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.
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 that chunk, 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.
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
- CharacterVault export — CharacterVault's own format includes everything the app stores about a character
All three load cleanly into your vault.
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 in a format CharacterVault understands — no need to save files manually.
Vault backup
Custom AI context is not exported
Notes you paste under AI Context → Custom stay in this browser only. They are not written into PNG/JSON cards and are not included in vault Backup ZIPs. See Custom Context.
From the library header, click Backup to download a ZIP of every character:
- Cards with an image → PNG with embedded data
- Cards without an image → JSON (V3)
Use this periodically so a browser wipe does not erase your vault.
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 embedded as a V3 specification.
JSON
Exports a JSON file using the V3 specification. Includes name, description, personality, scenario, greetings, lorebook, creator information, tags, and notes.
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) | — | — |
Lorebook Import & Export
There are two related paths:
Inside the Lorebook Editor
On a character Lorebook tab or while editing a vault book, Import / Export act on the current book (import may replace existing entries after confirmation). Export is SillyTavern-oriented JSON.
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
A character can link one library book. The link stays in CharacterVault and is not written into PNG/JSON by itself. After you link (or later edit either side), the lorebook on the character is what export includes — so a synced book does go out with the card.
Linking asks if you want to copy the library book onto the character first (this replaces the lorebook already on the card). See Lorebook Vault → Linking.