# Locally sync and save your project in the Infrastructure Composer console
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This section provides information on using Infrastructure Composer's **local sync** mode to automatically sync and save your project to your local machine.

We recommend that you use **local sync** for the following reasons:

You can activate **local sync** for a new project, or load an existing project with **local sync** activated.
+ By default, you need to manually save your application template as you design. Use **local sync** to automatically save your application template to your local machine as you make changes.
+ **Local sync** manages and automatically syncs your project folders, backup folder, and [supported external files](using-composer-external-files.md) to your local machine.
+ When using **local sync**, you can connect Infrastructure Composer with your local IDE to speed up development. To learn more, see [Connect the Infrastructure Composer console with your local IDE](other-services-ide.md).

## What local sync mode saves
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**Local sync** mode automatically syncs and saves the following to your local machine:
+ **Application template file** – The AWS CloudFormation or AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) template that contains your infrastructure as code (IaC).
+ **Project folders** – A general directory structure that organizes your AWS Lambda functions.
+ **Backup directory** – A backup directory named `.aws-composer`, created at the root of your project location. This directory contains a backup copy of your application template file and project folders.
+ **External files ** – Supported external files that you can use within Infrastructure Composer. To learn more, see [Reference external files in Infrastructure Composer](using-composer-external-files.md).

## Browser requirements
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**Local sync** mode requires a browser that supports the File System Access API. For more information, see [Allow web page access to local files in Infrastructure Composer](reference-fsa.md).

## Activating local sync mode
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**Local sync** mode is deactivated by default. You can activate **Local sync** mode through the Infrastructure Composer **menu**.

![\[Infrastructure Composer's Menu with Activate local sync selected.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/infrastructure-composer/latest/dg/images/aac_ref_16.png)


For instructions on activating **local sync** and existing loading projects, see the following topics:.
+ [Activate local sync in Infrastructure Composer](using-composer-how-to-locally-sync.md)
+ [Load an existing Infrastructure Composer project with local sync activated](using-composer-how-to-load-with-local-sync.md)