Import & Export
CharacterVault plays well with the wider character card ecosystem. Whether you're moving characters from other apps, sharing them with friends, or just backing up your work, you can import and export in formats that work with SillyTavern, TavernAI, and most other character card tools.
Importing Characters
Click Import in the vault header, then select one or more files — or drag and drop PNG/JSON files onto the library. CharacterVault accepts PNG images with embedded data or JSON files, and can import many at once.
What Import takes depends on the active tab. The Characters tab takes PNG/JSON cards. The Lorebooks tab takes lorebook JSON. Both accept a vault backup ZIP. Importing the same card twice creates a duplicate.
PNG Files
Character cards saved as PNG images store all their data in a special metadata chunk inside the file. When you import one, CharacterVault reads the chara or ccv3 chunk (tEXt or iTXt), preferring ccv3. It parses the JSON inside and creates a new character with the image as its avatar. This works with cards from SillyTavern, TavernAI, and similar tools. Only real PNG files work; WebP or JPEG cards can't be imported.
JSON Files
JSON imports are flexible. CharacterVault recognizes several formats:
- Flat V2 — a simple JSON object with fields like
name,description,personalitysitting at the top level - Wrapped V2 or V3 — the same fields nested inside a structure that declares the specification version
- Older CharacterVault full-data JSON files — includes everything the app stored about a character
All three load cleanly into your vault. V3-only fields (such as group-only greetings, nickname, and assets) are dropped on import. Card extensions (depth prompt, talkativeness, regex, and so on) are kept.
From SillyTavern
The SillyTavern CharacterVault Export Extension adds an "Export to CharacterVault" button right inside SillyTavern's export menu. When you use it, the extension copies the character to your clipboard and opens CharacterVault's Import page. That page reads the clipboard (your browser may ask for permission) and shows a preview before importing. You can also paste manually. No need to save files.
Vault backup
What is not in a vault ZIP
Orion/Agent chats, notes under AI Context → Custom, snapshots, and lorebook links stay in this browser only. They are not written into PNG/JSON cards and are not included in vault Backup ZIPs. See Custom Context and Privacy.
From the library header, click Backup to download a ZIP of the whole vault:
| Path | Contents |
|---|---|
characters/ | Cards with an image as PNG (embedded data); cards without one as JSON (V3). |
lorebooks/ | Standalone vault lorebooks as SillyTavern-oriented JSON |
settings.json | App settings (AI config, sampler, prompts, studio including favorite tags, workspace, layout) |
manifest.json | Backup kind, date, counts, and whether API keys were included |
Include API keys is off by default. Turn it on only when you are moving your own setup between browsers. Anyone with that file can spend your AI quota.
Restore
Import a .zip (or drag it onto the library). CharacterVault previews how many cards and lorebooks it found, and whether settings (and keys) are present.
- Cards and lorebooks are added as copies. Nothing already in the vault is deleted.
- Settings in a full backup replace settings on this device. A backup without keys keeps the keys already here.
- Older cards-only ZIPs (before 1.6.0) still restore as content only.
Use this periodically so a browser wipe does not erase your vault. For settings alone, see Settings → Backup.
Exporting Characters
Open a character and click Export in the toolbar. You have two choices:
PNG
Your character becomes a PNG image with all data embedded in the image file itself. This is the most versatile option — send it to anyone and they can drag it straight into SillyTavern, CharacterVault, or any compatible app. The data is written as a single chara chunk in Character Card V2 format, the most widely supported version. Any existing chara or ccv3 chunks are replaced.
PNG export needs a character image. JPEG, WebP, and other formats are converted to PNG. A card with no image can only be exported as JSON.
JSON
Exports a JSON file in the V3 wrapper (chara_card_v3) with V2 fields. Includes name, description, personality, scenario, greetings, lorebook, creator information, tags, and notes. V3-only fields (group-only greetings, nickname, assets, and so on) aren't kept.
What Each Format Includes
| Feature | PNG | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Basic fields (name, description, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alternate greetings | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lorebook / character book | ✓ | ✓ |
| Creator name, version, tags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Creator notes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Character image | ✓ | — |
| Custom AI context (AI Context panel) | — | — |
Appearance (physical_description) is a CharacterVault-only field. It is exported inside data, but SillyTavern has no such field.
Lorebook Import & Export
There are two related paths:
Inside the Lorebook Editor
On a character Lorebook tab or while editing a vault book, Export downloads the current book as SillyTavern-oriented JSON. The editor has no import button; import on the Lorebooks tab, then attach the book to a character.
See Lorebook Editor → Import & Export.
Lorebook Vault library
On the home vault Lorebooks tab you can import one or more JSON files as new standalone books, export any book, and keep them separate from character cards. See Lorebook Vault.
Linking vs card export
Card export includes the lorebook on the character, not the link. See Lorebook Vault → Linking.