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Import Data Assistant

beta

Move your existing database to Neon using our automated import tool

When you're ready to move your data to Neon, our Import Data Assistant can help you automatically copy your existing database to Neon. You only need to provide a connection string to get started.

Beta

Import Data Assistant is in beta and ready to use. We're actively improving it based on feedback from developers like you. Share your experience in our Discord or via the Neon Console.

Ways to import

The Import Data Assistant always creates a new branch for your imported data. There are two ways to launch the import:

  1. From the Projects page:
    Start from the project list to create a new project and import your data into a new branch as part of the flow.

    Import Data Assistant from Projects page

  2. From within a project:
    Use the Getting Started widget on a project dashboard to import your data into a new branch of the existing project.

    Import Data Assistant from Quick Start widget

Both options use the same automated import process — just provide your database connection string and we'll handle the rest.

Before you start

You'll need:

  • A Neon account. Sign up at Neon if you don't have one.
  • A connection string to your current database in this format:
    postgresql://username:password@host:port/database?sslmode=require
  • Admin privileges on your source database. We recommend using a superuser or a user with the necessary CREATE, SELECT, INSERT, and REPLICATION privileges.
  • A database smaller than 10GB in size for automated import

important

If your database is larger than 10 GB and you need help, contact us.

  1. Check Compatibility

    Enter your database connection string and we'll verify:

    • Database size is within the current 10GB limit
    • Postgres version compatibility (Postgres 14 to 17)
    • Extension compatibility
    • Region availability
  2. Import Your Data

    Once checks pass, we'll:

    • Create a new branch for your imported data.
    • Copy your data automatically using pg_dump and pg_restore.
    • Verify that the import completed successfully.

    note

    During import, your source database remains untouched — we only read from it to create a copy in Neon.

    Known Limitations

    • Currently limited to databases smaller than 10GB. We are actively working on supporrting bigger workloads. In the meantime, conctact support if you are looking to migrate bigger databases.
    • The feature is supported in AWS regions only.
    • Databases that use event triggers are not supported.
    • Supabase and Heroku databases are not supported, as both use proprietary event triggers.
    • Databases running on IPv6 are not supported yet.
    • AWS RDS is generally supported, though some incompatibilities may exist. Support for other providers may vary.
  3. Next Steps

    After a successful import:

    1. Find your newly imported database branch on the Branches page of your project.

      Branches page showing imported branch

      Imported branches are typically named with a timestamp, as shown here.

    2. Run some test queries to ensure everything imported correctly.

    3. Switch your connection string to point to your new Neon database.

Need Help?

If your database import failed for any reason, please contact our support team. We're here to help you get up and running, including assistance with databases larger than 10GB.

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