Nothing hurts like losing an almost‑finished invoice. Browser crash, coffee spill, dead battery—Invoice Master’s auto‑save and draft recovery features make sure you never retype work or delay a payment again.
How auto‑save protects your documents
- Real‑time local save: Changes write to the browser every 2 seconds (configurable).
- Cloud sync: Drafts sync to your account on focus change and at safe intervals for cross‑device continuity.
- Version history: Each field change is timestamped; roll back with a click.
- Offline‑first: Keep editing without internet—sync resumes automatically when you’re back online.
- Conflict guard: If two people edit the same draft, we fork a safe copy so nothing gets overwritten.
Want belt‑and‑suspenders protection? Pair auto‑save with One‑Click Export & Encrypted Backups.
Recover a lost invoice in 10 seconds
- Reopen Invoice Master—watch for “Unsaved Draft Detected.”
- Click Restore to load the latest version.
- Review Version History, keep the best one.
- Save as draft or Send to your client. Done.
Customize auto‑save & drafts to your workflow
- Set the interval: Settings → Preferences → Auto‑Save (2s / 5s / 10s).
- Name your drafts: Click the title to add labels like “Q3 Retainer” for fast search.
- Drafts Hub cleanup: Sort by Last Edited; bulk‑delete stale drafts.
- Compare versions: Open two versions side‑by‑side to spot pricing or scope changes.
- Notifications: Enable “draft recovered” and “conflict forked” alerts in Preferences.
Collaboration without collisions
- Live presence: See who else is viewing a draft.
- Safe forking: Concurrent edits create a duplicate copy—merge or keep both.
- Audit trail: Timestamped actions for restore confidence and internal reviews.
Security & compliance
- Encrypted in transit & at rest (TLS + encrypted storage).
- PII‑aware: Drafts can include client data—access is role‑based.
- Retention: Drafts persist until you delete them; set your own cleanup policy.
- Portability: Export any draft as PDF or CSV fields; full account export lives under Settings → Export.
See also: Own Your Data.
Auto‑save vs. manual saving
| Feature | Manual Saving | Invoice Master Auto‑Save | |---|---|---| | Save frequency | When you remember | Every 2–10 seconds | | Crash protection | None | One‑click recovery | | Version control | Limited | Full, timestamped history | | Offline editing | Risky | Built‑in, syncs later | | Multi‑user safety | Overwrites likely | Conflict‑safe forking |
FAQ
How long are drafts stored?
Indefinitely, until you delete them (you control retention).
Are drafts encrypted?
Yes—TLS in transit, encrypted storage at rest.
Can I export a draft as PDF?
Absolutely. Drafts export like final invoices.
Do drafts count toward my document limits?
No—only sent invoices/quotes count.
Can I disable auto‑save?
We recommend keeping it on. You can raise the interval if you prefer fewer writes.
What happens if two users edit the same draft?
The system creates a fork and notifies both users to review and merge.
Where are offline edits stored?
Securely in your browser storage, then synced to the cloud on reconnection.
Does recovery work for quotes and bills too?
Yes—invoices, quotes, and bills all support auto‑save and recovery.
5‑minute safety checklist
- Open Settings → Preferences and confirm Auto‑Save ON at 2s.
- Label your current drafts for easy search.
- Clear stale drafts (>90 days) in Drafts Hub.
- Enable recovery/ conflict notifications.
- Create a quick PDF export of your most important draft.
Drafts save hours—and sometimes save the deal. Switch them on and forget the fear of losing work.
Next up: tighten your ops with Automating Recurring Invoices and watch admin time vanish.
