# Exporting and Importing Variable Groups

## Exporting Variable Groups

Exporting variable groups allows for easy transfer to other systems or environments, provides backups for restoration, ensures consistency across different setups (like development and production), and enables reuse of common variable sets, enhancing portability, backup, consistency, and efficiency.

To export a variable:

1. Navigate to the variable group that you want to export.
2. Click the **Ellipsis** icon on the right end of the variable group and, from the drop-drown list that appears, select **Export**.

The variable group is now exported as a single YAML file, and you can download it into your system, update it, and import the updated file as a new variable group as required.

## Importing Variables

To import a variable:

1. Navigate to the variable group that you want to export.
2. Click the **Ellipsis** icon on the right end of the variable group and, from the drop-drown list that appears, select **Import**.
3. Use the Import Variable Group modal that appears to select the YAML file containing the variable group that you want to import.\
   Details associated with the imported variable group appear below the list of existing variable groups. Review and update as required.


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