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Share Containers – Export and Import Google Tag Manager Containers

Objective

To export your Google Tag Manager (GTM) container (tags, triggers, variables, etc.) from one workspace and import it into another GTM container — helpful in sharing setups across teams, clients, or environments (e.g., staging → production).

Part 1: Export a GTM Container

Step 1: Open the Container You Want to Export

  1. Go to Google Tag Manager
  2. Select the GTM account and container you want to share
  3. In the left sidebar, click on “Admin”

Step 2: Export the Container

  1. In the Container column, click on “Export Container”
  2. Choose the container version:
    • Check Latest workspace changes
    • Or choose a specific published version
  3. Click Export
  4. A .json file will be downloaded to your computer

This file contains all tags, triggers, variables, and built-in settings.

Part 2: Import a GTM Container into Another Account

Step 3: Open the Target Container

  1. Go to GTM
  2. Open the destination GTM container where you want to import the file
  3. In the left sidebar, click Admin

Step 4: Import the Container

  1. In the Container column, click “Import Container”
  2. Click “Choose Container File”
  3. Select the .json file you previously exported

Step 5: Choose Import Settings

You now have two import options:

OptionDescription
OverwriteReplaced everything in the current workspace with the imported container
MergeAdds the imported tags/triggers/variables without deleting the existing ones

Recommended: Use Merge to avoid losing current work unless you’re setting up a fresh container.

  1. GTM will show a summary of what will be added/changed
  2. Review everything carefully
  3. Click Confirm

Step 6: Preview & Test

  1. After importing, go to Workspace
  2. Use Preview Mode to test all imported tags and triggers
  3. Verify that everything is firing correctly before publishing

Step 7: Publish Your Imported Container (Optional)

Once everything looks good:

  1. Click Submit
  2. Add a version name and description
  3. Click Publish

Note

  • Always back up your existing container before importing (via Export)
  • You can edit the JSON file before importing if you want to customize tags or variables
  • Great for templating setups across multiple projects or client websites

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