# Migrate user custom fields to another instance

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/migrate-user-custom-fields-to-another-instance/193460
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [June 10, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/migrate-user-custom-fields-to-another-instance/193460 "2021-06-10T23:05:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![nathank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/nathank/32/290039_2.png) [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2021, 11:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/migrate-user-custom-fields-to-another-instance/193460/1 "2021-06-10T23:05:25Z")

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Hi,

I’m about to embark on a migration of a complex category and associated subcategories from one self-hosted Discourse instance to another. What is the best way to move over data stored in User Customised Fields?

I still haven’t decided which tool to use:

1. [Move topics from one Discourse instance to another](https://meta.discourse.org/t/topic-and-category-export-import/38930)
2. [Merge two Discourse sites into one](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-merge-two-discourse-sites/95435)

The first looks much easier but will result in the loss of a lot of richness / PMs, etc. And I’ve got no idea what will happen to UCFs with either - are the ‘donor’ ones preserved in a merger?

Thanks for your help and advice!