Exporting and Importing Mates: Share and Backup Your Configurations

Learn how to export a Mate's complete configuration as a .zip file and import it into any organization. Share your best Mates across teams or create secure local backups.

Last updated 5 days ago

Overview

The Mate Import/Export feature lets you package a Mate's complete configuration — instructions, parameters, and Knowledge files — into a single .zip file. You can then import that file into any organization to instantly recreate the Mate, or keep it as a secure local backup.

Whether you want to share a well-crafted Mate with a client, deploy a standard Mate across multiple organizations, or simply back up a complex configuration, this feature makes it possible in just a few clicks.

What Gets Exported?

Element

Included in export?

Instructions (System Prompt)

✅ Yes

Parameters & settings

✅ Yes

Knowledge files

✅ Yes

LLM model selection

❌ No (selected at import)

Attached Tools

❌ No (must be reattached manually)

Access permissions

❌ No

Conversation history

❌ No

⚠️ Why are Tools excluded? Tools contain API keys and sensitive credentials that are specific to each organization. For security reasons, they are never included in the export. You will need to reattach your Tools manually after importing a Mate.

How to Export a Mate

  1. Navigate to the Mate Settings of the Mate you want to export (click the Mate's name or the settings icon).

  2. Click the dropdown menu (chevron icon ▾) next to the Mate's name in the header.

  3. Select Export from the dropdown.

  4. Your browser will immediately download a .zip file containing the Mate's complete configuration.

💡 Tip: The export is instant — no loading screen, no confirmation dialog. The .zip file is generated and downloaded automatically.

How to Import a Mate

  1. Go to the Mates & Tools section in the main sidebar.

  2. Click the button to create a new Mate.

  3. In the creation panel, click the Import tab.

  4. Drag and drop your .zip file, or click to browse and select it.

  5. Select your preferred LLM model from the dropdown — this is required since the model is not included in the export.

  6. Click Validate to create the Mate.

The Mate is instantly created with all its instructions, parameters, and Knowledge files restored.

After Importing: What to Do Next

Once your Mate is imported, a few manual steps are needed to make it fully operational:

  • ✅ Select the LLM model — done during the import step.

  • 🔧 Reattach your Tools — go to the Tools tab in the Mate's settings and attach the relevant Tool Instances (e.g., Web Search, GitHub, etc.).

  • 🔐 Configure access permissions — set who can see and use the Mate in your organization.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 💡 Use exports as templates: Build a well-configured Mate once, export it, and reuse it across multiple organizations or teams without rewriting instructions from scratch.

  • ✅ Back up before major changes: Export your Mate before making significant edits to its instructions or Knowledge base. This gives you a restore point if something goes wrong.

  • 🎯 Share with clients or partners: Export a Mate configured for a specific use case and send the .zip file to a client or partner so they can import it into their own allmates.ai organization.

  • ⚡ Standardize deployments: Create "template" Mates for common roles (e.g., HR Assistant, Sales Analyst) and distribute them across your company's workspaces in seconds.

Requirements

  • You must have the Expert plan to create, edit, and export Mates.

  • You must have the Expert plan to import a Mate into an organization.

  • The .zip file must have been generated by allmates.ai — manually created archives are not supported.

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