# Move from Wave (or QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, Sage)

> Bring your history in from one CSV of journal lines, with your customers and vendors and Wave's receipt files. It runs in your browser, can be undone, and the file is never stored.

Category: Getting started · Web page: https://bookalyze.com/guides/move-from-wave

## Export from your old software

Bookalyze reads one file of journal lines: one row per line of each transaction. The import wizard shows the export steps for Wave, QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books and Sage, and works with any other program that can export the same.

> **Tip:** From Wave: Settings → Data export → Accounting transactions (CSV).

## Import

**Where in Bookalyze:** Accounting → Import (owners and admins)

1. **Choose the program and the file.** The file is read in your browser; nothing is uploaded until you confirm.
2. **Check the columns.** Bookalyze guesses the date, account, debit and credit (or amount) columns, with a live preview.
3. **Match the accounts.** Each old account is matched to yours by code or name, or created with the right type.
4. **Review and import.** Rows that don't balance or have a bad date are listed with their line numbers and left out. Dates in a closed period are blocked, and you're warned if the books already have entries in those dates.

On the review step, add Wave's customer and vendor lists too: emails, phones and addresses fill in the contacts (bank account numbers are never read).

## Receipts from Wave

Wave exports receipts as files named like **2026-03-14-Office_Depot.pdf**. Upload them on the Import page: each is attached to the transaction within 3 days that best matches the name. Anything unclear goes to the Receipts inbox, so nothing is attached to the wrong line.

## Import twice, or undo

- Importing the same file again only adds what's new.
- **Undo** on the import list removes that import's entries, and its accounts and contacts if nothing else uses them.
- Undo is refused if an imported entry was edited since, or falls in a closed period.

## Not yet

- Amounts are taken in your main currency (Wave exports converted amounts).
- Wave's separate bills file isn't read; bills reach the books through the transactions file.

## What you should see

What you should see:
- [ ] The import list shows the batch with how many entries it added
- [ ] Accounting → Reports → Trial balance agrees with your old software's for the same date
- [ ] Matched receipts show a file icon on their transactions

## Related guides

- [Transactions: review, categorise, split, copy, remove](https://bookalyze.com/guides/transactions.md): Every line that moves money in or out of a bank, card or cash account, in one list. Categorise straight on the list, split across categories, copy one that repeats, and tick it reviewed.
- [Receipts: upload, email in, attach](https://bookalyze.com/guides/receipts.md): Drop receipts into the inbox, or email them to your company's receipts address, then attach each to its transaction. PDFs and photos up to 20 MB.
- [Your chart of accounts](https://bookalyze.com/guides/chart-of-accounts.md): Every company starts with a ready-made chart. Add, rename and archive accounts; Bookalyze adds the marketplace accounts it needs when you set up posting.