> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

# Data storage

You can store and manage sensitive information within a Snap using encrypted storage, or non-sensitive information using unencrypted storage. Use the [snap_manageState](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fmanagestate/) API method to persist up to 100 MB of data to the user's disk and retrieve it at will. We recommend using this method for storing data in a Snap long term.

important

Snaps are installed in each user's MetaMask instance. If a Snap stores data, that data is specific to that user's MetaMask instance. However, this data can be shared across multiple dapps. Do not assume that the data a Snap stores is unique to a single dapp unless it is specifically designed to be that way.

## Request permission to store data[​](#request-permission-to-store-data "Direct link to Request permission to store data")

To store data within a Snap, first request the [snap_manageState](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fmanagestate/) permission. Add the following to your Snap's manifest file:

snap.manifest.json

```
"initialPermissions": {
  "snap_manageState": {}
}

```

## Use encrypted storage[​](#use-encrypted-storage "Direct link to Use encrypted storage")

By default, [snap_manageState](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fmanagestate/) automatically encrypts data using a Snap-specific key before storing it on the user's disk, and automatically decrypts it when retrieved. This is useful to store sensitive information, such as passwords.

The following example uses `snap_manageState` to store some data using the `update` operation, and retrieves the data at a later time using the `get` operation. When the data is no longer required, the Snap's state is cleared using the `clear` operation.

index.js

```
// Persist some data.
await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: {
    operation: 'update',
    newState: { hello: 'world' },
  },
})

// At a later time, get the stored data.
const persistedData = await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: { operation: 'get' },
})

console.log(persistedData)
// { hello: "world" }

// If data storage is no longer necessary, clear it.
await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: {
    operation: 'clear',
  },
})

```

tip

Accessing encrypted state requires MetaMask to be unlocked. If you need to access encrypted state in a background task such as a [cron job](/snaps/features/cron-jobs/), use [snap_getClientStatus](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fgetclientstatus/) to ensure that MetaMask is unlocked before accessing state, preventing an unexpected password request.

## Use unencrypted storage[​](#use-unencrypted-storage "Direct link to Use unencrypted storage")

To use unencrypted storage, set `encrypted` to `false` when storing, retrieving, or clearing data using [snap_manageState](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fmanagestate/). The Snap will use a storage section separate from the encrypted storage, and will not encrypt the data. This is useful to access non-sensitive data from background operations such as [cron jobs](/snaps/features/cron-jobs/), without requiring the user to enter their password in the case that MetaMask is locked.

index.js

```
// Persist some data.
await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: {
    operation: 'update',
    newState: { hello: 'world' },
    encrypted: false,
  },
})

// At a later time, get the stored data.
const persistedData = await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: {
    operation: 'get',
    encrypted: false,
  },
})

console.log(persistedData)
// { hello: "world" }

// If data storage is no longer necessary, clear it.
await snap.request({
  method: 'snap_manageState',
  params: {
    operation: 'clear',
    encrypted: false,
  },
})

```

## Example[​](#example "Direct link to Example")

See the [@metamask/manage-state-example-snap](https://github.com/MetaMask/snaps/tree/main/packages/examples/packages/manage-state)package for a full example of storing data using [snap_manageState](/snaps/reference/snaps-api/snap%5Fmanagestate/). This example exposes a [custom JSON-RPC API](/snaps/learn/about-snaps/apis/#custom-json-rpc-apis) for dapps to store, retrieve, and clear data.