# Neo4j Desktop Can't export database

**URL:** <https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428>\
**Category:** Desktop\
**Tags:** windows, bug\
**Created:** [October 25, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428 "2021-10-25T20:19:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gsykes537](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/gsykes537/32/20607_2.png) [@gsykes537](https://community.neo4j.com/u/gsykes537)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/1 "2021-10-25T20:19:05Z")

</div>

Hi,

I'm trying to export a neo4j database to a .dump file but when I do so in the desktop app it tells me that its hit and error. The error logs show the following error:

```auto
[2021-10-25 20:47:26.545] [error] Selecting JVM - Version:11.0.8, Name:OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM, Vendor:Azul Systems, Inc.
Invalid value for option '--to': cannot convert 'C:\Users\gsyke\.Neo4jDesktop\relate-data\projects\project-45909243-b8de-4b60-9684-f6dcbbb1e1c7\main-neo4j-25-Oct-2021-20:47:22.dump' to interface java.nio.file.Path (java.nio.file.InvalidPathException: Illegal char <:> at index 120: C:\Users\gsyke\.Neo4jDesktop\relate-data\projects\project-45909243-b8de-4b60-9684-f6dcbbb1e1c7\main-neo4j-25-Oct-2021-20:47:22.dump)

```

OS: Windows 10 Home version 19043.1288  
Neo4j Desktop version: 1.4.9  
Neo4j database version: 4.3.1  
Neo4j Desktop log:  
GDS plugin installed version 1.6.1

Tried adding the log files as suggested in the template text but was told there was too many characters.

Thanks in advance!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dana\_canzano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/dana_canzano/32/27392_2.png) [@dana\_canzano](https://community.neo4j.com/u/dana_canzano)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/2 "2021-10-25T22:49:37Z")

</div>

@gsykes537

given the error reports

```auto
java.nio.file.InvalidPathException: Illegal char <:> at index 120: C:\Users\gsyke\.Neo4jDesktop\relate-data\projects\project-45909243-b8de-4b60-9684-f6dcbbb1e1c7\main-neo4j-25-Oct-2021-20:47:22.dump

```

if you remove the `:` from the file name are you able to export?  
Are you able to export if for example you simply attempt to export to a file named main-neo4j25OCT2021.dmp

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gsykes537](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/gsykes537/32/20607_2.png) [@gsykes537](https://community.neo4j.com/u/gsykes537)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 9:47am UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/3 "2021-10-26T09:47:35Z")

</div>

Hi,

I’m not running the tool from the command line and the desktop UI doesn’t let you define a file name its just auto generated.

 ![56BE59C4CD9848A9BFFECDD19CE8691A.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/uploads/neo4jcommunity/original/1X/677f06bdf711468707faf594c72c7993f90d2513.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sameer.gijare14](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/sameer.gijare14/32/11986_2.png) [@sameer.gijare14](https://community.neo4j.com/u/sameer.gijare14)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/4 "2021-10-26T12:41:02Z")

</div>

Hi (Hello) Gsykes537

There is a specific command which one can invoke on Neo4j aura console. Please refer to syntax of command neo4j-admin command for apt command line switches.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully  
Sameer G

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gsykes537](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/gsykes537/32/20607_2.png) [@gsykes537](https://community.neo4j.com/u/gsykes537)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/5 "2021-10-26T17:03:01Z")

</div>

Hi,

Currently I’m running the database locally not on aura. I want to convert the local database to one on Aura. I’m using the GUI tool to interact with the database and when I try using the neo4j-admin command on the windows command line it tells me that the commands not found. I’m on the community edition so I think it doesn’t come pre-installed.

Kind Regards

George (He/Him)

 ![56BE59C4CD9848A9BFFECDD19CE8691A.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/uploads/neo4jcommunity/original/1X/677f06bdf711468707faf594c72c7993f90d2513.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sameer.gijare14](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex021/user_avatar/community.neo4j.com/sameer.gijare14/32/11986_2.png) [@sameer.gijare14](https://community.neo4j.com/u/sameer.gijare14)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://community.neo4j.com/t/neo4j-desktop-cant-export-database/46428/6 "2021-10-28T03:48:25Z")

</div>

Hello

I think you need to install admin kit. Please look at the installation documents for proper guidance.

Thanking you  
Sameer Sudhir G