--- title: "How to restore lost bookmarks in Opera | VaultForYou" description: "Lost bookmarks in Opera? First check the bar and the manager, then bring them back from sync, the Bookmarks.bak file or an HTML export. Step by step." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/opera lang: en published: 2026-11-03 updated: 2026-11-03 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # How to restore lost bookmarks in Opera > Most "lost" bookmarks are hidden; the rest come back from sync, the .bak file or an export. Published 2026-11-03 - Updated 2026-11-03 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team - Checked against each browser's help pages, November 2026 ## Quick answer Check first that they are only hidden: open `opera://bookmarks` and search. If they are really gone, turn sync back on with an Opera account, rename Bookmarks.bak to Bookmarks in the profile folder, or import your last HTML export. - **Check first:** `opera://bookmarks` - **From sync:** Easy setup -> Sync, or Settings -> Synchronization - **From the .bak file:** Rename Bookmarks.bak to Bookmarks while the browser is closed ## Restore bookmarks in Opera 1. **Look in the manager** Open `opera://bookmarks` and search by name. Check every folder, including Other bookmarks. 2. **Check the profile** Click the profile picture at the top right: another profile has its own bookmarks. 3. **Turn sync on** Easy setup -> Sync, or Settings -> Synchronization. The account's copy downloads within a few minutes. 4. **Use Bookmarks.bak** Close Opera, open `%APPDATA%\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Default\Bookmarks (older installs: without the Default folder)` (Windows) or `~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera/Default/Bookmarks` (Mac), rename Bookmarks.bak to Bookmarks, reopen Opera. 5. **Import an export** opera://bookmarks -> Import/Export -> Import bookmarks, or Opera menu -> Bookmarks -> Import bookmarks and settings, and choose the last .html file you saved. Menu labels change between versions of Opera; the shortcut and the internal address `opera://bookmarks` don't. ## The three ways back - **Sync.** If bookmarks sync through an Opera account, sign in on this device and turn bookmarks sync on (Easy setup -> Sync, or Settings -> Synchronization); the account copy comes back. - **Bookmarks.bak.** Close Opera. In `%APPDATA%\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Default\Bookmarks (older installs: without the Default folder)` (Windows) or `~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera/Default/Bookmarks` (Mac), rename Bookmarks to Bookmarks.old and Bookmarks.bak to Bookmarks, then start Opera. This restores the list as it was when Opera last started. - **An export.** Import your last HTML export from opera://bookmarks -> Import/Export -> Import bookmarks, or Opera menu -> Bookmarks -> Import bookmarks and settings. ## Why they disappeared The usual causes: a different profile or account was active, sync was turned off and bookmarks removed from this device, a deletion synced in from another device, or the profile was reset. Opera doesn't delete bookmarks on its own. ## Keep some bookmarks out of Opera altogether Private Bookmarks has its own encrypted backup, independent of Opera's profile and sync, so a browser reset doesn't take the vault with it. [Private Bookmarks](/private-bookmarks) is our free extension that saves pages into an encrypted vault on this computer: AES-256-GCM, a key derived from your password, no account, no sync and no network access. Saved pages never appear in the bookmarks bar, in `opera://bookmarks` or in an Opera account, and the vault locks itself after a few minutes. Opera installs Chrome Web Store extensions once the free "Install Chrome Extensions" add-on from Opera's own add-ons site is in place. After that, Add to Chrome becomes Add to Opera. > **Add Private Bookmarks to Opera.** Free. Installs from the Chrome Web Store. [Add to Chrome](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/private-bookmarks-by-vaul/laonjbpehlabehhllohfaffbcpholdho) ## Frequently asked questions ### My bookmarks bar disappeared. Are the bookmarks gone? Open Opera menu -> Bookmarks -> Bookmarks, or the Bookmarks icon in the sidebar; they are usually in a folder you didn't expect. ### How long does Bookmarks.bak last? It is rewritten each time Opera starts, from the current Bookmarks file. Close Opera as soon as you notice the loss and copy the .bak file before reopening. ### Can Opera restore my bookmarks? Only what sync holds. An Opera account keeps the current list, not old versions, so a deletion that synced is gone from the account too. ### Will I lose private bookmarks too? Private Bookmarks' vault is stored separately from Opera's profile and never synced. Removing the extension deletes it, so export its encrypted backup from the extension's Settings and keep that file. ## Sources - [Opera Help: Bookmarks](https://help.opera.com/en/latest/features/#bookmarks) - [Opera add-ons: Install Chrome Extensions](https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/install-chrome-extensions/) ## Restore lost bookmarks in other browsers - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Google Chrome](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/chrome) - [How to restore lost favorites in Microsoft Edge](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/edge) - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Chrome on a Chromebook](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/chromebook) - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Brave](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/brave) - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Vivaldi](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/vivaldi) - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Chrome on Android](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/chrome-android) - [How to restore lost bookmarks in Chrome on iPhone and iPad](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks/chrome-iphone) - [All browsers: restore lost bookmarks](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/restore-bookmarks) ## More for Opera - [How to show the bookmarks bar in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/show-bookmarks-bar/opera) - [How to bookmark a page in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/add-bookmark/opera) - [How to delete bookmarks in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/delete-bookmarks/opera) - [How to export bookmarks in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/export-bookmarks/opera) - [How to import bookmarks in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/import-bookmarks/opera) - [How to find where bookmarks are stored in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/where-bookmarks-are-stored/opera) - [How to organize bookmarks in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/organize-bookmarks/opera) - [How to edit bookmarks in Opera](https://www.vaultforyou.app/bookmarks/edit-bookmarks/opera) --- Private Bookmarks by VaultForYou is a Chrome extension made by VaultForYou. Add to Chrome: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/private-bookmarks-by-vaul/laonjbpehlabehhllohfaffbcpholdho