> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arizeai-433a7140.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import Existing Traces

> Phoenix supports loading data that contains [OpenInference traces](/docs/phoenix/resources/openinference). This allows you to load an existing dataframe of traces into your Phoenix instance.

Usually these will be traces you've previously saved using [Save All Traces](/docs/phoenix/tracing/how-to-tracing/importing-and-exporting-traces/extract-data-from-spans#save-all-traces).

### Connect to Phoenix

Point your code at the Phoenix instance you started. The endpoint below is the default for a local `phoenix serve`; for a deployment running elsewhere, use its hostname instead.

```python theme={null}
import os

os.environ["PHOENIX_COLLECTOR_ENDPOINT"] = "http://localhost:6006"

# Only if the deployment has authentication enabled
# os.environ["PHOENIX_API_KEY"] = "your-api-key"
```

### Importing Traces to an Existing Phoenix Instance

```python theme={null}
import phoenix as px

# Re-launch the app using trace data
px.launch_app(trace=px.TraceDataset(df))

# Load traces into an existing Phoenix instance from a local file
px.launch_app(trace=px.TraceDataset.load('f7733fda-6ad6-4427-a803-55ad2182b662', directory="/my_saved_traces/"))
```

### Launching a new Phoenix Instance with Saved Traces

You can also launch a temporary version of Phoenix in your local notebook to quickly view the traces. But be warned, this Phoenix instance will only last as long as your notebook environment is running

```python theme={null}
# Load traces from a dataframe
px.launch_app(trace=px.TraceDataset.load(my_traces))

# Load traces from a local file
px.launch_app(trace=px.TraceDataset.load('f7733fda-6ad6-4427-a803-55ad2182b662', directory="/my_saved_traces/"))
```