---
title: Migrate from a Dev Dashboard-managed app to Shopify CLI
description: Learn how to set-up a CLI environment for your Dashboard-managed Shopify app.
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps/migrate-from-dashboard'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps/migrate-from-dashboard.md'
---

# Migrate from a Dev Dashboard-managed app to Shopify CLI

If you've been using the Dev Dashboard to manage your app, then you should consider importing it and using [Shopify CLI](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli/app) to manage it instead for the following reasons:

* You can use familiar version control (like Git) to manage changes to your configuration over time because your app configuration is defined in code.
* CLI-managed apps can can use features like extensions or Shopify functions.
* Certain elements of app configuration can only be managed using the CLI, such as handles.
* You don't need to port your web app and focus only on app configuration.
* If you have multiple apps for different environments, such as staging and production, you can manage everything in a single local project.

***

## Requirements

* You've installed [Shopify CLI](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli)
* The latest version of [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) or [Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/)

***

## What you'll learn

In this tutorial, you'll learn the following:

* How to set up a new local project for an existing app
* How to add Shopify CLI as a project dependency

***

## Step 1: Create a new app

Set up a new local project using Shopify CLI.

## Terminal

```terminal
shopify app init
```

Create a new app and choose **Build an extension-only app** in the set up process.

**Note:**

This empty app is an [extension-only app](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/app-extensions/build-extension-only-app), which doesn't have an App Home. You can change the configuration to add an App Home later.

***

## Step 2: Import the configuration from your existing app

Connect the new app project to your existing app.

## Terminal

```terminal
shopify app config link
```

1. Run the `shopify app config link` command and select **connect it to an existing app**.
2. Inspect the `shopify.app.toml` file to make sure you have correctly imported the configuration from your existing app. You can always run the command again to link to a different app.

**Tip:**

If you have multiple apps representing different environments, then select a staging or development app at this point because `shopify.app.toml` acts as a default target for commands. You can [add the production app](#manage-multiple-environments) later.

You've successfully moved your app to Shopify CLI. Instead of going to the Dev Dashboard, you can now make changes by updating the [`shopify.app.toml`](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps/app-structure#root-configuration-files) file and then running the `shopify app deploy` command. This command releases a new app version to app users.

## Terminal

```terminal
shopify app deploy
```

Find out more about [deploying and releasing app versions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/deployment/deploy-app-versions).

***

## Next steps

You now have a local project that's linked to your existing Shopify app. What's next?

### Manage multiple environments

If you have multiple apps that represent different environments, you can manage these through a single app project. Run the `shopify app config link` command, select **connect it to an existing app**, and choose the additional environment. You can give the imported `app.toml` config file a different name.

You can switch between multiple configuration files that represent different environments by providing the `--config` flag to CLI commands, or using the `shopify app config use` command to set the default environment.

Find out more about [managing multiple app configurations and environments](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps/manage-app-config-files).

### Add your first extension

With a local project set up with Shopify CLI, you can start to introduce app extensions. You can build a checkout or storefront customization, or Shopify function. You can add your first extension by running [`shopify app generate extension`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli/app/app-generate-extension). To preview your extension during development, run [`shopify app dev`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli/app/app-dev).

Find out more about [app extensions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/app-extensions).

***