# Before Importing to SIMKL Before you begin importing your data from Trakt, AniList, Letterboxd, TV Time, or any other platform, it’s worth spending a few minutes preparing your SIMKL account. A clean, well-prepared import ensures your history, rating, reviews is accurate, duplicates are minimized, and your future auto-sync runs smoothly. Whether this is your first import or you’re refreshing your watchlists, these essential tips will help you get the best results and keep your SIMKL profile perfectly organized. *** ## 1. Always Create a Backup Before your first import, always **backup** of your entire SIMKL watchlist and history. This serves as your recovery file, if anything goes wrong or you ever want to revert changes, you can restore from it anytime. You can also manually download a backup anytime at {% content-ref url="/pages/nq0AjP6aRnlnn8kwXsWQ" %} [Export Options](/how-to-use-simkl/advanced-usage/import-export-data/exporting-from-simkl/export-options.md) {% endcontent-ref %} > 💡 Always back up before major imports or clean-ups. It takes seconds, but saves hours of recovery later. *** ## 2. Clean Duplicates or Incorrect Titles After importing, if you notice duplicates or mismatched entries, use **Settings → Login → Clean or Delete**. This tool helps remove bad imports or merged entries, keeping your data tidy and accurate. Regularly cleaning ensures your watchlists, stats, and recommendations remain reliable. > Here: {% content-ref url="/pages/Slp2fEknNJrGZVghwSHv" %} [Simkl Account Cleanup & Deletion](/how-to-use-simkl/getting-started-with-simkl/account-creation/basic-account-setup/login-and-password-settings/simkl-account-cleanup-and-deletion.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## 3. Choose the Right Import Option Each service offers multiple modes such as “Skip existing,” “Add missing,” or “Replace with Trakt data.” If you’re unsure, choose **Add Missing Watches,** it’s the safest option that updates your SIMKL history without overwriting progress. {% content-ref url="/pages/zUYlrklE9YmC14RL8MhJ" %} [Trakt](/how-to-use-simkl/advanced-usage/import-export-data/importing-to-simkl/supported-platforms/trakt.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/FOOK4bRC6BwpTy6OnMmL" %} [MyAnimeList](/how-to-use-simkl/advanced-usage/import-export-data/importing-to-simkl/supported-platforms/myanimelist.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## 4. Use Auto Import (VIP) for Effortless Syncing SIMKL members can enable **Auto Import** to keep their watch history, ratings, and watchlists constantly updated, automatically and securely in the background. You can choose how often SIMKL syncs your data — **hourly, every 12 hours, daily, or weekly** — depending on your preference on few selective import methods. #### Supported Auto Import Platforms Auto Import is currently available for: * **Trakt** – Automatically syncs your watched, rated, and watchlist activity from Trakt → SIMKL. * **MyAnimeList (MAL)** – Two-way sync; your anime progress and ratings stay consistent between both platforms. * **Netflix** – Track your recently watched movies and shows from your Netflix account into SIMKL. * **Crunchyroll** – Keep your anime watch progress up-to-date with automatic imports from Crunchyroll. * **3rd-Party Developer Add-ons (via SIMKL API)** – Several community apps use the SIMKL API for automatic updates, extending Auto Import to more platforms and devices. *** ## 5. Understand Sync Direction: Trakt vs MyAnimeList Not all integrations work the same way: here’s what you need to know about how your data flows between platforms and SIMKL: **Trakt → SIMKL (One-Way Sync)** * Data only flows **from Trakt into SIMKL**. * This means when you watch or rate something on Trakt (or any Trakt-compatible app like Infuse or Plex), it will sync to SIMKL. * However, any updates made **inside SIMKL** will *not* sync back to Trakt. {% content-ref url="/pages/rfL9wFhFVRPj4lu5oSHh" %} [Trakt](/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/watchlists-and-custom-lists/custom-lists/creating-and-managing-custom-lists/importing-custom-lists/trakt.md) {% endcontent-ref %} **MyAnimeList ↔ SIMKL (Two-Way Sync)** * MyAnimeList supports **bi-directional syncing** with SIMKL. * Your anime progress, ratings, and watchlist changes are synced both ways, whether you update them on SIMKL or directly on MyAnimeList. * This ensures both accounts always stay perfectly in sync. {% content-ref url="/pages/9ieiowAoIgCRH9WFJnHS" %} [MyAnimeList](/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/watchlists-and-custom-lists/custom-lists/creating-and-managing-custom-lists/importing-custom-lists/myanimelist.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## 6. Join the SIMKL Discord Community If you need help, guidance, or just want to connect with other SIMKL users, join the official Discord community. You’ll find tutorials, troubleshooting help, and quick responses from the team and power users alike. > Whether you’re fixing duplicates or exploring new import features, the community’s got your back! {% content-ref url="/pages/bkA5mhcTMKjTmx8e8B0d" %} [How do I contact support?](/how-to-use-simkl/get-in-touch-with-us/how-do-i-contact-support.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## 7. Track Import Progress * Large imports (especially Trakt or TV Time) can take a few minutes. * Monitor your progress inside **Apps → Import** to confirm when it’s complete. * Avoid running multiple imports simultaneously for best performance. *** ## 8. Verify Imported Titles After completion, review your **Recently Watched** section to make sure everything looks right.\ If you spot missing episodes or incorrect data, rerun “Add Missing Watches” it’s safe and non-destructive. *** ## 9. Keep Your Accounts Connected If you change your Trakt or Letterboxd password or revoke app permissions, reconnect them via **Apps → Import → \[Platform] → Connect**. Keeping your accounts linked ensures smooth auto-import operation. {% content-ref url="/pages/6p3UrFWKCyHrOYgmv1qk" %} [Managing Connected Services](/how-to-use-simkl/account-and-billing/account-management/managing-connected-services.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## 10. Explore SIMKL Power Tools Enhance your experience with tools like: * **Export / CSV tools** – download or analyze your data. * **Smart Lists & Clipboard Import** – create curated collections. * **Ranked Lists & Watch Stats** – visualize your viewing habits. These tools help you take full advantage of your imported data. {% content-ref url="/pages/RvPmkFKpKrZwqGeTwZKt" %} [Clipboard Feature](/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/quick-sharing/clipboard-feature.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## (Bonus) 11. Import in the Right Order If you’re importing from multiple platforms (e.g., Trakt, Letterboxd, AniList), do them **one at a time**.\ Verify and clean after each import before starting the next to avoid overlapping or duplicate entries. *** Importing your history into SIMKL is more than just transferring data, it’s about building your personal entertainment archive. A bit of preparation ensures your profile stays clean, accurate, and truly reflective of your viewing journey. With regular backups, mindful importing, and the help of the SIMKL community, you can enjoy seamless tracking across all your favorite platforms — effortlessly and safely. --- # 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.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/advanced-usage/import-export-data/importing-to-simkl/other-import-method/before-importing-to-simkl.md?ask= ``` 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.