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    User documentation

    Importing and backing up data

    Bring subscriptions and history with you, and save a copy of your library.

    Find the import and export controls

    1. Open your profile menu and select All settings.
    2. Select Data & Storage.
    3. Open the Data tab. Choose Export backup or Import backup for one OpenTubeX ZIP, an action for an individual file, or Import YouTube Takeout ZIP for a downloaded YouTube archive.
    Data settings with unified backup controls, a YouTube Takeout ZIP import button, and individual import and export actions.

    Desktop Data settings. Import a YouTube Takeout ZIP directly, or choose an action for an individual file.

    Import subscriptions

    1. Export subscriptions from your previous app. For YouTube, request a YouTube data export through Google Takeout, including subscriptions.
    2. Select Import Subscriptions and choose the individual file. For Takeout, extract subscriptions/subscriptions.csv from the ZIP first, or use Import YouTube Takeout ZIP to select the archive, choose the categories to import, select Preview changes, then Import selected data.
    3. Wait for the import result. Open Subscriptions, check the active profile, and refresh the feed.

    Supported subscription formats include OpenTubeX / FreeTube .db, YouTube Takeout .csv, .json, or .opml, NewPipe .json, and LibreTube backup or FreeTube export .json. A JSON file must contain the expected export data; renaming a different file does not convert it.

    Get your subscriptions from YouTube

    Follow the Google Takeout walkthrough to export subscriptions, history, and playlists. It covers export selection, the JSON history format, and importing the ZIP directly.

    Move from another app

    Export a subscription file from your previous app, then transfer it to the device running OpenTubeX. Use a subscriptions export rather than a full archive when your app offers both. For OpenTubeX or FreeTube, keep the original .db file; for NewPipe, use its subscriptions .json export. Import the file with the steps above.

    The client comparison lists the FreeTube data that OpenTubeX can import.

    Import history or playlists

    1. In the Data tab, choose Import History, Import Playlists, or Import search history.
    2. Select the matching exported file and wait for the result.
    3. Open the corresponding library page to check the imported entries.

    History accepts OpenTubeX / FreeTube .db, YouTube Takeout .json, and LibreTube backup .json. Search history accepts OpenTubeX / FreeTube .db and YouTube Takeout .json. Import Playlists accepts OpenTubeX / FreeTube .db exports and individual YouTube Takeout playlist .csv files. Use Import YouTube Takeout ZIP for multiple Takeout playlists together.

    If imported history has missing details or incorrect LIVE labels, use Repair History.

    Back up your library

    1. Open Settings → Data & Storage → Data and select Export backup.
    2. Choose the categories to include, select Export selected data, then save the ZIP file in a backup location you can find on your other device.
    3. On that device, select Import backup and choose the ZIP. OpenTubeX offers only the categories the ZIP contains and previews how many items are new, already present, or skipped. Select the categories to import, then Import selected data.

    The ZIP contains separate JSON files for the selected categories: profiles and subscriptions, playlists, watch history, search history, watch statistics, and transferable settings. All categories are selected by default. Importing merges the selected categories with data already on the device; records with matching IDs or dates are updated. You can still export or import individual categories using the separate actions.

    The ZIP does not include open tab sessions or the entire application profile. Transferable settings omit device-specific options and sync credentials, such as proxy configuration, external-player paths, screenshot folders, and the sync privacy key. Configure sync separately on the other device using the sync setup guide.

    Back up on a schedule

    On desktop, Scheduled backups in Settings → Data & Storage → Data saves a complete backup ZIP to a folder you choose. Select Choose backup folder, turn on Enable scheduled backups, and pick a Backup frequency of daily, weekly, or every 30 days, and how many backups to keep. Backups run while OpenTubeX is open; a missed backup runs at the next startup.

    Exports contain your personal viewing data; store them privately. For a full desktop profile backup, follow Back up or move to another device. Downloaded video and audio files are separate from these exports and the profile backup; copy those files separately if you need them.

    If an import fails

    Check the file type against the supported formats above and make sure you selected the correct action. For YouTube Takeout ZIPs, check that the archive contains the selected data and that history was exported as JSON. Keep the original export unchanged. If an import reports skipped items, inspect the result before assuming everything transferred. See Troubleshooting for the next steps.

    Next: Import from Google Takeout →