A host system sends a web page to a client system via a communications network, and receives inputs from the client system, via the communications network, that include user text inputs to the web page. The inputs are received without receiving from the client system, via the communications network, a user-initiated command that would require saving user inputs to the web page. The host system makes incremental changes to a backup copy of user inputs to the web page, stored at the host system, in accordance with the received inputs. In accordance with detection by the host system of a restart condition for the web page corresponding to prior closure of the web page at the client system, the host system sends the backup copy to the client system for presentation to a user of the client system.