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---
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stage: Manage
group: Import
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info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
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---
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# Group Import/Export API **(FREE)**
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> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/20353) in GitLab 12.8.
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Group Import/Export allows you to export group structure and import it to a new location.
When used with [Project Import/Export ](project_import_export.md ), you can preserve connections with
group-level relationships, such as connections between project issues and group epics.
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Group exports include the following:
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- Group milestones
- Group boards
- Group labels
- Group badges
- Group members
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- Subgroups. Each subgroup includes all data above
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- Group wikis ** (PREMIUM SELF)**
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## Schedule new export
Start a new group export.
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```plaintext
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POST /groups/:id/export
```
| Attribute | Type | Required | Description |
| --------- | -------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------- |
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| `id` | integer/string | yes | ID of the group owned by the authenticated user |
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```shell
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curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: < your_access_token > " "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/1/export"
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```
```json
{
"message": "202 Accepted"
}
```
## Export download
Download the finished export.
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```plaintext
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GET /groups/:id/export/download
```
| Attribute | Type | Required | Description |
| --------- | -------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `id` | integer/string | yes | ID of the group owned by the authenticated user |
```shell
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group=1
token=secret
curl --request GET\
--header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: ${token}" \
--output download_group_${group}.tar.gz \
"https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/${group}/export/download"
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```
```shell
ls *export.tar.gz
2020-12-05_22-11-148_namespace_export.tar.gz
```
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Time spent on exporting a group may vary depending on a size of the group. This endpoint
returns either:
- The exported archive (when available)
- A 404 message
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## Import a file
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```plaintext
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POST /groups/import
```
| Attribute | Type | Required | Description |
| --------- | -------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `name` | string | yes | The name of the group to be imported |
| `path` | string | yes | Name and path for new group |
| `file` | string | yes | The file to be uploaded |
| `parent_id` | integer | no | ID of a parent group that the group will be imported into. Defaults to the current user's namespace if not provided. |
To upload a file from your file system, use the `--form` argument. This causes
cURL to post data using the header `Content-Type: multipart/form-data` .
The `file=` parameter must point to a file on your file system and be preceded
by `@` . For example:
```shell
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curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: < your_access_token > " \
--form "name=imported-group" --form "path=imported-group" \
--form "file=@/path/to/file" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/import"
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```
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NOTE:
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The maximum import file size can be set by the Administrator, default is `0` (unlimited).
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As an administrator, you can modify the maximum import file size. To do so, use the `max_import_size` option in the [Application settings API ](settings.md#change-application-settings ) or the [Admin Area ](../user/admin_area/settings/account_and_limit_settings.md ). Default [modified ](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/251106 ) from 50MB to 0 in GitLab 13.8.
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## Important notes
Note the following:
- To preserve group-level relationships from imported projects, run Group Import/Export first,
to allow project imports into the desired group structure.
- Imported groups are given a `private` visibility level, unless imported into a parent group.
- If imported into a parent group, subgroups will inherit a similar level of visibility, unless otherwise restricted.
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- To preserve the member list and their respective permissions on imported groups,
review the users in these groups. Make sure these users exist before importing the desired groups.