> 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.

For Hermes, prefer [Create and Restore Snapshots](create-and-restore-snapshots) for a faithful `state.db` restore.
Use manual download and upload only when you need to inspect or transfer a specific file.

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

openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/SOUL.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.hermes/state.db "$BACKUP_DIR/"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.hermes/dashboard-home/MEMORY.md "$BACKUP_DIR/dashboard-home/MEMORY.md"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.hermes/dashboard-home/USER.md "$BACKUP_DIR/dashboard-home/USER.md"
openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.hermes/platforms/ "$BACKUP_DIR/platforms/"
```

Copy only the dashboard profile's `MEMORY.md` and `USER.md` files.
Do not copy `.hermes/dashboard-home/.env` or `.hermes/dashboard-home/config.yaml`.
NemoClaw regenerates both files, and `.env` contains dashboard authentication material.

## Upload State

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

For Hermes, prefer [Create and Restore Snapshots](create-and-restore-snapshots) for a faithful `state.db` restore.
Use manual download and upload only when you need to inspect or transfer a specific file.

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

openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/SOUL.md" /sandbox/
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/state.db" /sandbox/.hermes/
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/dashboard-home/MEMORY.md" /sandbox/.hermes/dashboard-home/MEMORY.md
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/dashboard-home/USER.md" /sandbox/.hermes/dashboard-home/USER.md
openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/platforms/" /sandbox/.hermes/platforms/
```

## 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.