# Import Recipes

Brewfather supports importing recipes via **BeerXML**, the universal brewing recipe format used by BeerSmith, Brewer's Friend, BrewTarget, and most other brewing software. You can also import recipes in **Brewfather JSON** format. Importing is a Premium feature.

## Import from Beersmith

1. Export all of your recipes in one go by selecting the folders you want to export, right-click and select "Export Selected".

![Export recipes from Beersmith](/files/-Lus8_LC7dpUYCC_OJhG)

2\. Select **BeerXML** as the file type when saving the exported file

3\. In the Recipes page of Brewfather, click the import icon in the top right

![Click import on the recipes page](/files/-Lus9ECTrb2qPnGxXK38)

4\. Select BeerXML as import format

![Select BeerXML](/files/-Lus9Yz6Vub48BC2zf7u)

5\. Choose the BeerXML file you exported. It will then start importing all the recipes in the file. You will be prompted to add a tag to the imported recipes if there is more than one in the file.

### Importing from Other Software

The BeerXML format (.xml) is supported by most brewing applications. If you're migrating from Brewer's Friend, BrewTarget, BeerTools, or other software, look for an "Export as BeerXML" option in that application, then follow the same import steps above.

Brewfather also supports importing its own **Brewfather JSON** format, which preserves all Brewfather-specific data. This is useful for transferring recipes between Brewfather accounts or restoring from a backup.

## Organizing recipes in Brewfather

After import, you can organize your recipes using both **Recipe Folders** and **tags**:

* Use [Recipe Folders](/recipes/folders.md) to move imported recipes into a folder structure
* Use tags during import to label imported recipes by source, style, or migration batch
* If you prefer a tag-based workflow, you can still sort recipes by **First Tag** on the Recipes page

## Import troubleshooting checklist

If an import fails or keeps spinning:

1. Verify the file format is **BeerXML** or **Brewfather JSON**.
2. Re-export the file from the source app, then import again.
3. Try importing in the web app at [web.brewfather.app](https://web.brewfather.app) for clearer error feedback.
4. If the file still fails, open it in a text editor and check for obviously broken/empty fields.

### Common Grainfather BeerXML issue

Some Grainfather exports can contain invalid BeerXML values (for example batch size fields not matching BeerXML spec expectations). In that case, Brewfather import may fail or import incorrect values.

If that happens:

1. Re-export from Grainfather after verifying units/recipe settings.
2. Import again and verify batch size and gravity values.
3. If needed, correct the recipe values manually after import.

See also [FAQ: Import fails or keeps spinning](/faq.md#import-fails-or-keeps-spinning-what-should-i-check).

## Next Steps

* [Creating a New Recipe](/getting-started/creating-a-new-recipe.md) — Learn to build recipes from scratch in the Recipe Designer
* [Your First Batch](/getting-started/your-first-batch.md) — Start brewing with one of your imported recipes
* [Setting Up Your Equipment Profile](/getting-started/setting-up-your-equipment-profile.md) — Make sure your equipment is configured for accurate calculations with your imported recipes


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.brewfather.app/getting-started/import-recipes.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.