Question 1

What is Lovable Cloud?

Accepted Answer

Lovable Cloud is a Supabase backend (Postgres database, authentication, storage, edge functions) that Lovable provisions and manages for your project automatically, with no separate account or dashboard needed.

Question 2

When should I use Lovable Cloud?

Accepted Answer

Use Lovable Cloud for most new projects needing a backend — it's the fastest path with no separate account; connect your own Supabase project instead if you already have one, need direct dashboard access, or must integrate with existing Supabase infrastructure.

Question 3

How do I connect Supabase to Lovable?

Accepted Answer

In your Lovable project, open the Supabase integration and authorise Lovable to connect to an existing Supabase project (or create a new one), then Lovable can read and write to it the same way it does with Lovable Cloud.

Question 4

How do I create a database in Lovable?

Accepted Answer

Ask Lovable to set up Lovable Cloud (or connect your own Supabase project) and describe the tables you need — Lovable provisions the Postgres database and creates the tables from your description.

Question 5

How do I create database tables?

Accepted Answer

Describe the table's purpose and fields in plain language to Lovable — including which fields are required, their types, and any relationships to other tables — and Lovable generates the table with appropriate row-level security policies.

Question 6

How do I view my database data?

Accepted Answer

Open the Cloud tab (or ask Lovable) to browse tables, edit rows and run SQL directly inside your project — no separate Supabase login needed.

Question 7

Why isn't Lovable saving data?

Accepted Answer

Most commonly this is a missing or misconfigured RLS policy blocking the insert/update, an unconnected database, or a form that never calls the backend at all.

Question 8

Why is Supabase returning a 403 error?

Accepted Answer

A 403 means Row Level Security blocked the request — the current user's role doesn't match any policy allowing that read or write on that table.

Question 9

What is Row Level Security (RLS)?

Accepted Answer

RLS is a Postgres feature that restricts which rows a query can see or change, enforced per-row on the database itself rather than trusted to your app's code.

Question 10

Do I need RLS on my Lovable app?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for almost any app with user data, private content or logged-in users — without RLS, anyone can read or write any row via the database's public API.

Question 11

How do I fix RLS errors?

Accepted Answer

Identify which operation and role is being blocked, then ask Lovable to add or correct the specific policy for that table rather than disabling RLS.

Question 12

Why can users see other users' data?

Accepted Answer

Almost always a missing or too-permissive RLS policy — either RLS isn't enabled on the table, or a policy allows reading rows regardless of who owns them.

Question 13

How do I safely store API keys?

Accepted Answer

Store keys as secrets in your backend (Lovable Cloud/Supabase) and call the third-party API from a server/edge function — never put keys in front-end code.

Question 14

How do I use environment variables?

Accepted Answer

Use `VITE_`-prefixed variables only for non-sensitive, public values baked into the front-end build; use Secrets for anything sensitive that a server/edge function needs.

Question 15

What are Supabase Edge Functions?

Accepted Answer

Edge Functions are small serverless backend functions that run outside the browser — used for anything requiring a secret key, a third-party call, or logic that shouldn't be trusted to the client.

Question 16

When should I use an Edge Function?

Accepted Answer

Use one whenever your app needs a secret key, must call a third-party service, or needs logic that shouldn't be trusted to run in the user's browser.

Question 17

How do I upload and store files?

Accepted Answer

Ask Lovable to add file uploads and it will wire up storage in Lovable Cloud (or your connected Supabase project), including an upload UI and access policies for the files.

Question 18

How do I back up my Lovable database?

Accepted Answer

Lovable Cloud stores backups you can restore from directly in the Database screen; for extra safety, also ask Lovable to export your data periodically.

Question 19

How do I migrate a database?

Accepted Answer

Describe the schema change you want in chat and let Lovable write and apply the migration — it handles new tables, columns and RLS policy updates together.

Question 20

Can I move from Lovable Cloud to Supabase?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Lovable Cloud is a Supabase backend under the hood, and Lovable supports connecting your own Supabase project instead, though moving existing data across takes an export/import step.

Cloud, Database & Supabase questions