diff --git a/app/server/cli/commands/import-config.ts b/app/server/cli/commands/import-config.ts
index 8462a3bd..93b15687 100644
--- a/app/server/cli/commands/import-config.ts
+++ b/app/server/cli/commands/import-config.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import { Command } from "commander";
 import path from "node:path";
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 
+const toError = (e: unknown): Error => (e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e)));
+
+type Output = ReturnType<typeof createOutput>;
+
 async function readStdin(): Promise<string> {
 	const chunks: Buffer[] = [];
 	for await (const chunk of process.stdin) {
@@ -10,85 +14,118 @@ async function readStdin(): Promise<string> {
 	return Buffer.concat(chunks).toString("utf-8");
 }
 
+function createOutput(jsonOutput: boolean) {
+	return {
+		error: (message: string): never => {
+			if (jsonOutput) {
+				console.log(JSON.stringify({ error: message }));
+			} else {
+				console.error(`❌ ${message}`);
+			}
+			process.exit(1);
+		},
+		info: (message: string): void => {
+			if (!jsonOutput) {
+				console.log(message);
+			}
+		},
+		json: (data: object): void => {
+			if (jsonOutput) {
+				console.log(JSON.stringify(data));
+			}
+		},
+	};
+}
+
+async function readConfigJson(options: { stdin?: boolean; config?: string }, out: Output): Promise<string> {
+	if (options.stdin) {
+		out.info("📄 Reading config from stdin...");
+		try {
+			const configJson = await readStdin();
+			if (!configJson.trim()) {
+				out.error("No input received from stdin");
+			}
+			return configJson;
+		} catch (e) {
+			out.error(`Failed to read stdin: ${toError(e).message}`);
+		}
+	}
+
+	const configPath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), options.config ?? "");
+	try {
+		await fs.access(configPath);
+	} catch {
+		out.error(`Config file not found: ${configPath}`);
+	}
+
+	out.info(`📄 Config file: ${configPath}`);
+	return fs.readFile(configPath, "utf-8");
+}
+
 export const importConfigCommand = new Command("import-config")
 	.description("Import configuration from a JSON file or stdin")
 	.option("-c, --config <path>", "Path to the configuration file")
 	.option("--stdin", "Read configuration from stdin")
 	.option("--dry-run", "Validate the config without importing")
+	.option("--json", "Output results in JSON format")
+	.option("--log-level <level>", "Set log level (debug, info, warn, error)")
 	.action(async (options) => {
-		console.log("\n📦 Zerobyte Config Import\n");
+		const jsonOutput = options.json;
+		const out = createOutput(jsonOutput);
+
+		// Set log level: explicit option takes precedence
+		if (options.logLevel) {
+			process.env.LOG_LEVEL = options.logLevel;
+		}
+
+		out.info("\n📦 Zerobyte Config Import\n");
 
 		if (!options.config && !options.stdin) {
-			console.error("❌ Either --config <path> or --stdin is required");
-			console.log("\nUsage:");
-			console.log("  zerobyte import-config --config /path/to/config.json");
-			console.log("  cat config.json | zerobyte import-config --stdin");
-			process.exit(1);
+			if (!jsonOutput) {
+				console.log("\nUsage:");
+				console.log("  zerobyte import-config --config /path/to/config.json");
+				console.log("  cat config.json | zerobyte import-config --stdin");
+			}
+			out.error("Either --config <path> or --stdin is required");
 		}
 
 		if (options.config && options.stdin) {
-			console.error("❌ Cannot use both --config and --stdin");
-			process.exit(1);
+			out.error("Cannot use both --config and --stdin");
 		}
 
-		let configJson: string;
-
-		if (options.stdin) {
-			console.log("📄 Reading config from stdin...");
-			try {
-				configJson = await readStdin();
-				if (!configJson.trim()) {
-					console.error("❌ No input received from stdin");
-					process.exit(1);
-				}
-			} catch (e) {
-				const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-				console.error(`❌ Failed to read stdin: ${err.message}`);
-				process.exit(1);
-			}
-		} else {
-			const configPath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), options.config);
-
-			// Check if file exists
-			try {
-				await fs.access(configPath);
-			} catch {
-				console.error(`❌ Config file not found: ${configPath}`);
-				process.exit(1);
-			}
-
-			console.log(`📄 Config file: ${configPath}`);
-			configJson = await fs.readFile(configPath, "utf-8");
-		}
+		const configJson = await readConfigJson(options, out);
 
 		// Parse and validate JSON
 		let config: unknown;
 		try {
 			config = JSON.parse(configJson);
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			console.error(`❌ Invalid JSON: ${err.message}`);
-			process.exit(1);
+			out.error(`Invalid JSON: ${toError(e).message}`);
 		}
 
 		if (options.dryRun) {
-			console.log("🔍 Dry run mode - validating config only\n");
-
 			const root = typeof config === "object" && config !== null ? config : {};
 			const configObj =
 				"config" in root && typeof root.config === "object" && root.config !== null ? root.config : root;
 
 			const sections = ["volumes", "repositories", "backupSchedules", "notificationDestinations", "users"];
+			const counts: Record<string, number> = {};
 			for (const section of sections) {
 				const items = (configObj as Record<string, unknown>)[section] || [];
-				const count = Array.isArray(items) ? items.length : 0;
-				console.log(`   ${section}: ${count} item(s)`);
+				counts[section] = Array.isArray(items) ? items.length : 0;
 			}
-
 			const hasRecoveryKey = !!(configObj as Record<string, unknown>).recoveryKey;
-			console.log(`   recoveryKey: ${hasRecoveryKey ? "provided" : "not provided"}`);
 
-			console.log("\n✅ Config is valid JSON");
+			if (jsonOutput) {
+				out.json({ dryRun: true, valid: true, counts, hasRecoveryKey });
+			} else {
+				console.log("🔍 Dry run mode - validating config only\n");
+				for (const section of sections) {
+					console.log(`   ${section}: ${counts[section]} item(s)`);
+				}
+				console.log(`   recoveryKey: ${hasRecoveryKey ? "provided" : "not provided"}`);
+				console.log("\n✅ Config is valid JSON");
+			}
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -100,13 +137,13 @@ export const importConfigCommand = new Command("import-config")
 			const { applyConfigImport } = await import("../../modules/lifecycle/config-import");
 			const result = await applyConfigImport(config);
 
+			out.json({ ...result, success: result.errors === 0 });
+
 			// Exit with error code if there were errors
 			if (result.errors > 0) {
 				process.exit(1);
 			}
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			console.error(`❌ Import failed: ${err.message}`);
-			process.exit(1);
+			out.error(`Import failed: ${toError(e).message}`);
 		}
 	});
diff --git a/app/server/modules/lifecycle/config-import.ts b/app/server/modules/lifecycle/config-import.ts
index 3b20d9b7..41b44166 100644
--- a/app/server/modules/lifecycle/config-import.ts
+++ b/app/server/modules/lifecycle/config-import.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
 import slugify from "slugify";
 import { db } from "../../db/db";
 import { usersTable } from "../../db/schema";
@@ -10,6 +12,8 @@ import type { BackendConfig } from "~/schemas/volumes";
 
 const isRecord = (value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> => typeof value === "object" && value !== null;
 
+const toError = (e: unknown): Error => (e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e)));
+
 const asStringArray = (value: unknown): string[] => {
 	if (!Array.isArray(value)) return [];
 	return value.filter((item): item is string => typeof item === "string");
@@ -36,6 +40,7 @@ type ImportConfig = {
 
 export type ImportResult = {
 	succeeded: number;
+	skipped: number;
 	warnings: number;
 	errors: number;
 };
@@ -62,8 +67,6 @@ function interpolateEnvVars(value: unknown): unknown {
 async function loadConfigFromFile(): Promise<unknown | null> {
 	try {
 		const configPath = process.env.ZEROBYTE_CONFIG_PATH || "zerobyte.config.json";
-		const fs = await import("node:fs/promises");
-		const path = await import("node:path");
 		const configFullPath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), configPath);
 		try {
 			const raw = await fs.readFile(configFullPath, "utf-8");
@@ -73,8 +76,7 @@ async function loadConfigFromFile(): Promise<unknown | null> {
 			throw error;
 		}
 	} catch (error) {
-		const err = error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(String(error));
-		logger.warn(`No config file loaded or error parsing config: ${err.message}`);
+		logger.warn(`No config file loaded or error parsing config: ${toError(error).message}`);
 		return null;
 	}
 }
@@ -100,11 +102,17 @@ function parseImportConfig(configRaw: unknown): ImportConfig {
 	};
 }
 
+function mergeResults(target: ImportResult, source: ImportResult): void {
+	target.succeeded += source.succeeded;
+	target.skipped += source.skipped;
+	target.warnings += source.warnings;
+	target.errors += source.errors;
+}
+
 async function writeRecoveryKeyFromConfig(recoveryKey: string | null): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 
 	try {
-		const fs = await import("node:fs/promises");
 		const { RESTIC_PASS_FILE } = await import("../../core/constants.js");
 		if (!recoveryKey) return result;
 
@@ -116,16 +124,22 @@ async function writeRecoveryKeyFromConfig(recoveryKey: string | null): Promise<I
 			() => false,
 		);
 		if (passFileExists) {
-			logger.warn(`Restic passfile already exists at ${RESTIC_PASS_FILE}; skipping config recovery key write`);
-			result.warnings++;
+			// Check if existing key matches the one being imported
+			const existingKey = await fs.readFile(RESTIC_PASS_FILE, "utf-8");
+			if (existingKey.trim() === recoveryKey) {
+				logger.info("Recovery key already configured with matching value");
+				result.skipped++;
+			} else {
+				logger.error("Recovery key already exists with different value; cannot overwrite");
+				result.errors++;
+			}
 			return result;
 		}
 		await fs.writeFile(RESTIC_PASS_FILE, recoveryKey, { mode: 0o600 });
 		logger.info(`Recovery key written from config to ${RESTIC_PASS_FILE}`);
 		result.succeeded++;
 	} catch (err) {
-		const e = err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(String(err));
-		logger.error(`Failed to write recovery key from config: ${e.message}`);
+		logger.error(`Failed to write recovery key from config: ${toError(err).message}`);
 		result.errors++;
 	}
 
@@ -133,13 +147,24 @@ async function writeRecoveryKeyFromConfig(recoveryKey: string | null): Promise<I
 }
 
 async function importVolumes(volumes: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+
+	// Get existing volumes to check for duplicates
+	const existingVolumes = await volumeService.listVolumes();
+	const existingNames = new Set(existingVolumes.map((v) => v.name));
 
 	for (const v of volumes) {
 		try {
 			if (!isRecord(v) || typeof v.name !== "string" || !isRecord(v.config) || typeof v.config.backend !== "string") {
 				throw new Error("Invalid volume entry");
 			}
+
+			if (existingNames.has(v.name)) {
+				logger.info(`Volume '${v.name}' already exists`);
+				result.skipped++;
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			await volumeService.createVolume(v.name, v.config as BackendConfig);
 			logger.info(`Initialized volume from config: ${v.name}`);
 			result.succeeded++;
@@ -150,8 +175,8 @@ async function importVolumes(volumes: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
 				logger.info(`Set autoRemount=false for volume: ${v.name}`);
 			}
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			logger.warn(`Volume not created: ${err.message}`);
+			const volumeName = isRecord(v) && typeof v.name === "string" ? v.name : "unknown";
+			logger.warn(`Volume '${volumeName}' not created: ${toError(e).message}`);
 			result.warnings++;
 		}
 	}
@@ -160,7 +185,7 @@ async function importVolumes(volumes: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
 }
 
 async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 	const repoServiceModule = await import("../repositories/repositories.service");
 	const { buildRepoUrl, restic } = await import("../../utils/restic");
 
@@ -175,8 +200,7 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 			const url = buildRepoUrl(repo.config as RepositoryConfig);
 			existingUrls.add(url);
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			logger.warn(`Could not build URL for existing repository '${repo.name}': ${err.message}`);
+			logger.warn(`Could not build URL for existing repository '${repo.name}': ${toError(e).message}`);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -190,13 +214,12 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 			try {
 				const incomingUrl = buildRepoUrl(r.config as RepositoryConfig);
 				if (existingUrls.has(incomingUrl)) {
-					logger.warn(`Skipping '${r.name}': another repository is already registered for location ${incomingUrl}`);
-					result.warnings++;
+					logger.info(`Repository '${r.name}': another repository already registered for location ${incomingUrl}`);
+					result.skipped++;
 					continue;
 				}
 			} catch (e) {
-				const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-				logger.warn(`Could not build URL for '${r.name}' to check duplicates: ${err.message}`);
+				logger.warn(`Could not build URL for '${r.name}' to check duplicates: ${toError(e).message}`);
 			}
 
 			// For local repos without isExistingRepository, check if the provided path is already a restic repo
@@ -206,8 +229,7 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 					.snapshots({ ...r.config, isExistingRepository: true } as RepositoryConfig)
 					.then(() => true)
 					.catch((e) => {
-						const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-						logger.debug(`Repo existence check for '${r.name}': ${err.message}`);
+						logger.debug(`Repo existence check for '${r.name}': ${toError(e).message}`);
 						return false;
 					});
 
@@ -223,8 +245,8 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 
 			// Skip if a repository with the same name already exists (fallback for repos without deterministic paths)
 			if (existingNames.has(r.name)) {
-				logger.warn(`Skipping '${r.name}': a repository with this name already exists`);
-				result.warnings++;
+				logger.info(`Repository '${r.name}': a repository with this name already exists`);
+				result.skipped++;
 				continue;
 			}
 
@@ -240,8 +262,8 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 			logger.info(`Initialized repository from config: ${r.name}`);
 			result.succeeded++;
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			logger.warn(`Repository not created: ${err.message}`);
+			const repoName = isRecord(r) && typeof r.name === "string" ? r.name : "unknown";
+			logger.warn(`Repository '${repoName}' not created: ${toError(e).message}`);
 			result.warnings++;
 		}
 	}
@@ -250,13 +272,26 @@ async function importRepositories(repositories: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult
 }
 
 async function importNotificationDestinations(notificationDestinations: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 	const notificationsServiceModule = await import("../notifications/notifications.service");
+
+	// Get existing destinations to check for duplicates
+	const existingDestinations = await notificationsServiceModule.notificationsService.listDestinations();
+	const existingNames = new Set(existingDestinations.map((d) => d.name));
+
 	for (const n of notificationDestinations) {
 		try {
 			if (!isRecord(n) || typeof n.name !== "string" || !isRecord(n.config) || typeof n.config.type !== "string") {
 				throw new Error("Invalid notification destination entry");
 			}
+
+			// The service uses slugify to normalize the name, so we check against stored names
+			if (existingNames.has(n.name)) {
+				logger.info(`Notification destination '${n.name}' already exists`);
+				result.skipped++;
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			const created = await notificationsServiceModule.notificationsService.createDestination(
 				n.name,
 				n.config as NotificationConfig,
@@ -270,8 +305,8 @@ async function importNotificationDestinations(notificationDestinations: unknown[
 				logger.info(`Set enabled=false for notification destination: ${n.name}`);
 			}
 		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			logger.warn(`Notification destination not created: ${err.message}`);
+			const destName = isRecord(n) && typeof n.name === "string" ? n.name : "unknown";
+			logger.warn(`Notification destination '${destName}' not created: ${toError(e).message}`);
 			result.warnings++;
 		}
 	}
@@ -297,6 +332,7 @@ function getScheduleRepositoryName(schedule: Record<string, unknown>): string |
 
 type ScheduleNotificationAssignment = {
 	destinationId: number;
+	destinationName: string;
 	notifyOnStart: boolean;
 	notifyOnSuccess: boolean;
 	notifyOnWarning: boolean;
@@ -304,25 +340,30 @@ type ScheduleNotificationAssignment = {
 };
 
 function buildScheduleNotificationAssignments(
+	scheduleName: string,
 	notifications: unknown[],
 	destinationBySlug: Map<string, { id: number; name: string }>,
-): ScheduleNotificationAssignment[] {
+): { assignments: ScheduleNotificationAssignment[]; warnings: number } {
 	const assignments: ScheduleNotificationAssignment[] = [];
+	let warnings = 0;
 
 	for (const notif of notifications) {
 		const destName = typeof notif === "string" ? notif : isRecord(notif) ? notif.name : null;
 		if (typeof destName !== "string" || destName.length === 0) {
-			logger.warn("Notification destination missing name for schedule");
+			logger.warn(`Notification destination missing name for schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+			warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 		const destSlug = slugify(destName, { lower: true, strict: true });
 		const dest = destinationBySlug.get(destSlug);
 		if (!dest) {
-			logger.warn(`Notification destination '${destName}' not found for schedule`);
+			logger.warn(`Notification destination '${destName}' not found for schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+			warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 		assignments.push({
 			destinationId: dest.id,
+			destinationName: dest.name,
 			notifyOnStart: isRecord(notif) && typeof notif.notifyOnStart === "boolean" ? notif.notifyOnStart : true,
 			notifyOnSuccess: isRecord(notif) && typeof notif.notifyOnSuccess === "boolean" ? notif.notifyOnSuccess : true,
 			notifyOnWarning: isRecord(notif) && typeof notif.notifyOnWarning === "boolean" ? notif.notifyOnWarning : true,
@@ -330,29 +371,66 @@ function buildScheduleNotificationAssignments(
 		});
 	}
 
-	return assignments;
+	return { assignments, warnings };
 }
 
 async function attachScheduleNotifications(
 	scheduleId: number,
+	scheduleName: string,
 	notifications: unknown[],
 	destinationBySlug: Map<string, { id: number; name: string }>,
 	notificationsServiceModule: typeof import("../notifications/notifications.service"),
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<ImportResult> {
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 	try {
-		const assignments = buildScheduleNotificationAssignments(notifications, destinationBySlug);
-		if (assignments.length === 0) return;
+		const existingNotifications =
+			await notificationsServiceModule.notificationsService.getScheduleNotifications(scheduleId);
+		const existingDestIds = new Set(existingNotifications.map((n) => n.destinationId));
 
-		await notificationsServiceModule.notificationsService.updateScheduleNotifications(scheduleId, assignments);
-		logger.info(`Assigned ${assignments.length} notification(s) to backup schedule`);
+		const { assignments, warnings } = buildScheduleNotificationAssignments(
+			scheduleName,
+			notifications,
+			destinationBySlug,
+		);
+		result.warnings += warnings;
+
+		// Filter out already attached notifications and track skipped
+		const newAssignments: typeof assignments = [];
+		for (const a of assignments) {
+			if (existingDestIds.has(a.destinationId)) {
+				logger.info(`Notification '${a.destinationName}' already attached to schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+				result.skipped++;
+			} else {
+				newAssignments.push(a);
+			}
+		}
+		if (newAssignments.length === 0) return result;
+
+		// Merge existing with new (strip destinationName for API call)
+		const mergedAssignments = [
+			...existingNotifications.map((n) => ({
+				destinationId: n.destinationId,
+				notifyOnStart: n.notifyOnStart,
+				notifyOnSuccess: n.notifyOnSuccess,
+				notifyOnWarning: n.notifyOnWarning,
+				notifyOnFailure: n.notifyOnFailure,
+			})),
+			...newAssignments.map(({ destinationName: _, ...rest }) => rest),
+		];
+
+		await notificationsServiceModule.notificationsService.updateScheduleNotifications(scheduleId, mergedAssignments);
+		const notifNames = newAssignments.map((a) => a.destinationName).join(", ");
+		logger.info(`Assigned notification(s) [${notifNames}] to schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+		result.succeeded += newAssignments.length;
 	} catch (e) {
-		const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-		logger.warn(`Failed to assign notifications to schedule: ${err.message}`);
+		logger.warn(`Failed to assign notifications to schedule '${scheduleName}': ${toError(e).message}`);
+		result.warnings++;
 	}
+	return result;
 }
 
 async function importBackupSchedules(backupSchedules: unknown[]): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 	if (!Array.isArray(backupSchedules) || backupSchedules.length === 0) return result;
 
 	const backupServiceModule = await import("../backups/backups.service");
@@ -361,10 +439,12 @@ async function importBackupSchedules(backupSchedules: unknown[]): Promise<Import
 	const volumes = await db.query.volumesTable.findMany();
 	const repositories = await db.query.repositoriesTable.findMany();
 	const destinations = await db.query.notificationDestinationsTable.findMany();
+	const existingSchedules = await db.query.backupSchedulesTable.findMany();
 
 	const volumeByName = new Map(volumes.map((v) => [v.name, v] as const));
 	const repoByName = new Map(repositories.map((r) => [r.name, r] as const));
 	const destinationBySlug = new Map(destinations.map((d) => [d.name, d] as const));
+	const scheduleByName = new Map(existingSchedules.map((s) => [s.name, s] as const));
 
 	for (const s of backupSchedules) {
 		if (!isRecord(s)) {
@@ -372,85 +452,105 @@ async function importBackupSchedules(backupSchedules: unknown[]): Promise<Import
 		}
 		const volumeName = getScheduleVolumeName(s);
 		if (typeof volumeName !== "string" || volumeName.length === 0) {
-			logger.warn("Backup schedule not created: Missing volume name");
+			logger.warn("Backup schedule not processed: Missing volume name");
 			result.warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 		const volume = volumeByName.get(volumeName);
 		if (!volume) {
-			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not created: Volume '${volumeName}' not found`);
+			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not processed: Volume '${volumeName}' not found`);
 			result.warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		const repositoryName = getScheduleRepositoryName(s);
 		if (typeof repositoryName !== "string" || repositoryName.length === 0) {
-			logger.warn("Backup schedule not created: Missing repository name");
+			logger.warn("Backup schedule not processed: Missing repository name");
 			result.warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 		const repository = repoByName.get(repositoryName);
 		if (!repository) {
-			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not created: Repository '${repositoryName}' not found`);
+			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not processed: Repository '${repositoryName}' not found`);
 			result.warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		const scheduleName = typeof s.name === "string" && s.name.length > 0 ? s.name : `${volumeName}-${repositoryName}`;
 		if (typeof s.cronExpression !== "string" || s.cronExpression.length === 0) {
-			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not created: Missing cronExpression for '${scheduleName}'`);
+			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not processed: Missing cronExpression for '${scheduleName}'`);
 			result.warnings++;
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (volume.status !== "mounted") {
+		// Check if schedule already exists - if so, skip creation but still try attachments
+		const existingSchedule = scheduleByName.get(scheduleName);
+		let scheduleId: number;
+
+		if (existingSchedule) {
+			logger.info(`Backup schedule '${scheduleName}' already exists`);
+			result.skipped++;
+			scheduleId = existingSchedule.id;
+		} else {
+			// Mount volume if needed for new schedule
+			if (volume.status !== "mounted") {
+				try {
+					await volumeService.mountVolume(volume.name);
+					volumeByName.set(volume.name, { ...volume, status: "mounted" });
+					logger.info(`Mounted volume ${volume.name} for backup schedule`);
+				} catch (e) {
+					logger.warn(`Could not mount volume ${volume.name}: ${toError(e).message}`);
+					result.warnings++;
+					continue;
+				}
+			}
+
 			try {
-				await volumeService.mountVolume(volume.name);
-				volumeByName.set(volume.name, { ...volume, status: "mounted" });
-				logger.info(`Mounted volume ${volume.name} for backup schedule`);
+				const retentionPolicy = isRecord(s.retentionPolicy) ? (s.retentionPolicy as RetentionPolicy) : undefined;
+				const createdSchedule = await backupServiceModule.backupsService.createSchedule({
+					name: scheduleName,
+					volumeId: volume.id,
+					repositoryId: repository.id,
+					enabled: typeof s.enabled === "boolean" ? s.enabled : true,
+					cronExpression: s.cronExpression,
+					retentionPolicy,
+					excludePatterns: asStringArray(s.excludePatterns),
+					excludeIfPresent: asStringArray(s.excludeIfPresent),
+					includePatterns: asStringArray(s.includePatterns),
+					oneFileSystem: typeof s.oneFileSystem === "boolean" ? s.oneFileSystem : undefined,
+				});
+				logger.info(`Initialized backup schedule from config: ${scheduleName}`);
+				result.succeeded++;
+				scheduleId = createdSchedule.id;
 			} catch (e) {
-				const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-				logger.warn(`Could not mount volume ${volume.name}: ${err.message}`);
+				logger.warn(`Backup schedule '${scheduleName}' not created: ${toError(e).message}`);
 				result.warnings++;
 				continue;
 			}
 		}
 
-		let createdSchedule: { id: number } | null = null;
-		try {
-			const retentionPolicy = isRecord(s.retentionPolicy) ? (s.retentionPolicy as RetentionPolicy) : undefined;
-			createdSchedule = await backupServiceModule.backupsService.createSchedule({
-				name: scheduleName,
-				volumeId: volume.id,
-				repositoryId: repository.id,
-				enabled: typeof s.enabled === "boolean" ? s.enabled : true,
-				cronExpression: s.cronExpression,
-				retentionPolicy,
-				excludePatterns: asStringArray(s.excludePatterns),
-				excludeIfPresent: asStringArray(s.excludeIfPresent),
-				includePatterns: asStringArray(s.includePatterns),
-				oneFileSystem: typeof s.oneFileSystem === "boolean" ? s.oneFileSystem : undefined,
-			});
-			logger.info(`Initialized backup schedule from config: ${scheduleName}`);
-			result.succeeded++;
-		} catch (e) {
-			const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-			logger.warn(`Backup schedule not created: ${err.message}`);
-			result.warnings++;
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (createdSchedule && Array.isArray(s.notifications) && s.notifications.length > 0) {
-			await attachScheduleNotifications(
-				createdSchedule.id,
+		// Attach notifications (checks if already attached)
+		if (Array.isArray(s.notifications) && s.notifications.length > 0) {
+			const notifResult = await attachScheduleNotifications(
+				scheduleId,
+				scheduleName,
 				s.notifications,
 				destinationBySlug,
 				notificationsServiceModule,
 			);
+			mergeResults(result, notifResult);
 		}
 
-		if (createdSchedule && Array.isArray(s.mirrors) && s.mirrors.length > 0) {
-			await attachScheduleMirrors(createdSchedule.id, s.mirrors, repoByName, backupServiceModule);
+		// Attach mirrors (checks if already attached)
+		if (Array.isArray(s.mirrors) && s.mirrors.length > 0) {
+			const mirrorResult = await attachScheduleMirrors(
+				scheduleId,
+				scheduleName,
+				s.mirrors,
+				repoByName,
+				backupServiceModule,
+			);
+			mergeResults(result, mirrorResult);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -459,12 +559,17 @@ async function importBackupSchedules(backupSchedules: unknown[]): Promise<Import
 
 async function attachScheduleMirrors(
 	scheduleId: number,
+	scheduleName: string,
 	mirrors: unknown[],
 	repoByName: Map<string, { id: string; name: string }>,
 	backupServiceModule: typeof import("../backups/backups.service"),
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<ImportResult> {
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 	try {
-		const mirrorConfigs: Array<{ repositoryId: string; enabled: boolean }> = [];
+		const existingMirrors = await backupServiceModule.backupsService.getMirrors(scheduleId);
+		const existingRepoIds = new Set(existingMirrors.map((m) => m.repositoryId));
+
+		const mirrorConfigs: Array<{ repositoryId: string; repositoryName: string; enabled: boolean }> = [];
 
 		for (const m of mirrors) {
 			if (!isRecord(m)) continue;
@@ -478,39 +583,70 @@ async function attachScheduleMirrors(
 						: null;
 
 			if (!repoName) {
-				logger.warn("Mirror missing repository name; skipping");
+				logger.warn(`Mirror missing repository name for schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+				result.warnings++;
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			const repo = repoByName.get(repoName);
 			if (!repo) {
-				logger.warn(`Mirror repository '${repoName}' not found; skipping`);
+				logger.warn(`Mirror repository '${repoName}' not found for schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+				result.warnings++;
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			mirrorConfigs.push({
 				repositoryId: repo.id,
+				repositoryName: repo.name,
 				enabled: typeof m.enabled === "boolean" ? m.enabled : true,
 			});
 		}
 
-		if (mirrorConfigs.length === 0) return;
+		// Filter out already attached mirrors and track skipped
+		const newMirrors: typeof mirrorConfigs = [];
+		for (const m of mirrorConfigs) {
+			if (existingRepoIds.has(m.repositoryId)) {
+				logger.info(`Mirror '${m.repositoryName}' already attached to schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+				result.skipped++;
+			} else {
+				newMirrors.push(m);
+			}
+		}
+		if (newMirrors.length === 0) return result;
 
-		await backupServiceModule.backupsService.updateMirrors(scheduleId, { mirrors: mirrorConfigs });
-		logger.info(`Assigned ${mirrorConfigs.length} mirror(s) to backup schedule`);
+		// Merge existing with new (strip repositoryName for API call)
+		const mergedMirrors = [
+			...existingMirrors.map((m) => ({
+				repositoryId: m.repositoryId,
+				enabled: m.enabled,
+			})),
+			...newMirrors.map(({ repositoryName: _, ...rest }) => rest),
+		];
+
+		await backupServiceModule.backupsService.updateMirrors(scheduleId, { mirrors: mergedMirrors });
+		const mirrorNames = newMirrors.map((m) => m.repositoryName).join(", ");
+		logger.info(`Assigned mirror(s) [${mirrorNames}] to schedule '${scheduleName}'`);
+		result.succeeded += newMirrors.length;
 	} catch (e) {
-		const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-		logger.warn(`Failed to assign mirrors to schedule: ${err.message}`);
+		logger.warn(`Failed to assign mirrors to schedule '${scheduleName}': ${toError(e).message}`);
+		result.warnings++;
 	}
+	return result;
 }
 
-async function setupInitialUser(users: unknown[], recoveryKey: string | null): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+async function importUsers(users: unknown[], recoveryKey: string | null): Promise<ImportResult> {
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 
 	try {
 		const { authService } = await import("../auth/auth.service");
 		const hasUsers = await authService.hasUsers();
-		if (hasUsers) return result;
+		if (hasUsers) {
+			if (Array.isArray(users) && users.length > 0) {
+				logger.info("Users already exist; skipping user import from config");
+				result.skipped++;
+			}
+			return result;
+		}
 		if (!Array.isArray(users) || users.length === 0) return result;
 
 		if (users.length > 1) {
@@ -521,8 +657,16 @@ async function setupInitialUser(users: unknown[], recoveryKey: string | null): P
 		}
 
 		for (const u of users) {
-			if (!isRecord(u)) continue;
-			if (typeof u.username !== "string" || u.username.length === 0) continue;
+			if (!isRecord(u)) {
+				logger.warn("Invalid user entry in config; skipping");
+				result.warnings++;
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (typeof u.username !== "string" || u.username.length === 0) {
+				logger.warn("User entry missing username; skipping");
+				result.warnings++;
+				continue;
+			}
 
 			if (typeof u.passwordHash === "string" && u.passwordHash.length > 0) {
 				try {
@@ -575,33 +719,36 @@ async function setupInitialUser(users: unknown[], recoveryKey: string | null): P
 }
 
 async function runImport(config: ImportConfig): Promise<ImportResult> {
-	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
+	const result: ImportResult = { succeeded: 0, skipped: 0, warnings: 0, errors: 0 };
 
-	const recoveryKeyResult = await writeRecoveryKeyFromConfig(config.recoveryKey);
-	const volumeResult = await importVolumes(config.volumes);
-	const repoResult = await importRepositories(config.repositories);
-	const notifResult = await importNotificationDestinations(config.notificationDestinations);
-	const scheduleResult = await importBackupSchedules(config.backupSchedules);
-	const userResult = await setupInitialUser(config.users, config.recoveryKey);
+	mergeResults(result, await writeRecoveryKeyFromConfig(config.recoveryKey));
 
-	for (const r of [recoveryKeyResult, volumeResult, repoResult, notifResult, scheduleResult, userResult]) {
-		result.succeeded += r.succeeded;
-		result.warnings += r.warnings;
-		result.errors += r.errors;
+	// Stop immediately if recovery key has errors (e.g., mismatch with existing key)
+	if (result.errors > 0) {
+		return result;
 	}
 
+	mergeResults(result, await importVolumes(config.volumes));
+	mergeResults(result, await importRepositories(config.repositories));
+	mergeResults(result, await importNotificationDestinations(config.notificationDestinations));
+	mergeResults(result, await importBackupSchedules(config.backupSchedules));
+	mergeResults(result, await importUsers(config.users, config.recoveryKey));
+
 	return result;
 }
 
 function logImportSummary(result: ImportResult): void {
+	const skippedMsg = result.skipped > 0 ? `, ${result.skipped} skipped` : "";
 	if (result.errors > 0) {
 		logger.error(
-			`Config import completed with ${result.errors} error(s) and ${result.warnings} warning(s), ${result.succeeded} item(s) imported`,
+			`Config import completed with ${result.errors} error(s) and ${result.warnings} warning(s), ${result.succeeded} imported${skippedMsg}`,
 		);
 	} else if (result.warnings > 0) {
-		logger.warn(`Config import completed with ${result.warnings} warning(s), ${result.succeeded} item(s) imported`);
-	} else if (result.succeeded > 0) {
-		logger.info(`Config import completed successfully: ${result.succeeded} item(s) imported`);
+		logger.warn(
+			`Config import completed with ${result.warnings} warning(s), ${result.succeeded} imported${skippedMsg}`,
+		);
+	} else if (result.succeeded > 0 || result.skipped > 0) {
+		logger.info(`Config import completed: ${result.succeeded} imported${skippedMsg}`);
 	} else {
 		logger.info("Config import completed: no items to import");
 	}
@@ -632,7 +779,6 @@ export async function applyConfigImportFromFile(): Promise<void> {
 		const result = await runImport(config);
 		logImportSummary(result);
 	} catch (e) {
-		const err = e instanceof Error ? e : new Error(String(e));
-		logger.error(`Config import failed: ${err.message}`);
+		logger.error(`Config import failed: ${toError(e).message}`);
 	}
 }