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Project import/export

Notes:

  • Introduced in GitLab 8.9.
  • Importing will not be possible if the import instance version differs from that of the exporter.
  • For existing installations, the project import option has to be enabled in application settings (/admin/application_settings) under 'Import sources'. Ask your administrator if you don't see the GitLab export button when creating a new project.
  • Starting with GitLab 10.0, administrators can disable the project export option on the GitLab instance in application settings (/admin/application_settings) under 'Visibility and Access Controls'.
  • You can find some useful raketasks if you are an administrator in the import_export raketask.
  • The exports are stored in a temporary shared directory and are deleted every 24 hours by a specific worker.
  • Group members will get exported as project members, as long as the user has master or admin access to the group where the exported project lives. An admin in the import side is required to map the users, based on email or username. Otherwise, a supplementary comment is left to mention the original author and the MRs, notes or issues will be owned by the importer.
  • Control project Import/Export with the API.

Existing projects running on any GitLab instance or GitLab.com can be exported with all their related data and be moved into a new GitLab instance.

Version history

GitLab version Import/Export version
10.4 to current 0.2.2
10.3 0.2.1
10.0 0.2.0
9.4.0 0.1.8
9.2.0 0.1.7
8.17.0 0.1.6
8.13.0 0.1.5
8.12.0 0.1.4
8.10.3 0.1.3
8.10.0 0.1.2
8.9.5 0.1.1
8.9.0 0.1.0

The table reflects what GitLab version we updated the Import/Export version at. For instance, 8.10.3 and 8.11 will have the same Import/Export version (0.1.3) and the exports between them will be compatible.

Exported contents

The following items will be exported:

  • Project and wiki repositories
  • Project uploads
  • Project configuration including web hooks and services
  • Issues with comments, merge requests with diffs and comments, labels, milestones, snippets, and other project entities

The following items will NOT be exported:

  • Build traces and artifacts
  • LFS objects
  • Container registry images
  • CI variables
  • Any encrypted tokens

Exporting a project and its data

  1. Go to the project settings page by clicking on Edit Project:

    Project settings button

  2. Scroll down to find the Export project button:

    Export button

  3. Once the export is generated, you should receive an e-mail with a link to download the file:

    Email download link

  4. Alternatively, you can come back to the project settings and download the file from there, or generate a new export. Once the file available, the page should show the Download export button:

    Download export

Importing the project

  1. The new GitLab project import feature is at the far right of the import options when creating a New Project. Make sure you are in the right namespace and you have entered a project name. Click on GitLab export:

    New project

  2. You can see where the project will be imported to. You can now select file exported previously:

    Select file

  3. Click on Import project to begin importing. Your newly imported project page will appear soon.