The Manuscript Protection Settings (Do These First)

Windows: Turn on AutoSave and File History

AutoSave in Microsoft Word (the toggle in the top-left when using Microsoft 365) saves to OneDrive continuously — making it nearly impossible to lose work. Enable it: open any Word document, flip the AutoSave toggle to 'On' in the top-left, and sign in to your Microsoft account if prompted.

File History creates automatic backups of your Documents folder to an external drive or network location: Settings > System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Backup options > Add a drive. Once enabled, Windows creates automatic backups every hour.

Mac: Turn on Time Machine

Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac hourly to an external drive. Connect an external drive > System Settings > General > Time Machine > Add Backup Disk. Once configured, Time Machine runs automatically in the background — you never have to think about it.

Set Word's AutoRecover interval

Both Windows and Mac Word save AutoRecover files every ten minutes by default. Reduce this to every two minutes: File > Options > Save > 'Save AutoRecover information every [X] minutes' — change to 2.

🚨 IMPORTANT: The most common source of 'I lost my manuscript' disasters is a computer that fails with no backup. Set up File History (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac) before anything else in this article. An external drive costs $40–60 and protects years of work.

Focus and Distraction Settings

Windows: Focus Sessions

Windows 11 has a built-in Focus Session feature in the Clock app that blocks notifications for a set period. Open the Clock app > Focus Sessions > Set duration > Start. For deeper focus: Settings > System > Notifications > 'Focus assist' > configure 'During these hours' to automatically silence notifications during your usual writing time.

Mac: Focus Modes

System Settings > Focus > '+' to create a new Focus mode called 'Writing.' Configure it to: allow calls only from specific contacts, silence all app notifications, and automatically activate on a schedule (your usual writing hours). Your Mac's status bar shows a moon icon when Focus is active.

Browser focus extensions

If browser distraction is your main problem, Freedom (freedom.to — paid, cross-device) and Cold Turkey (paid, Windows/Mac) are the most effective tools — they block websites you specify for a set duration, with no override option. The 'no override' is the feature: you can't talk yourself into 'just five minutes' on social media if the blocker won't let you.

💡 TIP: Matty McTech (@setupspawn, 5 million+ followers on TikTok and YouTube) regularly covers simple productivity settings and hidden computer features that work exactly like these. His series on Windows and Mac productivity tips is worth following for non-technical users who want ongoing tech improvement ideas.

Display and Eye Settings for Long Writing Sessions

Night Light / Night Shift

Reduces blue light emission in the evenings, which improves sleep quality for authors who write at night.

Windows: Settings > System > Display > Night Light > Schedule (set to sunset to sunrise). Mac: System Settings > Displays > Night Shift > Schedule.

Text scaling

If you find yourself squinting at your manuscript, increase text scaling: Windows: Settings > Accessibility > Text size > increase the slider. Mac: System Settings > Accessibility > Display > Larger Text.

Dark mode for extended sessions

Many authors find dark mode easier on their eyes during long writing sessions. Windows: Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode > Dark. Mac: System Settings > Appearance > Dark.

Cloud Sync Settings — Getting Them Right

Cloud sync (OneDrive on Windows, iCloud on Mac) is invaluable for manuscript protection — but incorrect settings can cause problems, including Scrivener sync conflicts.

Windows: OneDrive and Word

OneDrive + Word AutoSave works best for standard Word documents. For Scrivener: store your active Scrivener projects in a Dropbox folder (not OneDrive), and configure Scrivener's backup location to a different cloud folder (Google Drive or OneDrive). Dropbox is the most reliable sync service for Scrivener's complex file structure.

Mac: iCloud and Scrivener

iCloud works well for Word and Pages documents. For Scrivener: Literature & Latte (Scrivener's developer) specifically recommends Dropbox over iCloud for project sync — iCloud's sync timing can cause conflicts with Scrivener's continuous save system. Store Scrivener projects in Dropbox; use iCloud for everything else.

⚠️ WARNING: Never store an active Scrivener project in both iCloud and Dropbox simultaneously. Choose one. Sync conflicts between cloud services on the same Scrivener project can corrupt your project file.

The Five-Minute Security Settings Checklist

• Enable Windows Defender (Windows) or built-in XProtect (Mac) — both are on by default, verify they haven't been disabled

• Turn on automatic operating system updates: Windows: Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > turn on 'Receive updates for other Microsoft products.' Mac: System Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates — enable all options

• Enable Find My Mac (Mac): System Settings > iCloud > Find My Mac — essential if your laptop is ever lost or stolen

• Enable BitLocker (Windows 11 Pro): Settings > Privacy & Security > Device encryption — encrypts your drive so no one can read your files if your computer is stolen

• Set screen lock after 5 minutes of inactivity: Windows: Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen timeout. Mac: System Settings > Lock Screen > set 'Require password after screen saver begins or display is off' to immediately

How ScribeCount Helps

A well-configured computer with proper cloud backup for your manuscripts means the work you track in ScribeCount's AuthorFLOW module — word counts, project progress, writing streaks — is backed up and protected. Focus mode settings that eliminate distractions during writing time directly improve the production velocity that AuthorFLOW measures.