---
title: "Start-VEADItemExport"
description: "Exports backed-up Active Directory objects and containers. Product: Veeam Backup & Replication Product Edition: Community, Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets: This cmdl"
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/explorers_powershell/start-veaditemexport.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam Explorers PowerShell Reference > Veeam Explorers PowerShell Reference > Veeam Explorer for Microsoft Active Directory > Start-VEADItemExport"
dateModified: "2026-08-18"
---

# Start-VEADItemExport

## Short Description
Exports backed-up Active Directory objects and containers.

**Product**: Veeam Backup & Replication

**Product Edition**: Community, Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Veeam Universal License

## Syntax

This cmdlet provides the following parameter sets:

<ul class="syntax-sets">
  <li>
    <p><code>ItemsParameterSet</code></p>

```
Start-VEADItemExport -Item <VEADItem[]> [-TargetHost <String>] -Path <String>
 -WindowsTargetCredentials <PSCredential> [-Force] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
  <li>
    <p><code>ContainerParameterSet</code></p>

```
Start-VEADItemExport -Container <VEADContainer> [-TargetHost <String>] -Path <String>
 -WindowsTargetCredentials <PSCredential> [-Force] [<CommonParameters>]
```
  </li>
</ul>

## Detailed Description
This cmdlet exports backed-up Active Directory objects and containers to a target Windows server. To specify the target Windows server, use the `TargetHost` parameter.

## Parameters

<table style="width:100%;" class="Blue_Table">
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Parameter</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Description</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Type</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Required</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Position</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Accept Pipeline Input</p>
        </th>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Container</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>For export of Active Directory containers.</p><p>Specifies an Active Directory container. The cmdlet will export that container.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="veadcontainer.md"><code>VEADContainer</code></a> object. To get this object, run the <a href="get-veadcontainer.md"><code>Get-VEADContainer</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="veadcontainer.md"><code>VEADContainer</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Force</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the cmdlet will overwrite existing objects and containers in the target path.</p><p>If you do not provide this parameter, the cmdlet will not overwrite existing data in the target path.</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: The cmdlet will show no prompt before executing the command.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Item</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>For export of Active Directory objects.</p><p>Specifies an array of Active Directory objects. The cmdlet will export these objects.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="veaditem.md"><code>VEADItem</code></a><code>[]</code> object. To get this object, run the <a href="get-veaditem.md"><code>Get-VEADItem</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="veaditem.md"><code>VEADItem[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True (ByValue)</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Path</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the export path on the target Windows server. The cmdlet will export Active Directory objects and containers to this location.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>String</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">TargetHost</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the DNS name or IP address of the target Windows server to which the cmdlet will export the data.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>String</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">WindowsTargetCredentials</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies credentials to authenticate to the target Windows server.</p><p>Accepts the <code>PSCredential</code> object. To get this object, run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>PSCredential</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>

`<CommonParameters>`

This cmdlet supports Microsoft PowerShell common parameters. For more information on common parameters, see the [About Common Parameters](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=113216) section of Microsoft Docs.

## Output Object
The cmdlet returns the [`VEADExport`](veadexport.md) object that contains settings of the export job for Active Directory objects or containers.

## Examples

::: example
### Example 1. Exporting Active Directory Objects

This example shows how to export backed-up Active Directory objects.

```
$session = Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob
$domain = Get-VEADDomain -Session $session[3]
$parentcontainer = Get-VEADContainer -Domain $domain
$object = Get-VEADItem -Container $parentcontainer[3]
$credentials = Get-Credential
Start-VEADItemExport -Item $object -Path "C:\AD objects" -WindowsTargetCredentials $credentials
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob`](get-veadrestoresessionjob.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$session` variable.

   The cmdlet will return an array of active restore sessions. Note the ordinal number of the necessary restore session (in this example, it is the fourth restore session in the array).

2. Run the [`Get-VEADDomain`](get-veaddomain.md) cmdlet. Set the `$session` variable as the `Session` parameter value and select the necessary restore session. Save the result to the `$domain` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-VEADContainer`](get-veadcontainer.md) cmdlet. Set the `$domain` variable as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the result to the `$parentcontainer` variable.
4. Run the [`Get-VEADItem`](get-veaditem.md) cmdlet. Set the `$parentcontainer` variable as the `Container` parameter value and specify the ordinal number of the parent container. Save the result to the `$object` variable.
5. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet to create a credential object. Enter credentials that will be used for authenticating to the target Windows server. Save the result to the `$credentials` variable.
6. Run the `Start-VEADItemExport` cmdlet. Set the `$object` variable as the `Item` parameter value. Specify the `Path` parameter value. Set the `$credentials` variable as the `WindowsTargetCredentials` parameter value.

:::

::: example
### Example 2. Exporting Active Directory Container

This example shows how to export a backed-up Active Directory container.

```
$session = Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob
$domain = Get-VEADDomain -Session $session[3]
$container = Get-VEADContainer -Domain $domain
$credentials = Get-Credential
Start-VEADItemExport -Container $container[3] -Path "C:\AD objects" -WindowsTargetCredentials $credentials
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob`](get-veadrestoresessionjob.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$session` variable.

   The cmdlet will return an array of active restore sessions. Note the ordinal number of the necessary restore session (in this example, it is the fourth restore session in the array).

2. Run the [`Get-VEADDomain`](get-veaddomain.md) cmdlet. Set the `$session` variable as the `Session` parameter value and select the necessary restore session. Save the result to the `$domain` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-VEADContainer`](get-veadcontainer.md) cmdlet. Set the `$domain` variable as the `Domain` parameter value. Note the ordinal number of the necessary container (in this example, it is the fourth container in the array). Save the result to the `$container` variable.
4. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet to create a credential object. Enter credentials that will be used for authenticating to the target Windows server. Save the result to the `$credentials` variable.
5. Run the `Start-VEADItemExport` cmdlet. Set the `$container` variable as the `Container` parameter value and select the necessary container. Specify the `Path` parameter value. Set the `$credentials` variable as the `WindowsTargetCredentials` parameter value.

:::

::: example
### Example 3. Exporting Active Directory Objects to Another Windows Server

This example shows how to export backed-up Active Directory objects to another Windows server.

```
$session = Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob
$domain = Get-VEADDomain -Session $session[3]
$parentcontainer = Get-VEADContainer -Domain $domain
$object = Get-VEADItem -Container $parentcontainer[3]
$credentials = Get-Credential
Start-VEADItemExport -Item $object -TargetHost "TargetServer" -Path "C:\AD objects" -WindowsTargetCredentials $credentials
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob`](get-veadrestoresessionjob.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$session` variable.

   The cmdlet will return an array of active restore sessions. Note the ordinal number of the necessary restore session (in this example, it is the fourth restore session in the array).

2. Run the [`Get-VEADDomain`](get-veaddomain.md) cmdlet. Set the `$session` variable as the `Session` parameter value and select the necessary restore session. Save the result to the `$domain` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-VEADContainer`](get-veadcontainer.md) cmdlet. Set the `$domain` variable as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the result to the `$parentcontainer` variable.
4. Run the [`Get-VEADItem`](get-veaditem.md) cmdlet. Set the `$parentcontainer` variable as the `Container` parameter value and specify the ordinal number of the parent container. Save the result to the `$object` variable.
5. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6) cmdlet to create a credential object. Enter credentials that will be used for authenticating to the target Windows server. Save the result to the `$credentials` variable.
6. Run the `Start-VEADItemExport` cmdlet. Specify the following settings:

   - Set the `$object` variable as the `Item` parameter value.
   - Specify the `TargetHost` parameter value to select the target Windows server.
   - Specify the `Path` parameter value.
   - Set the `$credentials` variable as the `WindowsTargetCredentials` parameter value.

:::

## Related Commands

- [`Get-VEADRestoreSessionJob`](get-veadrestoresessionjob.md)
- [`Get-VEADDomain`](get-veaddomain.md)
- [`Get-VEADContainer`](get-veadcontainer.md)
- [`Get-VEADItem`](get-veaditem.md)
- [``Get-Credential``](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.6)