---
stage: Manage
group: Import and Integrate
info: "To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments"
type: reference
---

# Import and export settings **(FREE SELF)**

Settings for import- and export-related features.

## Configure allowed import sources

Before you can import projects from other systems, you must enable the
[import source](../../user/gitlab_com/index.md#default-import-sources) for that system.

1. Sign in to GitLab as a user with Administrator access level.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand the **Import and export settings** section.
1. Select each of **Import sources** to allow.
1. Select **Save changes**.

## Enable project export

To enable the export of
[projects and their data](../../user/project/settings/import_export.md#export-a-project-and-its-data):

1. Sign in to GitLab as a user with Administrator access level.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand the **Import and export settings** section.
1. Scroll to **Project export**.
1. Select the **Enabled** checkbox.
1. Select **Save changes**.

## Enable migration of groups and projects by direct transfer

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/383268) in GitLab 15.8.

You can enable migration of groups by direct transfer using the UI.

To enable migration of groups by direct transfer:

1. Sign in to GitLab as a user with Administrator access level.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand the **Import and export settings** section.
1. Scroll to **Allow migrating GitLab groups and projects by direct transfer**.
1. Select the **Enabled** checkbox.
1. Select **Save changes**.

The same setting
[is available](../../api/settings.md#list-of-settings-that-can-be-accessed-via-api-calls) in the API as the
`bulk_import_enabled` attribute.

## Max export size

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/86124) in GitLab 15.0.

To modify the maximum file size for exports in GitLab:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**, then expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Increase or decrease by changing the value in **Maximum export size (MiB)**.

## Max import size

> [Changed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/251106) from 50 MB to unlimited in GitLab 13.8.

To modify the maximum file size for imports in GitLab:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Increase or decrease by changing the value in **Maximum import size (MiB)**.

This setting applies only to repositories
[imported from a GitLab export file](../../user/project/settings/import_export.md#import-a-project-and-its-data).

If you choose a size larger than the configured value for the web server,
you may receive errors. See the [troubleshooting section](../../administration/settings/account_and_limit_settings.md#troubleshooting) for more
details.

For GitLab.com repository size limits, read [accounts and limit settings](../../user/gitlab_com/index.md#account-and-limit-settings).

## Maximum remote file size for imports

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/384976) in GitLab 16.3.

You can modify the maximum remote file size for imports from external object storages (for example, AWS) in GitLab.

To modify the maximum import remote file size:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Increase or decrease by changing the value in **Maximum import remote file size (MiB)**. Set to `0` to set no file size limit.

## Maximum download file size for imports by direct transfer

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/384976) in GitLab 16.3.

You can modify the maximum download file size for imports by direct transfer in GitLab.

To modify the maximum download file size for imports by direct transfer:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Increase or decrease by changing the value in **Direct transfer maximum download file size (MiB)**. Set to `0` to set no download file size limit.

## Maximum decompressed file size for imported archives

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/128218) in GitLab 16.3.
> - **Maximum decompressed file size for archives from imports** field [renamed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/130081) from **Maximum decompressed size** in GitLab 16.4.

When you import a project using [file exports](../../user/project/settings/import_export.md) or [direct transfer](../../user/group/import/index.md#migrate-groups-by-direct-transfer-recommended), you can specify the maximum decompressed file size for imported archives. The default value is 25 GB.

When you import a compressed file, the decompressed size cannot exceed the maximum decompressed file size limit. If the decompressed size exceeds the configured limit, the following error is returned:

```plaintext
Decompressed archive size validation failed.
```

To modify the maximum decompressed file size for imports in GitLab:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Set another value for **Maximum decompressed file size for archives from imports (MiB)**.

## Timeout for decompressing archived files

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/128218) in GitLab 16.4.

When you [import a project](../../user/project/settings/import_export.md), you can specify the maximum time out for decompressing imported archives. The default value is 210 seconds.

To modify the maximum decompressed file size for imports in GitLab:

1. On the left sidebar, select **Search or go to**.
1. Select **Admin Area**.
1. Select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Import and export settings**.
1. Set another value for **Timeout for decompressing archived files (seconds)**.