Guides / Using AnvilCalc / Importing and Exporting Inventories
Importing and Exporting Inventories
Published September 20, 2026
Every inventory can be saved to a plain .json file and loaded back in later — useful as a backup, or for moving an inventory from one browser or device to another, since none of this data ever leaves your device on its own (see How to Use Your Inventory and our Privacy Policy).
Exporting
On /inventory, next to the item list, tap Export to file. Your browser downloads a .json file named after the inventory, containing its name, icon, color, edition/version, and every item — nothing more, and nothing is sent anywhere first; the file is built and saved directly on your device.
Importing
Tap Import inventory from file near the bottom of /inventory and pick a previously-exported .json file. It's added as a brand-new inventory (never overwriting one you already have) and immediately becomes active. If its name matches an inventory you already have, a " (2)", " (3)", and so on is appended automatically so nothing gets confused with what was already there.
When to use this instead of a share link
File export/import is the right tool when you're moving your own data — switching browsers, backing up before clearing site data, or keeping an offline copy. If you want to hand a copy of your inventory to someone else without either of you dealing with files, use a share link instead — see Sharing Your Inventory, a separate, link-based mechanism with different privacy properties (a share link never includes your inventory's icon or color, for instance).
Frequently asked questions
Does importing an inventory overwrite what I already have?
No — an imported file is always added as a brand-new inventory, never merged into or replacing one you already have. If its name matches an existing inventory, a " (2)", " (3)", and so on is appended automatically so the two never get confused with each other.
Can I use this to move an inventory between devices?
Yes — that's exactly what file export/import is for. Export to a .json file on one device, then import that same file on another browser or device to bring the inventory (name, icon, color, edition/version, and items) along with you.
What exactly is in the exported file?
The inventory's name, icon, color, edition/version, and every item in it — nothing more. Nothing is uploaded anywhere first; the .json file is built and saved directly on your device.
Should I use a file or a share link to hand my inventory to someone else?
Use a share link instead — see Sharing Your Inventory. File export/import is for moving your own inventory between your own devices; a share link is built for handing a copy to someone else and deliberately leaves out your icon and color.