How to Export or Back Up Your Distill.io Monitors

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to export or back up your Distill.io web monitors, so you have a safe copy of your configuration. You’ll learn the exact steps to download your monitor list, and how to restore it if you ever need to. No special tools are needed—just your Distill.io account and a browser.

What You’ll Need

A Distill.io account with at least one monitor set up.
Access to the email address associated with your Distill.io account (for verification if needed).
A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge).

Step-by-Step

Log in to Distill.io. Go to distill.io and sign in with your credentials. If you use a browser extension, you can also open the extension popup and click the gear icon to access the web dashboard.
Navigate to the Monitors page. After logging in, you’ll land on the dashboard. In the left sidebar, click Monitors. This shows a list of all your active and paused monitors.
Open the export menu. Look for a button or icon labeled Export or a download icon (usually an arrow pointing down into a tray). It’s typically located near the top-right of the monitors list, next to the “Add Monitor” button. If you don’t see it, click the three-dot menu (⋯) in that area.
Choose the export format. Distill.io offers two formats: CSV and JSON. CSV is good for spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets). JSON is better for backups because it preserves all settings, including custom schedules and selectors. For a full backup, choose JSON.
Click Export. Your browser will download a file named something like distill-monitors-YYYY-MM-DD.json or monitors.csv. Save it to a safe location, preferably an external drive or cloud storage.
Verify the download. Open the downloaded file with a text editor (like Notepad or TextEdit) to confirm it contains your monitor data. You should see monitor names, URLs, and other settings in a structured format.
Optional: Import the backup. To restore later, go back to the Monitors page, click the Import button (usually next to Export), select your JSON file, and follow the prompts. You may need to confirm each monitor or adjust settings.

Common Mistakes

Choosing CSV when you need full settings. CSV only exports basic fields like monitor name and URL. If you want to restore everything, use JSON.
Forgetting to include paused monitors. The export includes all monitors by default, but if you have filters applied, make sure you clear them before exporting.
Overwriting your backup. If you export multiple times, the file name may be the same. Save each version with a different name or date to avoid losing older backups.
Not testing the import. After exporting, try importing into a test account or a second profile to ensure the file is valid.

Tips

Set a reminder. Export your monitors monthly or after major changes to keep your backup current.
Store backups securely. Use encrypted cloud storage or a password manager that supports file attachments.
Use the API for automation. If you’re technical, Distill.io has an API that allows you to fetch monitor data programmatically. This can be scripted to create regular backups.
Keep a copy of your custom CSS selectors. If you use advanced selectors, they are included in the JSON export, so you won’t lose them.

Troubleshooting

Export button is missing or greyed out. This can happen if you’re on a free plan that doesn’t include export features. Check your plan details. If you’re on a paid plan, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.

The downloaded file is empty or contains only headers. This usually means you have no monitors, or the export didn’t process correctly. Go back to the Monitors page, confirm you have monitors listed, and try again. If the issue persists, try a different browser.

Import fails with an error. The most common cause is a corrupted or modified JSON file. Ensure you haven’t edited the file manually. Also, check that the file extension is .json and not .txt. If you’re importing into a different account, make sure that account has the same plan or higher.

I can’t find the export option on mobile. The mobile web version may not show the export button. Use a desktop browser instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the export include my monitor’s history or alerts?
A: No, the export only contains the monitor configuration (URL, selectors, schedule, etc.). It does not include change history or alert logs.

Q: Can I export a single monitor instead of all?
A: There’s no built-in way to export just one monitor. You can export all and then delete the ones you don’t need from the file, but be careful not to corrupt the JSON structure.

Q: Will importing my backup overwrite existing monitors?
A: It depends on the import options. Distill.io usually asks whether to merge or replace. If you choose replace, existing monitors with the same names may be overwritten. Always test on a dummy account first.

Q: Is the export available on the free plan?
A: Export functionality may be limited to paid plans. Check the Distill.io pricing page for the latest feature list.

Q: How often should I back up?
A: At least once a month, or after making significant changes to your monitors.

Q: Can I use the CSV file to import into another tool?
A: Yes, CSV is useful for spreadsheets, but it won’t preserve all settings. For full fidelity, use JSON.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.