How to export your data from FL Studio

FL Studio isn't a cloud SaaS with a workspace export — your project data lives locally as .flp (raw project) or .zip (zipped loop package with samples bundled) files, plus audio renders to .wav, .mp3, .ogg, .flac or .m4a and MIDI note data to .mid, all via File > Save / File > Export.

Formats: FLP (native project), ZIP (zipped loop package), WAV, MP3, OGG, FLAC, M4A, MIDI (.mid)Plan: Any FL Studio edition (some editions restrict which project features/plugins can be opened later)Role: None — single-user desktop app, no admin/owner roles

✓ Verified against FL Studio's official documentation, September 2026

Step by step

1Open the project you want to export in FL Studio.
2To get a portable copy of the full project with samples: go to FILE > Export and choose 'zipped loop package' — this packs all samples together with the project into a .zip that can be opened directly from the FL Studio File menu without extracting.
3If you saved into a project data folder instead, open Project general settings and select 'copy used samples to the project folder', then send the entire project data folder rather than just the .flp file.
4To render your song/mix to a standalone audio file, use FILE > Export and pick .wav, .mp3, .ogg, .flac or .m4a — this is a non-real-time 'rendering' process; by default only the Master Mixer track is rendered unless you enable 'Split mixer tracks' to export stems.
5To export note/pattern data instead of audio, use FILE > Export and choose the .mid (MIDI) format — this saves Step Sequencer and Piano roll note data; MIDI export does not include audio.
6Before sharing or moving files, make sure the recipient (or the destination DAW) has matching or newer FL Studio version, since projects saved in a newer version cannot be opened by an older one, and install matching third-party plugin formats (VST/VST3/CLAP) or bounce those tracks to audio first.
7For bulk migrations, move your whole sample library to the new system and add it as a Browser search folder in OPTIONS > File settings so FL Studio can relocate samples automatically.

What the export includes

✓Raw project file (.flp): all track/mixer/plugin arrangement and settings data belonging to the project
✓Zipped loop package (.zip): the project plus all samples used, bundled for transfer
✓Rendered audio (.wav/.mp3/.ogg/.flac/.m4a): the final mixed-down audio (Master track by default, or per-track stems with Split mixer tracks)
✓MIDI export (.mid): Step Sequencer and Piano roll note data

What it doesn't include

✗The .flp file itself does not include wave samples, DrumSynth or SimSynth presets by default — you must export a zipped loop package to bundle samples
✗Third-party VST/VST3/CLAP/AU plugin presets are referenced, not embedded — the recipient needs the same plugins installed, or you must bounce those tracks to audio before exporting
✗MIDI (.mid) export contains only note data, no audio and no mixer/plugin settings
✗Audio export only renders Mixer tracks routed to Master by default; unrouted tracks are excluded unless you use Split mixer tracks

Before you start

⚠Projects saved in a newer FL Studio version cannot be opened in an older version — the recipient/destination needs the same or a higher version
⚠AU-format plugins won't carry over between macOS and Windows; only VST, VST3 or CLAP formats are cross-platform compatible
⚠Regular manual .zip archives are different from the .zip exported directly via FILE > Export — a manually zipped project data folder must be extracted first, while FL Studio's own zipped loop package can be opened directly
⚠If a project uses samples outside a project data folder, the .flp alone will show 'missing samples' on another machine unless you export as a zipped loop package or move the sample library and re-add it as a Browser search folder
⚠Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3+) Macs may need Rosetta mode for older Intel-only third-party plugins, and Apple is dropping Rosetta 2 support after macOS 27

Where to take your data

Free and cheaper tools that can take a FL Studio export. See all FL Studio alternatives →

REAPER

FL Studio has no direct .flp import in REAPER. Bounce/render each track or the full mix to .wav/.flac stems (using Split mixer tracks for individual stems) and import those audio files into a new REAPER project; note data can be carried over separately via .mid export into REAPER's MIDI editor.

Ardour

Same approach as REAPER: export audio stems (.wav/.flac) via Split mixer tracks and/or export MIDI (.mid) from FL Studio, then import the audio/MIDI files as new tracks in Ardour — there is no native .flp project importer.

Cakewalk by BandLab

Export stems (.wav) via Split mixer tracks and/or a .mid file of your note data from FL Studio, then bring those audio and MIDI files into a new Cakewalk project as separate tracks.

Exporting from FL Studio: common questions

Can I export my whole FL Studio project as one file that includes all samples?+

Yes — use FILE > Export and choose 'zipped loop package', which packs all samples together with the project into a .zip that can be opened directly from FL Studio without extracting.

Does the .flp file contain my audio samples?+

No. The native .flp project file retains all project data but does not include wave samples (unless loaded in Edison), DrumSynth or SimSynth presets — export a zipped loop package to include samples.

How do I get individual track stems out of FL Studio instead of one mixed file?+

Enable 'Split mixer tracks' when exporting audio (FILE > Export) so each Mixer track routed to Master is rendered as its own .wav/.mp3/.ogg/.flac/.m4a file instead of a single combined mix.

Can I open an FL Studio project in an older version of FL Studio?+

No — you can open a lower-version project in a higher version, but a project saved in a newer version cannot be opened in an older one.

Will my third-party VST plugins transfer with the project?+

The plugin settings are referenced in the project, but the actual plugin must be installed (same format and version) on the destination machine — if the recipient doesn't own the plugin, bounce that track to audio before exporting/sharing.

Can I export FL Studio project data as CSV or JSON to inspect it programmatically?+

No official CSV/JSON export exists for .flp project internals in FL Studio's documented Save/Export formats — supported export formats are limited to project files (.flp/.zip), audio (.wav/.mp3/.ogg/.flac/.m4a) and MIDI (.mid).