You can import Mural content to Miro in a PDF.
This article provides guidance for best results, explains how to import Mural content in a PDF, and describes the results you can expect for some Mural elements imported to Miro in a PDF.
Available on: Business, Education, Enterprise, and Starter
Who can do it: Users with edit access
The PDF import method is effective for functional content that copy-paste and API imports do not support.
The PDF importer analyses shapes and coordinates in the Mural PDF and attempts to reconstruct the original Mural layout. For example, intersecting lines may indicate a table.
Some objects appear differently in Miro, where precise styling may require manual adjustments or recreation. In general, the simpler the content the more accurate the import.
Mural import guidelines
The PDF import method is most effective with simple content that does not have a lot of styling. The PDF importer primarily matches shapes and lines.
✏️ To import to Miro, Mural content must be under a Full or Free Restricted license.
Clear spacing between elements enables the importer to parse content most accurately. A Mural board with dozens of elements crowded together may have mixed results.
For highest fidelity, ensure that your Mural content does not contain the following attributes:
- Custom fonts
- Styling that transforms shapes like rounded corners and bent arrows
- Overlapping shapes and lines
- Rotated elements
💡 If you need to preserve styling or exact coordinates, the only reliable method is to import the content as a static image.
How to import Mural boards to Miro as PDFs
The following procedure explains how to import Mural content to Miro as PDF documents.
Ensure that you complete the following prerequisites:
- You have edit access to the target board in Mural, and the destination board in Miro.
- Ensure that you download your Mural files as PDF.
More information: See (external) Export and download your mural's content.
Follow these steps:
- On the Miro dashboard, in the upper-right select + Create new.
- Select Import, then select Import from Mural.
The Import boards from Mural modal opens. - Follow the on-screen instructions.
You can optionally add your imported content to a Miro Space. If you do not specify a Space, then the content is added to your team. - Select Import boards.
The import starts. When the import completes, you will get a notification by email.
You have successfully imported Mural content to Miro.
Importing Mural objects to Miro
Mural objects import to Miro with some variation for styling and formatting. This section describes the expected results for some objects, and some best practices.
Areas
The outermost area imports as a Miro frame. The other areas are imported as shapes.
✏️ Nested areas may be incorrectly identified. The PDF importer uses visual coordinates to identify parent-child relationships of widgets.
Connectors
The PDF importer recognizes only solid connectors.
If a connector includes text, then the PDF importer effectively "breaks" the line into two separate lines.
A connector with text that the PDF importer "breaks" into two lines.
Draw
Drawings import as lines.
For complex drawings, the PDF importer will sometimes link the drawings to overlapping or nearby objects, for example as connectors.
A drawing may import as linked to a nearby or overlapping object.
GIF
The PDF importer recognizes GIFs as static images.
✏️ The PDF format does not support GIFs.
Images
Images import as images. Position on the board may change due to different coordinate systems.
Lists
Lists import as lists. For best results, ensure you import lists that have default markers.
A numbered list and bulleted list with default markers, numerals and bullets respectively.
Mindmap
The PDF import method works best for mind maps with a single root and visible borders on all nodes.
A basic mind map is easier to import as PDF
The PDF importer has difficulty parsing mind maps because mind maps tend to have many lines close to each other. If your PDF mind map is poorly imported, try to copy-paste the mind map instead. The copy-paste method may require manual adjustment to styling and scale, but the result overall will be higher fidelity.
Shapes
The PDF importer imports only basic shapes as editable content.
Only basic shapes import as editable content
Advanced or rotated shapes may import as static images.
Sticky notes
Sticky notes import as sticky notes. The default ratio of 3x3 or 5x3 ensures the highest fidelity.
Sticky notes with the default size can be easily imported
✏️ Round sticky notes import as shapes. Miro does not support round sticky notes.
Overlapping and rotated sticky notes may not import with high fidelity.
Import results vary for rotated sticky notes, and sticky notes that overlap.
Tables
The PDF importer imports simple tables with high fidelity.
Tables with complex geometry may import as disconnected lines. For best results, ensure the tables you import do not have the following attributes:
- Merged cells
- Invisible borders
- Rounded corners
Complex tables do not import with high fidelity.
Text
Text imports as text in a single block. For highest fidelity, import text with default fonts and margins.
✏️ Font size may vary after import.
The PDF importer may separate text that uses custom fonts or complex styling.