How can I save my project?

MAXQDA is a database program, which means that almost all changes are automatically saved (e.g. data imports, the creation and application of codes etc.) in the project files. That’s why MAXQDA does not have a “save” button. Once an action is performed, it’s immediately saved. It’s also why MAXQDA double-checks before deleting important project elements, such as codes.

Documents and memos that are currently being edited, for example when you are writing notes in a text document or transcribing audio/video files, are automatically saved every 5 minutes. This time interval can be adjusted in the project settings. Open maps in MAXMAps are automatically saved every minute and also when they are closed. Logbook entries are saved when you close the logbook window.

Since MAXQDA is a database program, all changes get saved automatically. If, however, the connection gets interrupted, this can lead to errors in the database structure. This is why we strongly recommend to always open the project file from a local hard drive.

Caution when saving to external resources

Please do not save your MAXQDA project files (.mx24), external files (documents, videos, pdfs, …) in external resources like network drives, USB flash drives, or any cloud-synchronized folder (OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud). This can lead to severe damage to your project file!

Please read the following FAQ: 

• Can I store my MAXQDA projects in cloud based services, like iCloud OneDrive?
• How can I be sure that I will not lose my work?