Importing from Chatwoot

How to migrate your support data from Chatwoot to Deskwoot

Updated September 30, 2026Also available in: Deutsch, Português

The Chatwoot importer is the most complete migration source we support: 14 data types including conversations, contacts, teams, labels, canned responses, automation rules, help center, custom attributes, and CSAT. Works for both Chatwoot Cloud and self-hosted. You supply your account ID and an API token; we pull everything via the Chatwoot API. Agents and inbox configs aren't imported (you set those up first on Deskwoot side).

Importing from Chatwoot into Deskwoot brings over 14 data types in a single click, including conversations with full message history, contacts, automation rules, labels, custom attributes, and help center articles, whether you run Chatwoot in the cloud or on your own server. With support for 14 data types, this is the most comprehensive import source available, letting you bring over conversations, contacts, automation rules, and much more in just a few clicks.

What Gets Imported

  • Conversations. Full message history, attachments, and private notes
  • Contacts. Email, phone, avatar, and custom attributes
  • Teams. Including descriptions
  • Labels. From conversations
  • Canned Responses. With short codes
  • Custom Attributes. For both contacts and conversations
  • Help Center. Portals, categories, and articles
  • Automation Rules. With conditions and actions
  • Saved Filters
  • Contact Notes
  • CSAT Surveys

What Is NOT Imported

  • Inbox/channel configurations. You will need to set up new inboxes in Deskwoot
  • Agent accounts. Agents must already exist in your Deskwoot workspace before importing
  • Webhook integrations
  • HMAC verification settings

How to Import

  1. Navigate to Settings > Import / Migration.
  2. Select Chatwoot as the source.
  3. Enter your Chatwoot URL (e.g., https://app.chatwoot.com or your self-hosted URL).
  4. Provide your Account ID and Access Token.
  5. Click Start Import and wait for the process to complete.

Best-Practice Tips

  • Create agents first. Because agent accounts are not imported, ensure every team member has an active Deskwoot account before you begin. This allows conversations and teams to be mapped correctly.
  • Set up inboxes in advance. Configure your email, live chat, or other channel inboxes in Deskwoot beforehand so you can start routing new conversations immediately after the migration.
  • Run a test import during low-traffic hours. This minimizes disruption and gives you time to verify the imported data before your team goes live.
  • Review automation rules after import. Conditions and actions will carry over, but double-check that they reference the correct inboxes and labels in your new Deskwoot workspace.

Troubleshooting

  • Invalid Access Token error: Make sure the token belongs to an administrator-level account and has not expired. Generate a fresh token from your source platform if needed.
  • Missing conversations or contacts: Verify that the Account ID matches the workspace you intend to migrate. A mismatched ID will pull data from a different account.
  • Email quote trails look messy: Deskwoot automatically cleans up email quote trails during import, so this should not occur. If you still see formatting issues, reach out to support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the import take?

Duration depends on the volume of data. Small workspaces typically finish within minutes, while larger accounts with thousands of conversations may take longer. You can continue using Deskwoot while the import runs in the background.

Can I run the import more than once?

You can re-run the import if needed; however, doing so may create duplicate records. It is best to verify your credentials and account ID carefully before starting.

Will my existing Deskwoot data be affected?

No. The import process adds data to your workspace,it does not overwrite or delete any existing conversations, contacts, or settings.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work with self-hosted Chatwoot?
Yes. Provide your self-hosted URL instead of the Chatwoot Cloud URL, plus account ID and access token. The importer hits the same Chatwoot API.
What's NOT imported?
Inbox/channel configs (set up Deskwoot inboxes manually first), agent accounts (must already exist on Deskwoot), webhook integrations, and HMAC verification settings.
Should agents be created before importing?
Yes. Agents are matched by email. If a Chatwoot agent's email matches an existing Deskwoot user, their conversations are assigned correctly. Unmatched agents show as 'system' in conversation history.
How long does the import take?
Depends on data size. Small workspaces finish in minutes; large ones (50k+ conversations) can take hours and run in the background. You can keep using Deskwoot during the import.
Will running it twice create duplicates?
Potentially yes. The importer tries to deduplicate, but a second run on top of a partial first run can create dups. Verify credentials and account ID before starting; run once cleanly.
Are private notes preserved?
Yes. Chatwoot private notes import as Deskwoot private notes on the same conversation, with the original agent attribution where possible.
What about email quote trails?
Cleaned up during import. We strip the '>'-prefixed reply quote chains that bloat email threads. Customers see the actual content, not 500 lines of reply trail.
Will my Chatwoot CSAT scores carry over?
Yes. Ratings + comments import on the conversation they belong to. Aggregate CSAT in Reports → CSAT reflects the historical Chatwoot data after import.
Are help center articles imported with full HTML formatting?
Yes. Articles import with body HTML, locale, status (draft/published), category, and SEO metadata. Re-review after import — Chatwoot's WYSIWYG quirks can leave inline styles that look odd in Deskwoot's renderer.
Do automation rules import too?
Yes, with conditions and actions. Important: rules reference inbox / team / label IDs that may not match in Deskwoot, so review every imported rule and fix the references before enabling.
Will my Chatwoot account be modified?
No. The importer is read-only. Chatwoot data stays exactly as it was. Disconnect or cancel your Chatwoot account whenever you're ready.

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