# Exporting and importing dashboards
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****  
This documentation topic is designed for Grafana workspaces that support **Grafana version 8.x**.  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 12.x, see [Working in Grafana version 12](using-grafana-v12.md).  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 10.x, see [Working in Grafana version 10](using-grafana-v10.md).  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 9.x, see [Working in Grafana version 9](using-grafana-v9.md).

 Amazon Managed Grafana Dashboards can easily be exported and imported, either from the UI or from the [HTTP API] 

## Exporting a dashboard
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 Dashboards are exported in Amazon Managed Grafana JSON format, and contain everything you need, including layout, variables, styles, data sources, and queries, to import the dashboard at a later time. 

 The export feature is accessed in the share window, which you open by choosing the share button in the dashboard menu.

### Making a dashboard portable
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 When you export a dashboard for others to use, it's good to add template variables for values such as a metric prefix (use a constant variable) and a server name. 

 A template variable of the type `Constant` is automatically hidden in the dashboard. It is also added as a required input when the dashboard is imported. For more information about templating and template variables, see [Templates and variables](templates-and-variables.md). 

## Importing a dashboard
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 To import a dashboard, choose the \$1 icon in the side menu, and then choose **Import**. 

 You can upload a dashboard JSON file, paste a dashboard URL or paste dashboard JSON text directly into the text area. 

 In step 2 of the import process, you can change the name of the dashboard, specify the data source that you want the dashboard to use, and specify any metric prefixes (if the dashboard uses any). 

## Discover dashboards on Grafana.com
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 Find dashboards for common server applications at [Grafana.com/dashboards](https://grafana.com/dashboards).