Convert Your Previous Captures

Convert your captures from previous versions of Snagit to view and edit in Snagit 2022 or later and to share across platforms.

3d Snagit icon

The SNAGX File Format

Snagit 2022 introduced the SNAGX file format. Unlike the previous SNAG format (Windows) and SNAGPROJ format (Mac), SNAGX files can be shared between Windows and Mac platforms.

SNAGX also supports storing your Snagit Library to a third-party cloud storage location.

Windows

To view or edit SNAG files in Snagit version 2022 or later, you must convert them to the newer SNAGX format.

Convert Captures when Prompted

When you open the Library, Snagit prompts you to convert SNAG files from previous versions of Snagit.
Convert Captures banner

View Details
  • Conversion can take several minutes depending on the size of your Library.
  • Snagit is unavailable to use during conversion.
  • Snagit saves backup copies in the old file format to use in previous versions of Snagit.
IMPORTANT
Ensure you have sufficient disk space. Conversion requires approximately twice the disk space as your current Library. To check the size of your Library:

1. In the search box in your Windows taskbar, enter DataStore and select Open file location.
2. Right-click the DataStore folder and select Properties.
  1. Click Convert Captures Now to start the conversion.
  2. Snagit displays a message when file conversion is complete. Click X to dismiss the message.
    File conversion is complete message
    The converted SNAGX files appear in the Library.

Note: File counts before and after conversion may differ. Previous versions count any files opened by Snagit, including those stored in other locations on your computer. Snagit versions 2022 and later do not include these files in the conversion or file count.

Convert Captures on Demand

If you selected Ignore and Do Not Convert when prompted, you can convert SNAG files to SNAGX at a later time.

View Details
  1. In Snagit Editor, select Edit menu > Editor Preferences > Library tab.
  2. Click to select the Show prompt to convert and access past captures option.
    Preference to show conversion prompt
  3. Click OK.
  4. The message to convert captures displays in the Snagit Library. Click Convert Captures Now.
    Convert Captures banner
  5. Snagit displays a message when file conversion is complete. Click X to dismiss the message.
    The converted SNAGX files appear in the Library.

Mac

The Library displays SNAGPROJ files from previous versions of Snagit. It is not necessary to convert them to SNAGX, but conversion is recommended in some situations:

Convert Captures when Prompted

If you select a third-party cloud storage service for your Library location, Snagit prompts you to convert your SNAGPROJ files to SNAGX.
Dialog to convert files to .snagx to preserve metadata

View Details

Convert files to SNAGX to preserve metadata (such as the original capture date and operating system) and to share captures with Snagit for Windows.

  1. Click Convert to convert your files to SNAGX.
  2. A progress bar appears.

Convert Captures on Demand

To view and edit SNAGPROJ files in Windows, convert them to SNAGX.

View Details
  1. In the Snagit Library, Command+click to select multiple files.
  2. Control+click and select the Convert Files to SNAGX option.
  3. In the Convert Files to SNAGX dialog, select Convert Now.
    Convert Files dialog on Mac
  4. Snagit displays a message when file conversion is complete. Click OK to dismiss the message.
    Conversion completed dialog on Mac
    The converted SNAGX files appear in the Library.

Delete Backup Files

During conversion Snagit saves backup copies in the old file format to use in previous versions of Snagit. If you will only use Snagit 2022 or later and you need to save space, delete the folder with the backup copies.

IMPORTANT
Do not delete SNAG or SNAGPROJ files if you are trialing Snagit or plan to revert to an older version. Older versions require SNAG (Windows) or SNAGPROJ (Mac) files to view and edit your captures. Snagit cannot recover deleted files.
Windows

SNAG files are saved in the DataStore folder, typically at C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\TechSmith\Snagit.

  1. Open File Explorer in the Windows taskbar.
    File Explorer in Windows taskbar
  2. Navigate to the DataStore folder.
  3. Click to select the DataStore folder, then right-click and select Delete.

 

Mac

SNAGPROJ files are saved in the “library-conversion-backup” folder in the same location as your Snagit Library, typically in the Pictures directory.

  1. Open Finder.
    Mac Finder
  2. Navigate to the “library-conversion-backup” folder.
  3. Control+click the backup folder and select Move to Trash.

 

Note: This tutorial is for Snagit version 2024. Previous versions may look or function differently.

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