# Import

> Bring captures in from a CSV file or from the old Resurf 1.0 app.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/import
- Section: Your data
- Works on: Mac
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-17
- Where: Settings → Data

## Import a CSV file

Resurf reads a `captures.csv`, such as a Resurf export, and shows a preview before it imports anything.

1. Open Settings (`⌘,`), choose **Data**, and under **Import & export** click **Import…** beside **Import from CSV…**
2. Pick the `.csv` file and click **Preview**.
3. Check **Rows** to see how many are valid.
4. Set the options, then click **Import**.

## The CSV options

- **Duplicates:** a row is a duplicate when its capture ID matches a capture you already have. **Skip**, the default, leaves your capture as it is. **Update** rewrites it from the file. **Copy** adds it as a new capture.
- **Create missing spaces** (on): adds the spaces the file names that you don't have. Off leaves them out.
- **Download hosted assets** (on): downloads files the file lists by web address. Off makes those rows fail.
- **Preserve capture IDs** (on): keeps the file's IDs. Off makes every row a new capture.

Without a license, an import that would go past the free limit of 50 captures stops before anything is imported.

## Import from Resurf 1.0

Brings over captures, spaces, notes, files and AI summaries from the old app. The old vault is only read, never changed.

1. Quit the old Resurf app.
2. In **Settings → Data**, click **Import…** beside **Import from Resurf 1.0…**
3. Pick the vault Resurf found and click **Continue**, or click **Choose folder** and select your Resurf 1.0 vault folder.
4. Check the counts, then click **Import**. You can click **Hide** and keep working, or **Stop**.

Captures already in your library are skipped, so it's safe to run again. If you stop, what's imported stays, and **Resume** carries on.

## Questions

### Will importing the same CSV twice make duplicates?

Not with the defaults. With Preserve capture IDs on and Duplicates set to Skip, captures you already have are skipped.

### Can I import a CSV from another app?

Yes, if each row has a valid type. Resurf gives new IDs to rows that don't have a Resurf capture ID.

### My old vault is in iCloud Drive and some files aren't downloaded.

Resurf downloads them first. Slow ones are skipped and retried, and the summary lists anything left out.

## More guides

- Previous: [Backup and export](https://resurf.so/guides/backup-and-export.md)
- Next: [Erase and start over](https://resurf.so/guides/erase.md)
- [Where your library lives](https://resurf.so/guides/vault.md): Your library is a folder of ordinary files on your device, named Resurf Library.
- [Sync](https://resurf.so/guides/sync.md): Your library syncs between your devices through your private iCloud, and it starts on its own.
- [Sync status](https://resurf.so/guides/sync-status.md): One line in Settings says whether sync is working, with a checklist and a report you can send to support.
- [Backup and export](https://resurf.so/guides/backup-and-export.md): Save the whole library as a zip, now or on a schedule, or export it as a spreadsheet with its files.
- [Erase and start over](https://resurf.so/guides/erase.md): Erase this device's copy of your library, or delete the copy in iCloud. Your license stays active either way.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)