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title: Import and Export Projects
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# Import and Export Projects

> For the full documentation index, see: https://docs.mulesoft.com/llms.txt

Import and export your Mule projects or project elements in Anypoint Studio. Studio supports
importing packaged Mule applications and projects from the file system.

Because Studio is Eclipse-based, keep in mind that among the import/export options, there are ways
to import or export projects that are not tailored for Mule projects and that are not recommended
for use.

## Import Projects to Studio

Studio presents two importing options.

![A dialog box will appear, presenting you with a list of import options, such as General, Anypoint Studio, and Packaged Mule Applicatio](/mulesoft/current/en-us/studio/_images/import-export-packages-ad8ef.png)

<table><colgroup><col> <col></colgroup><thead><tr><th>Option</th><th>Action</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div><p><strong>Packaged Mule Application (.jar)</strong></p></div></div></td><td><div><div><p>Imports a <code>.jar</code> file containing a new Mule project.</p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div><p><strong>Anypoint Studio Project from File System</strong></p></div></div></td><td><div><div><p>Imports a folder and its contents as a new Mule project.</p></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Import a Mule Application (Deployable Archive)

1.  Select **Import** from the **File** menu.

2.  In the Import wizard, click to expand the Mule folder, select **Packaged Mule Application
    (.jar)**, and click **Next**.

3.  In the **File** field, click the ellipses (…​) button to explore your local drive. Then select
    the Mule Deployable Archive file (that is, the `.jar` file) you want to import.  
    If you want, you can change project’s name.

4.  Click **Finish**.

> [!NOTE] When you import a project that was developed in Studio 7.1.x or older versions of Studio
> 7, Studio will prompt you to **Update your Workspace**.  
> See [Update Workspaces](https://docs.mulesoft.com/studio/update-workspace) for more details.

### Import a Mule Application (Project From File System)

1.  Select **Import** from the **File** menu.

2.  In the Import wizard, click to expand the Mule folder, select **Anypoint Studio Project from
    File System**, and click **Next**.

3.  In the **Project Root** field, click the ellipses (…​) button to explore your local drive, and
    select the root folder for the Mule project that you want to import.  
    If you want, you can change the project’s name and choose a different runtime version in which
    to run it.

    > [!NOTE] You can choose a different runtime version if you have other embedded runtime versions
    > installed in Studio.  
    > See _Mule Runtimes for Anypoint Studio Update Site_ in
    > [About Anypoint Studio Update Sites](https://docs.mulesoft.com/studio/studio-update-sites) to learn how to install other
    > versions of the runtime in Studio.

## Export Projects From Studio

Studio lets you package and export your project as a Mule deployable file.

![A window with a list of options for you to export](/mulesoft/current/en-us/studio/_images/import-export-packages-a1b21.png)

<table><colgroup><col> <col></colgroup><thead><tr><th>Option</th><th>Action</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div><p><strong>Anypoint Studio Project to Mule Deployable Archive (includes Studio metadata)</strong></p></div></div></td><td><div><div><p>Exports a Mule project to a <code>.jar</code> deployable file.</p></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Export a Studio Project to a Deployable Mule Application

1.  Select **Export** from the **File** menu.

2.  In the Import wizard, click to expand the Mule folder, select **Anypoint Studio Project to Mule
    Deployable Archive (includes Studio metadata)**, and click **Next**.

3.  Select the project that you want to export and click **Next**.

4.  In the **JAR file** menu, click the ellipses (…​) button to explore your local drive, and select
    the folder to which you want to export your deployable JAR file.  
    Additionally, you can choose **Attach Project Sources** to include metadata that Studio requires
    to reimport the deployable file as an open Mule project into your workspace.

    You must keep the **Attach Project Sources** option selected to be able to import the packaged
    JAR file back into a Studio workspace. This is the same as using the `-DattachMuleSources` flag
    when packaging using the Mule Maven Plugin. See
    [Create an Application Package to Import into Anypoint Studio](https://docs.mulesoft.com/mule-runtime/latest/mmp-concept#create-an-application-package-to-import-into-anypoint-studio)
    in the Mule Maven Plugin documentation for more information.

### Export a Studio Project to a Shareable Lightweight Package

1.  Select **Export** from the **File** menu.

2.  In the Import wizard, click to expand the Mule folder, select **Anypoint Studio Project to Mule
    Deployable Archive (includes Studio metadata)**, and click **Next**.

3.  Select the project that you want to export and click **Next**.

4.  In the **JAR file** menu, click the ellipses (…​) button to explore your local drive, and select
    the folder to which you want to export your JAR deployable file.

5.  Deselect the **Include project modules and dependencies** option.  
    This option skips bundling the actual modules and external dependencies required to run the Mule
    application in a Mule runtime engine, creating a lightweight JAR file package that does not
    include any dependencies specified in the Mule application’s `pom.xml` file.

    The generated JAR file is not a functional deployable archive and cannot be deployed to a Mule
    runtime engine, but instead offers a way to archive only the source files that make up the Mule
    application. This is the same as using the `-lightWeightPackage` flag when packaging using the
    Mule Maven Plugin and is useful if you want to distribute your project to other Studio
    installations because it only keeps a reference to all its dependencies. When you import a
    lightweight package into Studio, all your dependencies are automatically downloaded. See
    [Create a Lightweight Package](https://docs.mulesoft.com/mule-runtime/latest/mmp-concept#create-a-lightweight-package)
    in the Mule Maven Plugin documentation for more information.

## See Also

- [To Import a Mule Project from Exchange](https://docs.mulesoft.com/studio/import-project-exchange)