Backup and Transfer Opera Settings - A Complete Guide
Backing Up and Transferring Opera Settings, Profiles, and Browsing Sessions
Previously, methods for backing up Firefox and Google Chrome profiles were detailed. For Opera users, a dedicated, cost-free utility simplifies the process of backing up Opera profiles, configurations, and even active browsing sessions.
Opera Link and its Limitations
Opera provides a synchronization feature, known as Opera Link, enabling the syncing of bookmarks, the personal bar, browsing history, the Speed Dial, notes, and search engines across multiple devices. However, this service does not extend to the synchronization of current browsing sessions or saved passwords.
Introducing Stu's Opera Settings Import & Export Tool
To address this limitation, a free tool called Stu's Opera Settings Import & Export tool has been developed. This application allows for the complete export of Opera settings, profiles, and browsing sessions into an archive, which can then be imported into Opera on the same or a different computer.
Installation and Launch
The Stu's Opera Settings Import & Export tool is a portable application, meaning installation is not required. Simply download the .zip file from the link provided at the end of this article. To run the program, double-click the osie.exe file.
An introductory dialog box will appear. Review the information presented and click OK to dismiss it.
Note: To check for available updates, click the "Check for Updates" button. The program's webpage can be accessed by clicking "Homepage."
Exporting Opera Settings
To initiate the export process, click "Export your Opera settings to an archive" on the main dialog box. Then, click "Next."
The tool will automatically locate the default Opera settings directory. If your settings, profiles, or sessions are stored in a different location, click "Browse" to specify the correct path. Select the desired location from the list and click "Next" to proceed.
The dialog box displays the settings found in the selected location. Items without associated data are also listed. Selecting a check box for an item without data will prompt you to choose a location for that setting.
All items containing data are automatically selected. To exclude specific items from the export, deselect their corresponding check boxes and click "Next."
Saving the Archive
The "Save file as" dialog box will appear. Navigate to the folder where you wish to save the archive. Enter a filename for the archive in the "File name" field and click "Save."
Note: The file will be saved automatically as a .tgz file if you do not explicitly specify the .tar.gz extension. Both extensions are compatible with most archive programs, such as 7-Zip and WinZip, allowing you to extract the settings in their original format if needed.
The "Export Complete" dialog box confirms the successful export of your settings to the specified location. Click "OK."
Importing Opera Settings
To import settings into Opera, launch the osie.exe program again and select the "Import your previously exported settings into Opera" radio button. Then, click "Next."
On the "Select a settings archive to import" dialog box, navigate to the folder containing the .tgz or .tar.gz file, select the file, and click "Open."
The settings contained within the archive file are displayed. All items with data are selected by default. To deselect an item, click its check box to remove the check mark. Click "Next."
Choose the location where you want to import your Opera settings. The default location is pre-selected. To choose a different location, use the "Browse" button. Click "Next."
Existing Opera settings that will be replaced are listed for review. To remove any current settings before importing, select the desired settings and check the "Delete these settings from disk" box. Click "Next."
A confirmation dialog box appears, warning that current settings will be overwritten. Click "Yes" to continue importing your settings.
The "Import Complete" dialog box appears when the import process is finished. Click "OK."
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Because Stu's Opera Settings Import & Export Tool supports both Windows and Linux and creates .tgz or .tar.gz files compatible with both operating systems, it can be used to migrate settings between Windows and Linux, or vice versa.
Download Stu's Opera Settings Import & Export Tool from http://my.opera.com/Disco%20Stu/blog/opera-settings-import-export-tool.