Deep Learning Toolbox Converter for TensorFlow Models

Import and export TensorFlow models within MATLAB
9.4K Downloads
Updated 17 Sep 2025
The converter for TensorFlow models enables you to import a pretrained TensorFlow model and weights and export a MATLAB dlnetwork as a TensorFlow model.
Import:
To import a TensorFlow network in MATLAB, please refer to importNetworkFromTensorFlow.
Note: importNetworkFromTensorFlow accepts TensorFlow models in the SavedModel format. Use the following commands before import to save a TensorFlow model in the SavedModel format.
For TensorFlow versions 2.15 and earlier, save the model with the following Python command: :
model.save("modelName")
For TensorFlow versions 2.16 and later, save the model with the following Python commands.
First, install the Keras 2 (tf_keras) package:
pip install tf_keras
Note: if you are using a Jupyter notebook, restart the notebook kernel before running the code.
Now, precede any import tensorflow statement with the following lines of code:
import os
os.environ["TF_USE_LEGACY_KERAS"] = "1"
import tensorflow
Next, Import Keras 2 (tf_keras) as keras. Do not import Keras 3 (keras) directly. Keras 3 specific features are unsupported:
import tf_keras as keras
from tf_keras import layers
To verify if you are using Keras 2, the following command should print `False`
is_keras3 = hasattr(keras, "version"))
print(is_keras3)
Finally, once you verify the Keras version, save the model:
model.save("modelName")
The TensorFlow Model Importer has been tested up to 2.15. SavedModels saved with versions 2.16 and higher may also work without issues. When using tf_keras for versions 2.16 and higher, Keras 3 specific features such as Keras Ops will not be supported.
Export:
To export a TensorFlow dlnetwork from MATLAB, please refer to exportNetworkToTensorFlow.
Export supports:
  • TensorFlow v2.0 or later, no support for Keras 3.0
  • Python version 3.0 or later
MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2017b
Compatible with R2017b to R2025b
Platform Compatibility
Windows macOS (Apple silicon) macOS (Intel) Linux
Categories
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