Guide

Import and export Wake-on-LAN profiles

Use Import / Export when you want to back up your saved devices or move them to another phone.

PacketWake Import and Export screen showing export JSON, copy export, share export, import file, check import, and replace profiles controls
The Import / Export screen gives you a readable JSON backup and checks pasted data before replacing profiles.

The simple version

Export means “make a backup copy.” Import means “bring a backup copy into this phone.” PacketWake does not do this automatically because your device list can contain private network details.

Always use Check import before Replace profiles. Check import is the safe preview step.

What the export contains

The export is versioned JSON. It includes the profile fields needed to rebuild your saved Wake-on-LAN targets, including device name, optional group, target, port, MAC address, SecureOn value when configured, retry settings, notes, and pinned state.

Treat exports as private

A profile can include network names, MAC addresses, local hostnames, and notes. Share an export only with someone who should have those details.

Export profiles

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Import / Export.
  3. Use Copy export if you want to paste the backup into your own note or file.
  4. Use Share export if you want to send the backup through the phone share sheet.
  5. Save the backup somewhere you control.

Import profiles safely

  1. Paste the JSON into the import field.
  2. Run Check import before replacing anything.
  3. Review the number of profiles and any validation errors.
  4. Use Replace profiles only when the preflight looks right.

What Replace profiles means

Replace profiles means the imported list becomes the list on this phone. It is useful when moving to a new device, but it is not the right button if you are unsure what is inside the backup.

Good use

You bought a new phone and want the same saved computers on it.

Use care

You received a JSON file from someone else. Read it first because it may contain their network details.

Good backup habits

When import fails

Import checks reject malformed JSON, unsupported export versions, missing required fields, invalid MAC addresses, invalid ports, invalid retry values, and duplicate identifiers that cannot be resolved safely.

Plain examples of import errors

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