How can I move bookmarks to Opera from other browsers?

In the past, the computer screen would occasionally ask me if I wanted to move Bookmarks to the browser I happened to be using. I would say, yes, and with a click or two, the job was done. This time, I'm not being asked, but I do want to transfer all of the Bookmarks in all of the browsers I used, including Opera, to my new computer. Remember, I want to transfer all of those Bookmarks from my old iMac to the Opera browser in my new iMac. How do I do it?

iMac 24″, macOS 13.0

Posted on Nov 26, 2022 2:57 PM

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Posted on Nov 26, 2022 7:38 PM

I just installed Opera, I haven't taken a look at it in years. The setup wizard displays the following and offers to import and there's a drop down list of browsers to choose from:



If you missed that during the installation, you can click Option + CMD + B or click the Bookmarks menu. There's another pop-up dialog offering to Import your bookmarks. If you still missed that one. Click the link at the bottom of the Bookmarks sidebar, "Open full Bookmarks view" and there should be an Import Bookmarks button right in the middle of the screen. If that is not there. On the left-sidebar at the bottom there is now an Import/Export button. You can drop down the list of browsers, select each one and import the bookmarks.


Ideally, when migrating from an old Mac to a new one you should use the /Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant and have it copy at least your data files. That should cover your ~/Library which contains all these App settings and their data.



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 26, 2022 7:38 PM in response to Niku

I just installed Opera, I haven't taken a look at it in years. The setup wizard displays the following and offers to import and there's a drop down list of browsers to choose from:



If you missed that during the installation, you can click Option + CMD + B or click the Bookmarks menu. There's another pop-up dialog offering to Import your bookmarks. If you still missed that one. Click the link at the bottom of the Bookmarks sidebar, "Open full Bookmarks view" and there should be an Import Bookmarks button right in the middle of the screen. If that is not there. On the left-sidebar at the bottom there is now an Import/Export button. You can drop down the list of browsers, select each one and import the bookmarks.


Ideally, when migrating from an old Mac to a new one you should use the /Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant and have it copy at least your data files. That should cover your ~/Library which contains all these App settings and their data.



Nov 26, 2022 8:35 PM in response to Niku

Thanks for your tips. I'll see what I can do tomorrow. For now, I'll just say that I, too, recently installed Opera in my new iMac, but I didn't see what you mentioned during the installation.I have a funny relationship with Opera. It's my browser of choice because of its speed and appearance, but I have resigned myself of having to reinstall it every few months. I have learned that when it starts breaking down, and it always does, that's the easiest and best thing you can do. I will never again try to forestall its ultimate collapse. That's just a waste of time, especially since reinstalling it is so easy and takes so little time. How many times have I done this? I'd say five times in the last year.

Nov 26, 2022 8:49 PM in response to Niku

Hmm, well that's disconcerting. I would suspect there are bugs in Opera corrupting its configuration data. Or perhaps you've been victimized by adware / malware. Are you deleting the folders below when you re-install?

~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera

~/Library/Saved Application State/com.operasoftware.Opera.savedState


Make a copy of it first as a precaution.


There is a scan and reporting tool we use a lot on these forums called EtreCheck. The author volunteers on these forums helping people. The software is free to use and you can install it, run a scan and upload the report in reply. Use the Additional Text button to attach it. It will show if there's anything suspicious like adware / malware running. It only collects technical details about your hardware and software and what's loading behind the scenes. It does not share any personal information.

Nov 27, 2022 1:54 AM in response to James Brickley

I have just updated Etrecheck to its latest version (6.7.3) and run it on my Opera problem. I will post the report here when you tell me how to do that. I ask for help because I was never able to post my last Etrecheck here, so I finally gave up. I want to succeed this time. It's late nw, so I will read your reply tomorrow.

Nov 27, 2022 5:40 AM in response to Niku

You will need to allow all the requested privacy settings when you install the software. EtreCheck requires, full disk access and a few other settings.


  1. Choose the problem (not important at all, pick anything)
  2. Click Start, scan runs.
  3. Click the Share Report [⬆︎] on the toolbar at the top.
  4. Click Copy Report.
  5. A pop-up appears "How to use your EtreCheck report"
  6. Click the "How to Post" button at the bottom.
  7. Another pop-up explains how to post to the Apple forums.
  8. Reply to this email and click the Additional Text button per the "How to Post" instructions.
  9. Enter a title such as Etrecheck Report
  10. Click in the Body and press CMD + V to paste the text and then submit the Additional Text.
  11. Post your reply.

Nov 27, 2022 7:10 AM in response to James Brickley

My Gawd!!! I don't know if I can do it. I was able to post several Etrecheck reports in the past, but the instructions MUST have changed. You have to run a real soul-crushing gauntlet now. Even finding the EtreCheckPro app that I just downloaded a few hours ago was a bit of a struggle. Anyway, I have printed all of the instructions, so I don't have to keep changing screens, and I will persevere. Does Etrecheck give medals for completing a post here?

Nov 27, 2022 7:31 AM in response to Niku

Success? By accident, I just printed an 21-page report entitled, "How to use Etrecheck." I'll give it a study before proceeding further. Maybe I won't even have to post the report here. Incidentally, I forgot to thank you for all of your help. It was greatly appreciated. Thanks a million.

Nov 27, 2022 8:09 AM in response to Niku

The report lists things that load during startup. Malware / Adware installs background services which can then re-inject themselves into various browsers. Changing the home page, delivering ads, tracking your activity, etc. I would need to review the report to look for anything suspicious like that.


Might be nothing more than Opera bugs or might be some nasty thing that keeps breaking your Opera browser. A friends kid kept installing free games that included adware and I was constantly removing it. When you install some software outside the App Store you need to pay attention, there's usually tiny fine print and a checkbox or two that is checked by default authorizing the vendor to install shopping assistants, search engines, extensions, etc. All are adware as the developer receives money from these shady marketing companies to distribute their junk ware. The marketing companies collect personal data because they can sell it. Another form of attack is more malicious and involves pirating software and hackers put malicious payloads into the installer so it rides along for free so to speak. The malware then hides behind the scenes but typically breaks stuff. Newer macOS versions are less susceptible to this but now and then I still run across nasty stuff. Worth checking to make sure you don't have anything running that is causing the browser problem requiring you to re-install it frequently.

Nov 27, 2022 8:12 AM in response to Niku

Basically, to understand the report and to identify adware / malware it takes a pro like me to review it. There's plenty of legit things that load in the background. But I can usually spot stuff that shouldn't be there. There are some built-in buttons on EtreCheck to perform common fixes. But I really need to see the report to confirm any malware issue.


Another good tool is MalwareBytes which works most of the time and can be freely installed and run. It will remove the bad stuff if it finds anything. Still might need to check-in with me to confirm all is good. Sometimes MalwareBytes doesn't remove all of the junk and leaves some things behind.

Nov 27, 2022 8:16 AM in response to Niku

You are obviously one who "goes above and beyond the call of duty." Such service is hard to find these days. Anyway, oh, I do have one question, are all Adobe products frowned upon these days, or is it only one? I have AdobeGCClient.988 and Adobe Bridge 202.app installed. Are they ok?

Nov 27, 2022 11:33 AM in response to Niku

Adobe software is big and complex but it's not something that should interfere with web browsers. So long as you installed Adobe software via Creative Cloud and not a pirated version. i.e. you have a paid subscription for Creative Cloud. There are alternatives such as Affinity Photos, Designer, and Publisher which are not subscription and priced very reasonably. Just doesn't do everything Adobe Creative Cloud can do, yet.

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How can I move bookmarks to Opera from other browsers?

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