Exporting and importing identities

This section describes how to export identities from the iov42 Identity Manager and how to import identities into it.

The iov42 Identity Manager allows users to both export and import iov42 digital identities.

Export functionality is useful when you want to download your identity(-s) from the iov42 Identity Manager to either import (upload) them to another instance of the iov42 Identity Manager (e.g. on your other device) or you want to store them as a backup in some other storage (e.g. on your local drive, in the cloud, on an external disk, etc.).

Import functionality is used when you want to upload existing identities (that have been created in another instance of the iov42 Identity Manager, or by some other means) to the iov42 Indentity Manager.

We will explore both options in the sections below.

Exporting identities

We highly recommend that you export all of your identities on a frequent basis to ensure that you have them available outside of the iov42 Identity Manager in case: - You delete the iov42 Identity Manager from your browser; - Your device gets damaged or stolen; - You forget the password you have set for the iov42 Identity Manager;

The iov42 Identity Manager allows you to either export all of the identities stored in it, or to export one particular identity.

Exporting all identities from the iov42 Identity Manager

Step 1

In order to export all of the identities from the iov42 Identity Manager, you have to click the "Export identities" button on the main window:

Step 2

You will then be presented with a choice to either export them in an encrypted or unencrypted form:

Encrypted means that the contents of the file with the identities will be encrypted with your current password. Therefore, in order to import these identities back into the iov42 Identity Manager, you will have to enter this password. This is a more secure option as compared to the second option (unencrypted), as it prevents others from reading your identity information without havign the password.

Unencrypted means that the contents of the file with the identities will not be encrypted and, therefore, the identity data will be accessible by anyone who gets hold of the file. We recommend that you use this option only when you are sure that the location where you will store it is secured from unauthorised access.

After selecting an option, enter your current password and click "Export".

This will download a json file with all your identities in it. You can now store this file wherever you choose and it can be later used for import.

Exporting a particular identity

If you do not wish to export all of your identities, but only one particular, you can simply navigate to the identity information by clicking on the "View details" button:

Once on the identity information window, click on the "Export" button and go through the same procedure as with exporting all of the identities.

Importing identities

Users can import existing identities into the iov42 Identity Manager.

To do this, click on the "Import" button on the main window of the iov42 Identity Manager:

Select the file containing the iov42 digital identities after which, if the file has been encrypted, you will be asked to enter a password:

After you enter the correct password, the identities will show up in the main window of the extension.