> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rxresu.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Importing resumes

> Learn which file formats Reactive Resume can import and how to import an existing resume from the dashboard.

Reactive Resume can create a new resume from several existing file formats. Use import when you are moving from another tool, restoring a backup, or converting an older Reactive Resume file.

## Supported import formats

| Format                        | Requires AI integration? | Notes                                                                                            |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Reactive Resume (JSON)**    | No                       | Best option for backups exported from the current version of Reactive Resume.                    |
| **Reactive Resume v4 (JSON)** | No                       | Use this for files exported from Reactive Resume v4.                                             |
| **JSON Resume**               | No                       | Use this for files that follow the JSON Resume schema.                                           |
| **PDF**                       | Yes                      | Reactive Resume asks your configured AI provider to parse the file into structured resume data.  |
| **Microsoft Word**            | Yes                      | Supports Word documents. Reactive Resume asks your configured AI provider to parse the document. |

<Info>
  PDF and Word imports depend on your AI settings because those formats are not structured resume data. Configure AI in
  **Dashboard -> Settings -> Integrations** before using those import types.
</Info>

## Import a resume

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Resumes dashboard">
    Sign in and go to **Dashboard -> Resumes**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Import an existing resume">
    Select the **Import an existing resume** card.

    <Frame caption="Import an existing resume dialog">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/reactiveresume/J8PgHR7oRASOuyf1/images/guides/importing-resumes/screenshot-1.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=J8PgHR7oRASOuyf1&q=85&s=c7508336a3bdd2d16e4999655a7778a5" alt="Import dialog showing supported resume import types" width="1107" height="1044" data-path="images/guides/importing-resumes/screenshot-1.webp" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the import type">
    Pick the format that matches your file.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the file">
    Click the file selector and choose the resume file from your computer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Import">
    Click **Import**. Reactive Resume creates a new resume and opens it in the builder when the import succeeds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Choose the right import type

If you have a file exported from Reactive Resume, choose **Reactive Resume (JSON)**. This preserves the most information because the file already matches Reactive Resume's data model.

If you are coming from Reactive Resume v4, choose **Reactive Resume v4 (JSON)**.

If your file is a standard JSON Resume document, choose **JSON Resume**.

If you only have a PDF or Word document, choose **PDF** or **Microsoft Word**. After import, review every section carefully. AI parsing can save time, but it can also miss details, change wording, or place content in the wrong section.

<Warning>
  Always review an imported resume before sharing or exporting it. This is especially important for PDF and Word imports.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

### The PDF or Word import says AI must be enabled

Open **Dashboard -> Settings -> Integrations**, fill in your AI provider settings, test the connection, and enable AI features.

### The imported resume is incomplete

Try importing a cleaner source file. Simple resumes with selectable text import more reliably than scanned documents, image-heavy PDFs, or files with complex tables.

### The JSON file is rejected

Make sure you selected the correct JSON import type. A Reactive Resume JSON export, a Reactive Resume v4 JSON export, and a JSON Resume file are different formats.