Overcoming :"Store is too big for this neo4j aura instance.","Reason":"ImportExceedsMaxSize" Issue

If you are trying to import a neo4j dump file to your Aura instance and getting the below error message:

{"Message":"Store is too big for this neo4j aura instance.","Reason":"ImportExceedsMaxSize"}....... org.neo4j.cli.CommandFailedException: Store is too big for this neo4j aura instance. Minimum storage space required: X.X GB

This article aims to provide insights into potential solutions for this issue.
The error message indicates that the storage capacity of your Aura instance is insufficient for the database dump being imported. Here are some possible remedies:

• In the error message, Neo4j will offer a recommendation for the minimum required storage space for a successful import. Consider upgrading the size of your instance based on this suggestion for the successful import of the dump file.
• If you prefer not to increase the instance size, ensure that the dump originates from a compacted database. Your current instance might retain references to old data that has been deleted. When a node is deleted, it essentially becomes un-referenced, and instead of involving a write operation (that would consume IOPS and involve a system call), it is only affecting the metadata. As a result, the datastore size on disk doesn't shrink accordingly but becomes essentially "uncompacted" with much unused disk data space reserved but not used.    
  See more information on space reuse
• Reclaim unused space by compacting your store. Instructions on how to compact your database store can be found in this article: How to compact your database store?
• For users encountering this error on the Free tier, ensure that the dump file size is below 2GB. If you need to import a dump larger than 2GB, upgrading to an Aura Professional instance is recommended.

By following these suggestions, you can address the "Store is too big for this neo4j aura instance" error and facilitate a successful import process. If the issue persists create a support ticket with us, including details of the issue, like screenshots and error messages.