Import & Export

WeakAuras provides powerful import/export functionality to share your auras with others or move them between characters.

Exporting Auras

Basic Export

Open WeakAuras

Type /wa or click the minimap icon

Select the Aura

Click on the aura or group you want to export

Click Export

Click the export button (📋 icon) in the interface

Copy the String

WeakAuras will generate an encoded string. Press Ctrl+C to copy it to your clipboard.

What Gets Exported

When you export an aura, the following is included:

Display Configuration

Visual settings (size, position, colors)
Textures and icons
Animation settings
Font choices

Trigger Settings

All trigger configurations
Multiple trigger logic
Custom trigger code

Load Conditions

Class/spec requirements
Zone restrictions
Combat state conditions

Actions & Custom Code

On Init/Show/Hide actions
Custom Lua code
Sound effects

Groups & Children

When exporting a group, all child auras are included automatically.

Not Exported:

Character-specific settings
Position of auras if you want recipients to reposition them
WeakAuras Companion sync data
Saved variables from aura_env.saved (unless specifically configured)

Export Format

WeakAuras uses a compressed and encoded format:

!WA:2!...encoded string...

The format includes:

Version identifier (!WA:2!)
LibDeflate compression for size efficiency
Base64 encoding for safe transmission
Serialized Lua table data

Importing Auras

Basic Import

Copy the Import String

Get the WeakAuras string from a friend, website, or your notes

Open WeakAuras

Type /wa to open the interface

Click Import

Click the “Import” button (or press Ctrl+V if string is in clipboard)

Paste the String

Paste the import string into the text field

Review & Import

WeakAuras will show a preview. Click “Import” to confirm

Import Dialog

The import dialog shows:

Aura Name: The name of the imported aura
Author: Who created it (if available)
Description: What the aura does
Version: WeakAuras version used to create it
Preview: Visual preview of the aura
Custom Code Warning: Alert if the aura contains Lua code

Security Notice: Imported auras may contain custom Lua code. Only import auras from trusted sources. Review any custom code before importing.

Handling Import Conflicts

If you already have an aura with the same name:

Update Existing
Keep Both
Cancel

Replaces your current version with the imported one. Your customizations will be lost.

Copy/Paste

The simplest method:

Export the aura
Share the string via:
- Discord
- Pastebin
- Google Docs
- In-game chat (for small auras)

For long strings, use a service like Pastebin instead of pasting directly in chat.

Wago.io

The premier sharing platform for WeakAuras:

Upload

Uploading to Wago.io:

Visit wago.io
Create an account
Click “Import String” and paste your export
Add description, screenshots, and tags
Publish for others to use

Download

Installing from Wago.io:

Find the aura on wago.io
Click “Copy Import String”
Import in WeakAuras as normal
Or use WeakAuras Companion app for one-click install

WeakAuras Companion

The WeakAuras Companion app provides:

One-click updates from Wago.io
Automatic update notifications
Bulk import/update operations
Collection management

Share directly with other players:

Create a Chat Link

Select your aura and click the “Link” button

Share in Chat

Post the link in guild chat, party, raid, or whisper

Recipient Clicks Link

Other players click the link to request the aura

Automatic Transfer

WeakAuras sends the aura data directly to the player

In-game sharing only works with players in your party, raid, or guild. For strangers, use export strings instead.

Advanced Import/Export

Transmission.lua

The import/export system is implemented in WeakAuras/Transmission.lua:

-- Key functions from Transmission.lua

-- Convert display to export string
DisplayToString(id, forChat)

-- Import aura from string
Import(str, target)

-- Encode table to string
TableToString(inTable, forChat)

-- Decode string to table
StringToTable(inString, fromChat)

Export String Format

The technical format:

Serialization: Lua table → LibSerialize
Compression: LibDeflate with level 9 compression
Encoding: Base64 for safe text transmission
Prefix: !WA:2! version identifier

-- Simplified export process
local serialized = LibSerialize:SerializeEx(config, auraData)
local compressed = LibDeflate:CompressDeflate(serialized, {level = 9})
local encoded = "!WA:2!" .. LibDeflate:EncodeForPrint(compressed)

Import Versions

WeakAuras supports multiple import versions:

Version 0: Legacy format (simple Base64)
Version 1: Base64 with LibDeflate compression (!...)
Version 2+: Modern format (!WA:2!...)

The import system automatically detects and handles all formats.

Custom Data Handling

Some data is stripped during export for security:

-- Non-transmissable fields (from Transmission.lua)
local non_transmissable_fields = {
  -- Character-specific data
  frameStrata = true,
  anchorFrameType = true,
  
  -- Unused custom trigger fields
  custom = true,      -- if trigger type is not "custom"
  customDuration = true,
  customIcon = true,
  
  -- Internal state
  information = {
    saved = true      -- aura_env.saved data
  }
}

Programmatic Import

Import auras via Lua:

-- Import from string
local success, error = WeakAuras.Import(importString)

if success then
  print("Aura imported successfully")
else
  print("Import failed:", error)
end

-- Update existing aura
local targetData = WeakAuras.GetData("ExistingAuraID")
WeakAuras.Import(importString, targetData)

Best Practices

Document Your Auras

Add descriptions and notes explaining what the aura does and how to use it.

Test Before Sharing

Thoroughly test auras before sharing to ensure they work correctly.

Include Load Conditions

Set appropriate load conditions so the aura only loads when needed.

Comment Custom Code

Document any Lua code with clear comments explaining the logic.

Version Your Auras

Include version numbers or dates in the aura name or notes.

Credit Sources

If you modified someone else’s aura, credit the original author.

Troubleshooting

Import String Not Working

Possible causes:

Incomplete copy (missing beginning or end)
Text editor modified the string (added line breaks)
WeakAuras version too old

Solutions:

Ensure you copied the entire string including !WA:2!
Use a plain text editor, not Word or rich text
Update WeakAuras to the latest version

Error Decoding/Decompressing

Possible causes:

Corrupted import string
String was modified
Clipboard issue

Solutions:

Request a fresh export from the source
Try copying again
Check for special characters that got mangled

Aura Not Showing After Import

Check these:

Load conditions (class, spec, zone)
Trigger conditions might not be met
Aura might be positioned off-screen
Combat requirements

Solutions:

Review load conditions in the Load tab
Test the trigger condition
Reset position to screen center

Custom Code Warning

WeakAuras warns when importing auras with custom Lua code.What to do:

Only import from trusted sources
Review the custom code before importing
Check for suspicious functions (file access, addon messages)
Ask the community if unsure

Next Steps

Creating Auras

Learn to create your own auras

WeakAuras Companion

Automate imports from Wago.io

Lua Scripting

Add custom functionality

Creating Auras

Advanced

Extensions

Exporting Auras

Basic Export

What Gets Exported

Export Format

Importing Auras

Basic Import

Import Dialog

Handling Import Conflicts

Copy/Paste

Wago.io

Upload

Download

WeakAuras Companion

Advanced Import/Export

Transmission.lua

Export String Format

Import Versions

Custom Data Handling

Programmatic Import

Best Practices

Document Your Auras

Test Before Sharing

Include Load Conditions

Comment Custom Code

Version Your Auras

Credit Sources

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Creating Auras

WeakAuras Companion

Lua Scripting

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Creating Auras

Advanced

Extensions

​Exporting Auras

​Basic Export

​What Gets Exported

​Export Format

​Importing Auras

​Basic Import

​Import Dialog

​Handling Import Conflicts

​Sharing Methods

​Copy/Paste

​Wago.io

Upload

Download

​WeakAuras Companion

​In-Game Sharing

​Advanced Import/Export

​Transmission.lua

​Export String Format

​Import Versions

​Custom Data Handling

​Programmatic Import

​Best Practices

Document Your Auras

Test Before Sharing

Include Load Conditions

Comment Custom Code

Version Your Auras

Credit Sources

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Creating Auras

WeakAuras Companion

Lua Scripting

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Exporting Auras

Basic Export

What Gets Exported

Export Format

Importing Auras

Basic Import

Import Dialog

Handling Import Conflicts

Sharing Methods

Copy/Paste

Wago.io

WeakAuras Companion

In-Game Sharing

Advanced Import/Export

Transmission.lua

Export String Format

Import Versions

Custom Data Handling

Programmatic Import

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps