from the editor.                                             |
| Format          | Excalidraw JSON, with image data embedded.                             |
| Seeding         | The canvas loads once at mount and does not re-seed while open.        |
| Version history | Every save creates a version that can be restored.                     |
| After restoring | Close and reopen the editor to see the restored version on the canvas. |

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## A few things that catch people out

* Because the canvas seeds once, a version restored elsewhere will not appear in an already-open editor. Reopen it.
* The close button is a cancel. Save first.
* Embedded images make versions larger, which is worth knowing on image-heavy scenes.

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## Related

[Fix Excalidraw editor problemsInvisible text, stubborn libraries, stale canvases.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/fix-excalidraw-editor-problems.html)

[Excalidraw canvas and toolsThe toolbar, and moving around.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/excalidraw-canvas-and-tools.html)

[Excalidraw editorBack to the editor overview.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/excalidraw-editor.html)

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_Rough on purpose._