Import history from claude.ai changedthird-party/claude-desktop/import
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3636On Team and Enterprise workspaces, member data export is off by default. A workspace owner enables it on claude.ai under **Settings → Organization → Data and privacy → Allow members to export their own data**.
3737
38<Frame caption="The member data export toggle in claude.ai organization settings. Only workspace owners see this control.">
39 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-admin-toggle.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=f1f4696a2124cd36ee9a7366cb1c4772" alt="claude.ai organization settings, Data and privacy page, with the Allow members to export their own data toggle turned on and a confirmation toast reading Member data export enabled." width="1800" height="1125" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-admin-toggle.png" />
40</Frame>
38
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4240Members of the workspace can then export their own conversations. The toggle does not expose one member's data to another; each member can download only their own history.
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4543
4644In Claude Desktop, go to **Settings → Import & export** and click **Import…** to open the **Import from Claude** wizard.
4745
48<Frame caption="Step 1 of the import wizard, before a source is chosen.">
49 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-wizard-start.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=526562f1c9c0abd66e9b56d0328808db" alt="Claude Desktop settings with Import and export selected and the Import from Claude wizard open on step 1, showing Sign in to claude.ai and Choose file buttons." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-wizard-start.png" />
50</Frame>
46
5147
5248The wizard has three steps: **Chats** (your claude.ai export), **Cowork & Code** (local sessions on this machine), and **Review**. Skip any step you don't need. A fourth step, **Duplicates**, appears after the import only when an imported project has the same name as one you already have. See [If a project already exists](#if-a-project-already-exists).
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5551
5652You can pull your claude.ai history straight into the wizard by signing in, or download it from claude.ai yourself and choose the file.
5753
58<Tabs>
59 <Tab title="Sign in to claude.ai (recommended)">
60 Click **Sign in to claude.ai…**. Your browser opens to claude.ai; sign in if prompted, choose your organization if you belong to more than one, and click **Authorize**.
54**Sign in to claude.ai (recommended)**
6155
62 <Frame caption="The organization selector, shown if your claude.ai account belongs to more than one workspace.">
63 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-consent-org.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=1657a03028a7ceb3d173e71ba27f591d" alt="claude.ai organization selector titled Select organization, listing one organization." width="1600" height="720" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-consent-org.png" />
64 </Frame>
56Click **Sign in to claude.ai…**. Your browser opens to claude.ai; sign in if prompted, choose your organization if you belong to more than one, and click **Authorize**.
6557
66 <Frame caption="The authorization prompt. The only permission granted is a one-time export of your own data.">
67 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-consent-authorize.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=55be3501d41c9e61b49154db66b71d5b" alt="claude.ai authorization card reading Claude Desktop Import would like to connect to your Claude chat account, with an Authorize button." width="1400" height="1300" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-consent-authorize.png" />
68 </Frame>
58
6959
70 Back in Claude Desktop, click **Fetch export**. The wizard requests an export from claude.ai, downloads it, and shows what it found.
60
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72 <Frame caption="The wizard after the export finishes downloading.">
73 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-signed-in.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=dafc4cbfffd685321442cbd72fd73993" alt="Import from Claude wizard step 1 showing a claude.ai export row with the account email and a summary of 7 chats and 1 project." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-signed-in.png" />
74 </Frame>
75 </Tab>
62Back in Claude Desktop, click **Fetch export**. The wizard requests an export from claude.ai, downloads it, and shows what it found.
7663
77 <Tab title="Choose a downloaded file">
78 On claude.ai, go to **Settings → Privacy → Export data** and click **Export**. If you don't see **Export data**, ask a workspace owner to [enable member data export](#enable-member-data-export-admins).
64
7965
80 <Frame caption="The Export data page in claude.ai personal settings.">
81 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-web-export.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=1ed4aa5a08469420020d3ff83579c0de" alt="claude.ai settings Privacy page with the Export data subpage open, showing an Export button and a note that a download link will be sent by email." width="1800" height="1125" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-web-export.png" />
82 </Frame>
66**Choose a downloaded file**
8367
84 claude.ai emails you a download link when the export is ready. The link expires after 24 hours.
68On claude.ai, go to **Settings → Privacy → Export data** and click **Export**. If you don't see **Export data**, ask a workspace owner to [enable member data export](#enable-member-data-export-admins).
8569
86 <Frame caption="The export-ready email.">
87 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-email.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=cf883e9c401401686568c77cb6ac45c1" alt="Email from Claude titled Your data is ready for download with a Download data button." width="1800" height="1125" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-email.png" />
88 </Frame>
70
8971
90 Download the `.zip`, then in the import wizard click **Choose file…** and select it.
72claude.ai emails you a download link when the export is ready. The link expires after 24 hours.
9173
92 <Frame caption="Step 1 with a downloaded export selected.">
93 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-choose-file.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=5cb868969ebed88801296f696796d0f1" alt="Import from Claude wizard step 1 showing a selected member-data zip file with a summary of 7 chats and 1 project." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-choose-file.png" />
94 </Frame>
95 </Tab>
96</Tabs>
74
9775
76Download the `.zip`, then in the import wizard click **Choose file…** and select it.
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78
79
9880Click **Continue**, or **Skip this step** if you only want to bring in local sessions.
9981
10082## Step 2: local Cowork and Code sessions
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10284The wizard scans this machine for Cowork and Claude Code sessions from an earlier Claude Desktop install and lists what it finds. Choose how far back to include, and add any other folder that holds sessions (for example, a backup or a folder copied from another machine).
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104<Frame caption="Local sessions found on this machine.">
105 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-local-sessions.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=e17511922a814b0355cb540688a5c949" alt="Import from Claude wizard step 2, Cowork and Code, listing 5 local sessions with a time-range selector and an option to add another location." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-local-sessions.png" />
106</Frame>
86
10787
10888Sessions are copied, not moved. Your original history stays where it is.
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11191
11292The **Review** step summarizes what will be added. Click **Import** to copy everything into your local session store.
11393
114<Frame caption="The review summary before import.">
115 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-review.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=c7939485c7185afbf1ef7518a94db2d6" alt="Import from Claude wizard step 3 showing a claude.ai export summary of 7 chats and 1 project alongside 5 local Cowork and Code sessions, with an Import button." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-review.png" />
116</Frame>
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11795
118<Frame caption="Import complete. Imported chats appear in the sidebar and imported projects appear on the Projects page.">
119 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/XDpDaIQ3J0Amhn8h/images/third-party/import/import-success.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XDpDaIQ3J0Amhn8h&q=85&s=f0a01a38e52d841b66c4215f9cda2db4" alt="Import from Claude wizard success screen showing a checkmark and the number of sessions imported, with a note that re-running import will not create duplicates." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-success.png" />
120</Frame>
96
12197
12298## If a project already exists
12399
124100When an imported project has the same name as a project already in Claude Desktop, the wizard adds a **Duplicates** step after the import finishes. This happens, for example, when you set up **Northwind** on this machine and then bring over history from another machine that also has a Northwind project. The step lists each match with two choices.
125101
126<Frame caption="The Duplicates step, listing imported projects that match ones you already have.">
127 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/XDpDaIQ3J0Amhn8h/images/third-party/import/import-duplicates.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XDpDaIQ3J0Amhn8h&q=85&s=798f75d5a508ebcb7082373b5cf95d84" alt="Import from Claude wizard step 4, Duplicates, headed These projects already exist, listing five Northwind projects each with Merge into existing and Keep separate buttons and a Continue button." width="1920" height="1440" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-duplicates.png" />
128</Frame>
102
129103
130104* **Merge into existing** moves the imported chats and sessions into your existing project and removes the duplicate. Folders you attached to the duplicate move with them. If your existing project has no instructions of its own, the imported project's instructions are shown there for you to review and accept. Later imports from the same source land in the existing project as well.
131105* **Keep separate** leaves both projects in place. The imported one keeps a numbered name, such as **Northwind (1)**, and Claude Desktop stops offering to merge it.
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139113* A session from this app's earlier third-party configuration on this computer shows a **Continue this conversation?** prompt. Click **Continue** to send your message.
140114* Any other imported conversation or session shows a **Resume imported session?** prompt. Click **Trust and resume** to continue.
141115
142<Frame caption="The trust prompt shown the first time you resume a conversation imported from claude.ai.">
143 <img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-ai/HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV/images/third-party/import/import-trust-resume.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HpR2FaaZXZXkiUcV&q=85&s=806d0d2018d7fc0f10afb71035b1f807" alt="An imported conversation open in Cowork with a yellow Resume imported session card offering Go back and Trust and resume buttons." width="1800" height="688" data-path="images/third-party/import/import-trust-resume.png" />
144</Frame>
116
145117
146118## Make an imported project folder readable in Chat
147119
148120When an import brings over a project, it puts a folder on the project. In Chat, Claude can't read that folder until you add it to the project again. Add the folder once for each imported project.
149121
150<Steps>
151 <Step title="Open the project">
152 Go to the **Projects** page and open the imported project.
153 </Step>
122**1. Open the project**
154123
155 <Step title="Note the folder path">
156 Next to **Context**, click **+**, then select **Choose a folder**. Under **Recent**, find the project's folder, which is dimmed and can't be selected, and note the path shown under its name.
157 </Step>
124Go to the **Projects** page and open the imported project.
158125
159 <Step title="Add the folder again">
160 Select **Choose a different folder**. In the folder dialog, go to the path you noted and select the project's folder.
161 </Step>
126**2. Note the folder path**
162127
163 <Step title="Start a new conversation">
164 Start a new conversation in the project. In the new conversation, Claude can read the files in the folder.
165 </Step>
166</Steps>
128Next to **Context**, click **+**, then select **Choose a folder**. Under **Recent**, find the project's folder, which is dimmed and can't be selected, and note the path shown under its name.
129
130**3. Add the folder again**
131
132Select **Choose a different folder**. In the folder dialog, go to the path you noted and select the project's folder.
133
134**4. Start a new conversation**
135
136Start a new conversation in the project. In the new conversation, Claude can read the files in the folder.
167137
168138Importing the project again doesn't make its folder readable. If you remove the import under **Import history** in **Settings > Import & export**, or archive the project, and then import from claude.ai again, the new project uses the same folder. Add the folder to the new project again.
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