> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.nvidia.com/nemoclaw/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.nvidia.com/nemoclaw/_mcp/server.

# Transfer State Manually

> Download and upload selected sandbox state files when a managed snapshot is not the right transfer path.

Use manual transfer when you need to inspect or move specific state files.
Use [Create and Restore Snapshots](create-and-restore-snapshots) for normal backup, rebuild, and restore workflows.

## Download State

Use `openshell sandbox download` to copy files from the sandbox to your host.

```bash
SANDBOX=my-deepagents
BACKUP_DIR=~/.nemoclaw/backups/$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.deepagents/config.toml "$BACKUP_DIR/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/AGENTS.md "$BACKUP_DIR/agent/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/memories/ "$BACKUP_DIR/agent/memories/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.deepagents/skills/ "$BACKUP_DIR/skills/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/skills/ "$BACKUP_DIR/agent-skills/"
```

Do not recursively download `/sandbox/.deepagents/.state/`.
That directory can contain upstream credential state such as `auth.json` and `chatgpt-auth.json`, which can copy secrets to the host and restore state that the managed launcher refuses.
Use `nemo-deepagents <name> snapshot create` when you need NemoClaw's built-in sanitizer for Deep Agents runtime state.

## Upload State

Use `openshell sandbox upload` to push files back into a sandbox.

```bash
SANDBOX=my-deepagents
BACKUP_DIR=~/.nemoclaw/backups/20260320-120000  # pick a timestamp

openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/agent/AGENTS.md" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/agent/memories/" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/memories/
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/skills/" /sandbox/.deepagents/skills/
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/agent-skills/" /sandbox/.deepagents/agent/skills/
```

Do not upload saved `.deepagents/.state` contents during manual restore.
Restore safe Deep Agents files only, then run the managed rebuild or onboarding flow so NemoClaw regenerates route metadata, managed MCP projection state, and credential handling from host-side state.

Treat downloaded `config.toml` as inspection context.
Do not upload an old `config.toml` over a rebuilt sandbox unless you are intentionally replacing NemoClaw's generated route metadata.

## Related Topics

* [Understand Sandbox State](understand-sandbox-state) for agent-specific paths and persistence rules.
* [Create and Restore Snapshots](create-and-restore-snapshots) for managed restore and clone operations.
* [CLI Selection Guide](../../reference/cli-selection-guide) for NemoClaw and OpenShell command boundaries.