# Restore a MongoDB Atlas collection using Compass

Import a MongoDB collection into Atlas using the Compass GUI.

MongoDB Compass is the official GUI for MongoDB. You can use it to import a JSON collection file into any database on your Atlas cluster without using the command line. This is useful when you want to restore a single collection rather than an entire database dump.

## Get your Atlas connection string

1. Go to [cloud.mongodb.com](https://cloud.mongodb.com/v2/), select your cluster, and click **Connect**.

![MongoDB Atlas cluster list with the Connect button highlighted](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/1bf6f14e0779349f894a.png)

2. Choose **Connect using MongoDB Compass** from the list of connection options.

![The connection options list with MongoDB Compass selected](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/4f5ddbb5224e18dd5e36.png)

3. Copy the connection string shown at the bottom of the screen.

![The connection string on the Compass connection screen](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/2897ade0cf73371f27f1.png)

## Connect Compass to Atlas

Paste the connection string into MongoDB Compass. Replace `<password>` in the string with the actual password for your Atlas user before connecting.

![MongoDB Compass with the connection string filled in](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/fb80e33a3bbd7be75df8.png)

## Import the collection

Once connected, your databases appear in the left sidebar. Select the target database and collection, then click **ADD DATA** and choose **Import File**.

![The ADD DATA menu with Import File highlighted](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/2ed94f05e814b061981c.png)

Select the JSON file you want to import and confirm. Compass imports the documents into the selected collection.

![The file import dialog in MongoDB Compass](https://simplebackups.com/docs/docs-assets/www-notion-so/710fa9db3bfce4ac3eef.png)