Is the Simkl TV Time import free?

Yes. The importer at simkl.com/apps/import/tvtime is free — you only need a free Simkl account. It is not behind a paywall.

Simkl asks for a ZIP password — where do I find it?

Only ZIPs from TV Time's old email-based GDPR flow are password-protected; the password was in the email that delivered the ZIP. Simkl's import page has a field to paste it. ZIPs from the current self-service tool at gdpr.tvtime.com are not password-protected.

My Simkl import failed or is stuck — what do I do?

Simkl's servers have been slow and sometimes failing under the TV Time migration surge. Keep your export files and simply retry later — nothing is lost. The urgent part is downloading your TV Time data before July 15, 2026; importing can happen any time after.

I only have TV Time Out or Liberator JSON files — can Simkl import those?

Simkl's TV Time importer expects the GDPR ZIP. ShowRescue (free, runs in your browser) can regenerate a clean GDPR-format ZIP from extension-only exports, which you then upload to Simkl. Simkl also offers generic JSON and CSV importers as fallbacks.

Does Simkl track movies and anime too?

Yes — Simkl tracks TV shows, anime and movies. It is web-first with mobile apps available.

Will my exact watch dates and rewatches carry over?

Only what's in the file you upload. TV Time's GDPR export truncates old dated history on large libraries, so merge it with a TV Time Out or Liberator extension export in ShowRescue first if exact dates matter to you — then upload the merged ZIP to Simkl.

⏳ Deadline: TV Time shuts down after July 15, 2026 — all user data is deleted afterward. Export your data now; the Simkl import itself can wait, your files can't.

How to move your TV Time history to Simkl

Updated July 5, 2026 · verified against Simkl's live importer

TL;DR: ① Download gdpr-data.zip from gdpr.tvtime.com/gdpr/self-service (full export guide). ② Upload it as-is at simkl.com/apps/import/tvtime — free, just needs a free Simkl account. ③ If your export is truncated or you only have extension files, ShowRescue merges everything and regenerates a clean ZIP Simkl accepts. Free, nothing uploads.

Step 1 — Export your TV Time data (do this today)

Get the official export: sign in at gdpr.tvtime.com/gdpr/self-service, click Generate GDPR Data, and download gdpr-data.zip. Signed up with Facebook or Google? Use the password-reset link on that page first — the tool needs an email + password.
Also grab an extension export with TV Time Out or TV Time Liberator while the site is still up. The GDPR export truncates old dated history on large libraries; the extensions capture complete dates and rewatch counts — and they stop working July 15.

Full walkthrough with all the gotchas: how to export your TV Time data.

Keep the ZIP as-is. Simkl wants the original gdpr-data.zip — don't unzip and re-zip it.

Step 2 — Create a free Simkl account

Sign up at simkl.com if you don't have an account. Simkl tracks TV shows, anime and movies; it's web-first, with mobile apps. The TV Time import is free — no paid tier required.

Step 3 — Upload your ZIP to Simkl's importer

Go to simkl.com/apps/import/tvtime while logged in.
Upload gdpr-data.zip exactly as you downloaded it.
Wait for the import to process — your episode history from tracking-prod-records-v2.csv and the rest of the ZIP get matched into your Simkl library.

ZIP asking for a password? That happens only with ZIPs from TV Time's old email-based GDPR flow — the archive password was in the email that delivered it. Simkl's import page has a field to paste it. ZIPs from the current self-service tool aren't password-protected.

Import failing or hanging? Simkl's servers have been slow under the migration surge. Nothing is lost — keep your export files and retry later. The only real deadline is getting your data out of TV Time before July 15.

Step 4 — If your data is incomplete (or extension-only)

Two cases where uploading the raw GDPR ZIP isn't enough:

Your GDPR export is truncated — big library, missing dates on older episodes. Drop the GDPR ZIP and your extension export into ShowRescue: it merges them losslessly (rewatches preserved as distinct watch events) and regenerates one clean, complete GDPR-format ZIP for Simkl.
You only have TV Time Out / Liberator JSON files — Simkl's TV Time importer expects the ZIP. ShowRescue rebuilds a GDPR-format ZIP from extension exports alone.

ShowRescue is free, needs no account, and runs 100% in your browser — your files never upload anywhere. And to be clear: if your GDPR ZIP downloaded fine and you're happy with what's in it, you don't need ShowRescue — upload it straight to Simkl.

Plan B if the TV Time importer keeps failing: Simkl also has a generic JSON importer and CSV import you can fall back on.

Merge my exports into a clean Simkl-ready ZIP — free →

Frequently asked

Is the Simkl import really free?

Yes. The importer at simkl.com/apps/import/tvtime works on a free account — it's not paywalled. The real friction right now is server load, not price.

Simkl asks for a ZIP password — where is it?

In the email that delivered your ZIP, if you used TV Time's old email-based GDPR flow. Paste it into the password field on Simkl's import page. Self-service ZIPs from gdpr.tvtime.com have no password.

The import failed. Did I lose anything?

No — the import only reads your file. Keep your exports and retry when Simkl's servers calm down. Importing works after July 15 too; only the export from TV Time stops working then.

Will rewatches and exact dates transfer?

Only if they're in the file you upload. The GDPR export truncates old dated history on large libraries, so if exact dates matter, merge it with an extension export in ShowRescue first and upload the merged ZIP.

Does Simkl handle anime and movies?

Yes — Simkl tracks TV, anime and movies in one library. It's web-first, with mobile apps available.

What if Simkl isn't for me?

Your exports work everywhere. See the same guide for Trakt, TVmaze and Sofa Time, or the full comparison of every option.