---
title: "How to use Retrospect Import/Export Configuration Management"
slug: "how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management"
updated: 2023-11-16T22:36:05Z
published: 2023-11-16T22:36:05Z
canonical: "docs.retrospect.com/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.retrospect.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Import/Export your Retrospect Preferences

Starting with Retrospect 11.5 for Windows and Retrospect 13.5 for Mac, Retrospect offers a way to easily import and export Retrospect settings and preferences. These settings are stored in a file named **configs.xml**. Retrospect will update this file on a regular bases while Retrospect is running. The file is in C:\ProgramData\Retrospect on Windows and in Library/Application Support/Retrospect on the Mac. You should back up this folder as part of your normal backup operations.

## Engine Configuration Details

The following items are included in the engine configuration file. Each can be imported individually.

- Licenses
- Program Preferences
- File Selector Rules
- Network Settings
- Clients
- Source Volumes
- Media Sets
- Scripts

## Retrospect for Windows - How to Import Engine Configuration

In the menu bar, select "File" then select "Import".

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-aln6a37e.png)

Select the configuration .xml file you’d like to import. This can be one you manually exported or the configs.xml file that Retrospect uses automatically.

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-pp1cps51.png)

Select "Pause and Import" to pause your executions and import all of the items in the configuration file. Select "Options" if you’d like to select specific items in the configuration file.

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-r4wk4jln.png)

If you selected "Options", you can select specific items to import.

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-ma1851zy.png)

Decide whether to stop all execution activity in Retrospect to import the configuration file.

![A screenshot of a computer error Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-nr2w72c8.png)

## Retrospect for Windows - How to Export Engine Configuration

In the menu bar, select "File" then select "Export".

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-iile0uj6.png)

For "Export the Retrospect Configuration Data", select "OK".

![A screen shot of a computer error Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-jxx9wdue.png)

Select the location for the file titled Retrospect Configuration.xml.![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-q6ofz25l.png)

## Retrospect for Mac - How to Import Engine Configuration

In the menu bar, select "File" then select "Import…".

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-hoerqblr.png)

Select the relevant items to import and click "Add".

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-vnm3qogm.png)

## Retrospect for Mac - How to Export Engine Configuration

In the menu bar, select "File" then select "Export…".

![A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/how-to-use-retrospect-importexport-configuration-management-image-xbcr4fat.png)

Select the appropriate location for the exported file and click "Export". The exported file will be named

Last Update: November 2023