# Export and import as backup?
**URL:** https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18
**Category:** Dev and Self-hosting
**Created:** [September 15, 2025, 8:32am UTC](https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18 "2025-09-15T08:32:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BeUnRaider](https://discourse.dawarich.app/u/BeUnRaider)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2025, 8:32am UTC](https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18/1 "2025-09-15T08:32:08Z")
Thanks for the last Dawarich iOS update. This includes the option I wanted to resend the data to the server. That was a pretty quick fix.
But now I’m thinking about a backup. My first thought was to try exporting the data from the server and importing it into a new installation. That doesn’t work, however. The exported data.json file uploads successfully, but when I try to “Create Import,” the status is simply “failed,” and the notifications display a long error message that doesn’t make sense to me. It begins with:
Import “data.json” failed: Unable to detect file format, stacktrace: /var/app/app/services/imports/source\_detector.rb:92:in ‘Imports::SourceDetector#detect\_source!’ /var/app/app/services/imports/create.rb:
I’m using version 0.32.0 of Dawarich. I used the original docker-compost.yml and only adjusted the volume paths. They now all point to a common directory, with all individual directories underneath. The whole thing runs under UnRaid with Docker Compose.
Even if the export and subsequent import worked as I intended, this wouldn’t be an adequate backup because it can’t be automated.
What would be the appropriate measure?
Best regards,
BeUnRaider
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### Author:  [@Freika](https://discourse.dawarich.app/u/Freika)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18/2 "2025-09-16T22:42:51Z")
Am I getting this right: you have exported your user data from Account page, then unzipped the archive and uploaded it on Imports page?
If so, your workflow isn’t right: you’re supposed to upload your user data archive also on Accounts page, without unzipping it
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### Author:  [@BeUnRaider](https://discourse.dawarich.app/u/BeUnRaider)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18/3 "2025-09-17T18:10:26Z")
I apologize. I was being stupid. I tried to import via the My Data menu item. That was the mistake. Yes, it worked via the account page. The point is so logical. Thanks for the hint. I had a board in front of my head. The error was 45 cm in front of the monitor 😉
Thank you
Will there be a way to automate this?
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### Author:  [@Freika](https://discourse.dawarich.app/u/Freika)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2025, 10:18am UTC](https://discourse.dawarich.app/t/export-and-import-as-backup/18/4 "2025-09-18T10:18:20Z")
We have an instructions on how to backup and restore your data, and with a little tweak, you can automate it by running on schedule: [Backup & Restore | Dawarich](https://dawarich.app/docs/tutorials/backup-and-restore)
Will this work for you? 🙂