Export & import

Back up sites as .nertia.json, restore content, or import from a URL.

nertia treats your site as portable data — layout, style, and content in one JSON file. Export is first-class, not an afterthought.

Export a site

Go to Sites (/sites).
Click Export in the toolbar.
- One site → downloads immediately.
- Multiple sites → pick which slug to export.
Browser saves {slug}.nertia.json.

What is in the file

Field	Contents
`version`	Export format version
`slug`	Site address (e.g. `my-biz`)
`compositionId`	Layout reference
`sections`	Section instances (order, types, config)
`copy`	All text fields keyed by binding
`skinId`	Active style / design system
`ds`	Token overrides

Not included: billing, custom domain DNS state, analytics, form submission history, or account ownership. Moving a site to another nertia account is not supported today — export is for backup, versioning, and restore on the same slug.

Import a JSON export (restore)

Import replaces all content on an existing site. It does not create a new slug.

Go to Sites → Import.
Choose a .nertia.json file.
Confirm the dialog — Replace all content of "{slug}" with imported data?
The file’s slug must match a site already in your account. Otherwise you see: No site "{slug}" in your account.

Typical uses: restore after experiments, sync from a dev copy, roll back to a saved snapshot.

Export my-biz.nertia.json  →  edit offline  →  Import (same slug my-biz)

Import from URL (new site)

Different flow — creates a new site.

Sites → Import URL.
Paste a website URL, or switch to Paste HTML.
Set the slug (e.g. acme → acme.nertia.ai).
Click Import Site.
You land in the editor for the new site.

The importer extracts content, layout hints, and design signals from the page. Results vary by source site — always review sections and copy in the editor.

Compare the three paths

Action	Where	Creates new slug?	Replaces existing?
Export	Sites toolbar	—	— (download only)
Import (JSON)	Sites toolbar	No	Yes — matching slug only
Import URL	Sites toolbar	Yes	No

Style export (separate)

Exporting a style / design system from /styles workshop is separate from site export. Site JSON carries the skinId and ds tokens applied at export time — not the full style library definition.

Limits & honesty

JSON import cannot rename a slug — create the site first, then import.
URL import does not attach a custom domain or copy Stripe subscriptions.
CLI and MCP can also read/write site data — see Tools for power users.

Quick reference

Backup:     Sites → Export → {slug}.nertia.json
Restore:    Sites → Import → confirm replace (slug must exist)
New site:   Sites → Import URL → pick slug → editor

Export a site

Go to Sites (/sites).

Click Export in the toolbar.

One site → downloads immediately.
Multiple sites → pick which slug to export.

Browser saves {slug}.nertia.json.

What is in the file

Field	Contents
`version`	Export format version
`slug`	Site address (e.g. `my-biz`)
`compositionId`	Layout reference
`sections`	Section instances (order, types, config)
`copy`	All text fields keyed by binding
`skinId`	Active style / design system
`ds`	Token overrides

Import a JSON export (restore)

Import replaces all content on an existing site. It does not create a new slug.

Go to Sites → Import.

Choose a .nertia.json file.

Confirm the dialog — Replace all content of "{slug}" with imported data?

The file’s slug must match a site already in your account. Otherwise you see: No site "{slug}" in your account.

Typical uses: restore after experiments, sync from a dev copy, roll back to a saved snapshot.

Export my-biz.nertia.json → edit offline → Import (same slug my-biz)

Import from URL (new site)

Different flow — creates a new site.

Sites → Import URL.

Paste a website URL, or switch to Paste HTML.

Set the slug (e.g. acme → acme.nertia.ai).

Click Import Site.

You land in the editor for the new site.

The importer extracts content, layout hints, and design signals from the page. Results vary by source site — always review sections and copy in the editor.

Action

Where

Creates new slug?

Replaces existing?

Export

Sites toolbar

—

— (download only)

Import (JSON)

Sites toolbar

Yes — matching slug only

Import URL

Sites toolbar

Yes