# Export your work and import it elsewhere > Export your whole workspace as a readable file, import an export into PlexiDesk, and find the export for each kind of document and widget. Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/data-export-import Section: Account, plans and support > Your data and privacy Plans: All plans Updated: 2026-10-15 You can take your work out of PlexiDesk in two ways: export the whole workspace as one readable file, or export a single document in a familiar format such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF. You can bring work in the same two ways. ## Before you start - **Plan.** Exporting and importing work on every plan, signed in or not. - **An export is not a backup.** To keep a copy you can restore exactly as it was, save a backup. See [Back up and restore your workspace](https://plexiidesk.com/help/data-backup-restore). ## Export your whole workspace 1. Click the gear at the right-hand end of the header to open **Settings**. 2. Click the **Data** tab and scroll to **Backup & data**. 3. Click **Export my work (JSON)**. 4. Choose where to save the file and click **Save**. It is named **plexii-workspace-** followed by the date and time, and ends in .json. PlexiDesk says how many records it exported and how big the file is. ### What the export holds The export is a JSON file in a documented format, which you or another app can read. It holds your desks, documents, tables and their rows, notes, knowledge, decisions, meetings, templates and calendar time blocks. It leaves out: - **Your Vault.** It is never included in an export. - **The contents of files.** The export lists your files, and a note inside it explains what to copy alongside it to keep them. - **Things that only make sense on this computer,** such as search indexes and browsing history. The file lists each thing it leaves out, and why. ## Import an export 1. Open **Settings** > **Data** and scroll to **Backup & data**. 2. Click **Import an export…**. 3. Choose a .json file made with **Export my work (JSON)**. PlexiDesk says how many records it imported, how many it skipped because they were already here, and when the export was made, then **Nothing existing was overwritten.** Importing only ever adds. It never replaces or changes what is already in PlexiDesk. If anything goes wrong part-way, nothing is imported at all. ## Export and import documents Office documents export to the formats other apps open, from inside each editor: | Document | Export to | Import from | Guide | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Document | Word (.docx), PDF, web page (.html) | Word (.docx) | [Open and save Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-import-export) | | Spreadsheet | Excel (.xlsx), CSV | Excel (.xlsx), CSV | [Import and export Excel and CSV files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/sheets-excel-csv-import-export) | | Presentation | PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF | PowerPoint (.pptx) | [Import and export PowerPoint and PDF](https://plexiidesk.com/help/slides-powerpoint-import-export) | | Diagram | PNG, SVG, JPG, PDF | Visio (.vsdx) | [Import Visio and export diagrams](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-visio-import-and-export) | | Design | PNG, PDF | | [Export and print a design](https://plexiidesk.com/help/design-export-and-print) | | Artwork | PNG, SVG, PDF | | [Export artwork](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-export) | For PDFs and printing, see [Export to PDF and print](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-pdf-export-and-print). ## Bring files onto a desk - **Turn a file into a widget.** Text and Markdown files become notes, and CSV and JSON files become tables. See [Turn a file into a widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/desk-import-file). - **Fill a table from a file.** Import CSV, JSON or Excel into a table widget. See [Import CSV, JSON or Excel into a table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-import). - **Add files to Files.** Add single files, or import a whole folder. See [Add files and folders](https://plexiidesk.com/help/files-add-and-import). ## Tips - **Export before you delete your account,** so you keep a readable copy of your work. See [Delete your account](https://plexiidesk.com/help/account-delete). - **Keep files with the export.** If your files matter, copy them alongside the export file. - **To move to a new computer,** signing in and letting sync bring your work across is quickest. See [Sync your work across devices](https://plexiidesk.com/help/accounts-and-sync). ## Common questions **What is the difference between a backup and an export?** A backup is an exact copy you restore into PlexiDesk, replacing what is there. An export is a readable file you can open elsewhere, or import into PlexiDesk to add to what is there. **It says "not a Plexii workspace export".** Choose a file made with **Export my work (JSON)**. Backups (.fbbackup files) are restored with **Restore from backup…** instead. **Does importing an export twice make duplicates?** No. Records that are already there are skipped. **Can I import from other apps?** Import files from other apps one at a time: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio files, CSV and JSON. See the guides above. ## Related tasks - [Back up and restore your workspace](https://plexiidesk.com/help/data-backup-restore) - [Open and save Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-import-export) - [Turn a file into a widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/desk-import-file) - [Import CSV, JSON or Excel into a table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-import) - [Sync your work across devices](https://plexiidesk.com/help/accounts-and-sync)