How to Move Vivaldi to a New Laptop on Windows 11

Sync can transfer bookmarks, Speed Dials, stored passwords, autofill information, history, extensions, web apps, Reading List entries, open tabs, notes without attachments, and some settings. It does not reproduce every part of a browser profile, however. Cookies, active website logins, some custom settings, local mail data, note attachments, and certain extension data may need separate attention.

If you cannot or do not want to use Sync, you can export important data manually or move the Vivaldi profile folder. The full-profile method requires more care because passwords and cookies are encrypted for the original Windows account and because Vivaldi profiles contain identifiers that should not be used by two active installations.

I recommend keeping the old laptop unchanged until you have opened Vivaldi on the new computer and confirmed that everything important has arrived.

Best Ways to Transfer Vivaldi to a New Computer

The correct method depends on what you want to move and whether the old laptop still works.

Transfer method	Best for	What it can move	Main limitation
Vivaldi Sync	Most users	Bookmarks, passwords, history, extensions, open tabs, notes, Reading List and some settings	Does not transfer every local file or setting
Export and import	Users who want a selective offline transfer	Bookmarks, passwords, notes, Reading List and other supported items	Several separate files and steps are required
Full profile transfer	Advanced users who need sessions and local configuration	Most files stored in the Vivaldi profile	Passwords and cookies may not work, and duplicated profile identifiers can cause problems
Windows file transfer or network share	Moving exported files or a profile backup	Whatever files you select	Does not make the browser data usable by itself

For most people, the safest approach is:

1. Use Sync for supported data.
2. Export critical items as an additional backup.
3. Check whether any mail, calendar, feed, session, workspace, or extension information needs separate handling.
4. Use a full-profile move only when Sync and export do not cover what you need.

What Vivaldi Sync Transfers

According to the official Vivaldi Sync documentation, the desktop browser currently supports syncing:

• Bookmarks and Speed Dials
• Some settings
• Stored website passwords
• Autofill information
• Browsing history, typed addresses and searches
• Extensions
• Web apps
• Reading List entries
• Open tabs
• Notes, but not their attachments

Vivaldi encrypts Sync data on your computer before sending it to its servers. The encryption password is separate from the account login password unless you deliberately made them the same. You need that encryption password, or a previously saved backup encryption key, to decrypt the data on the new laptop.

Vivaldi also warns that Sync should not be treated as your only backup. It is designed to keep browser information synchronized between devices. Keep an offline export or profile backup when the information is valuable.

What May Not Transfer Automatically

Do not assume that signing in to Sync will create an exact copy of the old installation. Check these items separately:

• Cookies and current website login sessions
• Notes attachments
• Some browser settings and custom interface choices
• Extension-specific data stored outside the synced extension
• Saved sessions and workspace arrangements
• Custom CSS modifications
• Locally installed themes or manually edited files
• Mail accounts and locally stored messages
• Calendar accounts and local calendar data
• Feed subscriptions and downloaded feed content
• Multiple Vivaldi user profiles

Extensions may reinstall through Sync, but you might need to sign in to them again or restore their settings from the extension developer’s own backup system.

Similarly, open tabs may appear through Synced Tabs rather than reopening as an identical set of windows and tab stacks. Confirm important workspaces and saved sessions before retiring the old computer.

Before You Move Vivaldi

Complete these checks on the old laptop first.

1. Update Vivaldi

Open the Vivaldi menu and select Help > Check for Updates. Install any available update and restart the browser.

The new laptop should use the same Vivaldi version or a newer one. Moving a profile created by a newer browser into an older installation can cause database or settings problems.

2. Confirm the old profile is working

Open your bookmarks, saved passwords, notes, extensions and frequently used websites. If the old profile is already damaged, syncing or copying it may carry the problem to the new laptop.

3. Find your profile path

Enter this address in Vivaldi:

vivaldi://about

Look for Profile Path under the browser information. Use the displayed path instead of assuming that every installation stores its files in the same place.

A standard Windows installation often uses a location similar to:

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Vivaldi\User Data\Default

Standalone installations and additional profiles can use different folders.

4. Record your Sync information

Make sure you know:

• Your Vivaldi username
• Your account login password
• Your Sync encryption password
• The location of your backup encryption key, if you created one

The login password and encryption password serve different purposes. Changing your Vivaldi account password does not automatically change the Sync encryption password.

5. Create more than one backup

For important browser data, I recommend using both Sync and an offline export. This protects you if you forget the encryption password, select the wrong Sync option, or discover that a particular item is not included.

Save the backup to a USB drive, external SSD or another secure location. Do not keep the only copy on the old laptop.

Method 1: Move Vivaldi Using Sync

This is the recommended method for transferring Vivaldi to a new laptop on Windows 11.

Step 1: Enable Sync on the old laptop

1. Open Vivaldi.
2. Click the profile icon near the right side of the address bar.
3. Select the Sync option.
4. Alternatively, open Settings > Sync.
5. Sign in with your Vivaldi username and account password.
6. Enter your Sync encryption password.
7. Choose Sync All Data or select the data categories individually.
8. Click Start Syncing.

Select every category you expect to use on the new computer. If Passwords or Extensions is not selected, those items will not be downloaded later.

Step 2: Save the backup encryption key

While you still have access to the working old profile:

1. Open Settings > Sync.
2. Confirm that you are signed in and have entered the encryption password.
3. Select Save Backup Encryption Key.
4. Store the key on an external drive or in another trusted location.

The key can decrypt your Sync data if you cannot enter the encryption password later. It remains useful until you reset the remote Sync data.

Do not leave the only copy of the key inside the old laptop.

Step 3: Allow the old laptop to finish syncing

Keep Vivaldi open and connected to the internet. Large profiles can take time to upload.

Check that Sync does not display an error. You can also make a small test change, such as creating a temporary bookmark, and see whether it later appears on the new laptop.

Do not reset remote Sync data during the transfer. Resetting it deletes the encrypted copy held on the Sync server.

Step 4: Install Vivaldi on the new Windows 11 laptop

Download Vivaldi from its official website and complete the installation. Use the normal Stable version unless you intentionally used a different Vivaldi channel on the old computer.

Open the browser once and complete the initial setup. You do not need to recreate all your bookmarks and settings manually.

Step 5: Sign in to Sync on the new laptop

1. Open Vivaldi > Settings > Sync.
2. Enter the same Vivaldi username.
3. Enter the account login password.
4. Enter the Sync encryption password.
5. If you cannot use the encryption password, choose Load Encryption Key and select the saved key file.
6. Choose the same data categories you enabled on the old computer.
7. Start syncing.

The first download can take several minutes for a large profile. Extensions may install gradually, and some browser changes may become clearer after restarting Vivaldi.

Step 6: Verify the transferred data

Check:

• Bookmark folders and Speed Dials
• Saved passwords
• History
• Notes
• Reading List
• Installed extensions
• Synced tabs
• Search and browser preferences

Do not erase or reset the old computer just because the Sync page says it has finished. Open several important bookmarks, test a few saved passwords and confirm that notes contain the information you expect.

Method 2: Export and Import Vivaldi Data Manually

Manual export is useful when you do not want to create a Vivaldi account, cannot use Sync, or want an offline backup before moving.

Vivaldi’s official import and export instructions provide separate options for bookmarks, passwords, notes and Reading List entries.

This method is safer than copying unknown database files because Vivaldi creates files intended for transfer.

Export and import bookmarks

On the old laptop:

1. Open the Vivaldi menu.
2. Select File > Export Bookmarks.
3. Choose a location on your USB drive or transfer folder.
4. Vivaldi saves the bookmarks as an HTML file.

On the new laptop:

1. Open File > Import from Applications or Files.
2. Select Bookmarks HTML File.
3. Choose the exported file.
4. Start the import.

The imported bookmarks may appear inside a new folder. Review the result before running the import again, or you may create duplicates.

Export and import passwords

Sync is the safer and more convenient way to transfer saved passwords. If you must use a file:

1. On the old laptop, open File > Export > Export Passwords.
2. Verify your identity with your Windows login method.
3. Save the CSV file to a secure removable drive.
4. On the new laptop, enter the following address:

vivaldi://password-manager/settings

5. Find Import passwords and click Select file.
6. Choose the exported CSV file.
7. Test several imported logins.
8. Delete the CSV file when you no longer need it.

A password CSV is not encrypted. Anyone who opens it can read the website addresses, usernames and passwords in plain text. Do not email it to yourself, leave it in Downloads, upload it to an unprotected cloud folder or keep it on a shared USB drive.

Export and import notes

On the old laptop:

1. Select File > Export > Export Notes.
2. Choose an empty folder.
3. Vivaldi saves each note as a text or Markdown file.

On the new laptop:

1. Open File > Import from Applications or Files.
2. Select Notes Folder.
3. Choose the folder containing the exported notes.
4. Start the import.

Review notes that originally contained screenshots or other attachments because Sync does not include note attachments and a text export may not reproduce every embedded item.

Export and import the Reading List

On the old laptop:

1. Open File > Export > Export Reading List.
2. Save the CSV file to your transfer drive.

On the new laptop:

1. Open File > Import from Applications or Files.
2. Select Reading List (CSV).
3. Choose the exported file.
4. Complete the import.

If Windows hides file extensions and you need to confirm whether an export is HTML or CSV, follow how to show and change file types in Windows 11. Do not rename a file extension as a substitute for exporting it in the correct format.

Transfer the exported files

You can move the export folder with:

• A USB flash drive
• An external hard drive or SSD
• A trusted cloud storage account
• A direct local network share

If both laptops are connected to the same private network, creating a Samba share on Windows 11 can provide a convenient transfer folder. Remove the share or reduce its permissions after the migration, especially if it contains a password CSV.

Method 3: Move the Complete Vivaldi Profile

A full-profile transfer can preserve items that are not covered by ordinary exports, including history databases, sessions, extension files and local preferences. It is an advanced fallback, not the best first option.

Vivaldi recommends Sync and built-in export/import before profile replacement. Its support documentation also warns that saved passwords and cookies will not transfer between computers through a profile move because those files are protected by the original operating-system credentials.

Important profile-transfer limitations

Before continuing, understand that:

• Saved passwords may be present in the profile but unusable on the new Windows account.
• Cookies may not transfer, so websites can ask you to sign in again.
• OAuth mail accounts may require fresh authentication.
• A copied profile contains identifiers that should remain unique.
• The old and new installations should not continue operating as two copies of the same moved profile.
• Copying while Vivaldi is running can produce incomplete or inconsistent database files.
• A profile created by a newer Vivaldi version may not work correctly in an older version.

Use Sync or password export for passwords even if you also move the profile.

Step 1: Back up the destination profile

On the new laptop:

1. Install and open Vivaldi once.
2. Enter vivaldi://about in the address bar.
3. Note the new Profile Path.
4. Close Vivaldi completely.
5. Open the profile’s parent folder in File Explorer.
6. Rename the new Default folder to something like:

Default-new-backup

This gives you a way to undo the transfer if the moved profile does not open.

Step 2: Locate the old profile

On the old laptop:

1. Open Vivaldi.
2. Go to vivaldi://about.
3. Click Open Profile Folder, if displayed, or copy the Profile Path into File Explorer.
4. Go up one level so you can see the Default folder.
5. Close Vivaldi.
6. Open Task Manager and confirm that no Vivaldi processes remain.

If you use a profile other than the default one, the folder may be named Profile 1, Profile 2 or something similar. Match the path shown by the profile you actually use.

Step 3: Transfer the profile

Place the profile on an external drive or in a secure transfer location, then move it into the new Vivaldi User Data folder.

Because Vivaldi warns against running duplicate instances of the same profile, treat this as a migration rather than a way to clone one active profile permanently. Keep a separate safety backup, but do not keep browsing with both the old and new migrated profile while Sync or OAuth accounts remain active.

Step 4: Start Vivaldi on the new laptop

Open Vivaldi and inspect the result. If it starts normally, check:

• Bookmarks
• History
• Notes
• Extensions
• Saved sessions
• Workspaces
• Custom settings
• Mail, Calendar and Feeds

Expect website sessions and stored passwords to require separate restoration.

If Vivaldi fails to open or creates a fresh profile:

1. Close it.
2. Confirm that you placed the old folder in the correct User Data directory.
3. Confirm that the moved folder is named Default when replacing the default profile.
4. Make sure you did not create a nested path such as Default\Default.
5. Confirm that no Vivaldi process was running during the move.
6. Restore Default-new-backup if necessary.

How to Move Multiple Vivaldi Profiles

Vivaldi profiles keep separate bookmarks, extensions, cookies, history and preferences. Syncing one profile does not automatically transfer every other profile.

Vivaldi currently requires a separate Vivaldi account for syncing each browser profile. If you have Work, Personal and Guest-style profiles, open each permanent profile and check its Sync status individually.

For each profile:

1. Open the profile from the profile menu.
2. Go to vivaldi://about.
3. record its Profile Path.
4. Decide whether to use a separate Sync account, manual exports or a profile move.
5. Label every backup clearly.

Do not replace Default with the contents of Profile 1 without knowing which profile you are transferring. Mixing files from different profiles can create missing settings or duplicate data.

Guest profiles are temporary and are not intended for permanent migration.

Moving Vivaldi Mail, Calendar and Feeds

Vivaldi Mail, Calendar and Feed Reader need extra attention because browser Sync does not promise a complete transfer of these services.

Vivaldi Mail

For an IMAP account, messages normally remain on the mail provider’s server. Add the same account to Vivaldi Mail on the new laptop and allow it to download and index the mailbox again.

You may need:

• The email address
• The account password or app password
• IMAP and SMTP server settings
• Multi-factor authentication access
• A new OAuth sign-in

POP3 accounts and messages stored only on the old computer are more sensitive. Confirm that the messages still exist on the provider’s server or create a separate mail backup before moving. Do not assume that signing in on the new laptop will restore locally stored mail.

Calendar

Online calendars using services such as CalDAV can usually be added again and synchronized from the server. Locally stored calendars need an export or another backup method before the old laptop is erased.

Feeds

Check whether your feed subscriptions are present after the transfer. Export the feed list from the old browser when available, then import it on the new installation. Previously downloaded articles and read status may not reproduce exactly.

How to Transfer Saved Sessions, Tabs and Workspaces

Vivaldi Sync includes open tabs, but open tabs are not the same as a perfect copy of every window, stack, tile and workspace.

Before leaving the old laptop:

1. Close tabs you no longer need.
2. Bookmark essential pages.
3. Save important groups as named sessions.
4. Take screenshots of complex workspace layouts if recreating them would be difficult.
5. Confirm that open tabs appear in the Synced Tabs menu on the new laptop.

Saved sessions are stored in the browser profile and may move with a full-profile transfer. For critical research or work, bookmarks provide a safer portable backup than relying only on the current session database.

Common Vivaldi Transfer Problems

Sync completes but bookmarks are missing

Check that:

• You signed in to the correct Vivaldi account.
• Bookmarks is selected under Sync data.
• You entered the correct encryption password.
• The old laptop finished uploading.
• The bookmarks were not imported into a separate folder.

Create a test bookmark on the old computer. If it appears on the new laptop, Sync is functioning and the missing items may belong to another profile.

Vivaldi asks for an encryption password you do not remember

Try the encryption password created when you first enabled Sync, not just the current account login password. If you saved a backup encryption key, select Load Encryption Key.

Do not immediately choose to reset the encryption password. Resetting it removes the remote Sync data so it can be uploaded again from a local device. If no device still holds the data and you have no key, that reset can make the remote information unrecoverable.

Passwords are missing after copying the profile

This is expected when moving between Windows computers or Windows user accounts. The Login Data file is protected using credentials from the original system.

Use Vivaldi Sync or import the password CSV exported from the old laptop.

Websites sign you out

Cookies and website session tokens are also protected and may not work after a profile transfer. Sign in again. This is safer than attempting to bypass Windows encryption or transferring authentication files with unofficial tools.

Extensions appear but their settings are gone

Extension installation and extension data are not always the same thing. Sign in to the extension’s own account or use its built-in export function if it has one.

Extensions that were installed manually, unpacked for development or removed from the Chrome Web Store may need to be installed separately.

Vivaldi creates duplicate bookmarks

Duplicates commonly appear when you:

• Import the same HTML file more than once
• Enable Sync after manually importing the same bookmarks
• Merge two profiles containing similar folders

Create a backup before deleting duplicates. Decide which method is the main source, then complete that method before adding data from another source.

Vivaldi opens as a fresh installation

The browser is probably looking at a different profile path. Check vivaldi://about, compare the path with the folder you moved and look for accidental folder nesting.

Standalone, Stable and Snapshot installations can use different User Data locations.

The profile works badly on the new laptop

Disable extensions temporarily and restart Vivaldi. An extension, incompatible preference or damaged database may have moved with the old profile.

If the problem continues:

1. Restore the clean destination profile.
2. Use Sync for supported data.
3. Import bookmarks, notes and passwords selectively.
4. Reinstall extensions individually.

Selective migration takes longer, but it avoids carrying a damaged setting into the new installation.

What If the Old Laptop No Longer Starts?

Your options depend on what remains accessible.

Vivaldi Sync was enabled

Install Vivaldi on the new laptop and sign in with the account and encryption password. If you saved a backup encryption key, you can use it instead of the encryption password.

The old drive is readable

Connect the drive to another computer with an appropriate enclosure or adapter. Locate the old Windows user folder and recover the Vivaldi User Data directory.

You may need permission to open the old user folder. Copy the profile to safe storage before experimenting with it.

Remember that saved passwords and cookies may remain unusable because they were encrypted for the old Windows installation.

Only a profile backup exists

Install Vivaldi, confirm the new profile path and attempt the advanced profile-transfer method. Work from a copy of the backup so the original remains unchanged.

No Sync, export or readable drive exists

The browser data may not be recoverable. This is why Sync should be combined with offline exports for valuable bookmarks, notes and passwords.

Checklist Before Erasing the Old Laptop

Confirm all of the following on the new computer:

• Vivaldi opens without profile errors
• Bookmarks and Speed Dials are complete
• Important saved passwords work
• Notes contain the expected text
• Reading List entries are present
• History is available if you need it
• Extensions are installed and configured
• Open tabs or essential sessions are accessible
• Workspaces have been checked
• Mail accounts can send and receive
• Calendar accounts are synchronized
• Feed subscriptions are present
• Export files are stored securely
• The Sync encryption key is backed up

Keep the old laptop or its drive unchanged for several days if possible. Once you are confident that the migration is complete, sign out of accounts and remove personal information before selling, donating or recycling it.

If you plan to erase Windows from the old computer, follow Windows 11 factory reset from boot only after verifying the new Vivaldi installation and backing up every other personal file you need.

You might like to Read:

• Windows 11 Kiosk Mode: How to Set Up and Use It
• Windows 11 KB5074105 Storage Admin Access Explained
• How to Change File Type on Windows 11 (6 Easy Methods)
• Windows PowerShell vs Command Prompt: What’s the Difference?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I transfer Vivaldi to a new laptop?

The recommended method is to enable Sync on the old laptop, wait for the upload to finish, install Vivaldi on the new laptop and sign in with the same account and encryption password.

Can I copy Vivaldi from one computer to another?

You can move the profile folder, but it is an advanced method. Saved passwords and cookies may not work on the new computer, and the same moved profile should not remain active on two installations. Sync and built-in export/import are safer.

Where is the Vivaldi profile stored in Windows 11?

A standard installation commonly stores it under:

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Vivaldi\User Data\Default

Your actual path can differ. Enter vivaldi://about and use the Profile Path displayed there.

Does Vivaldi Sync transfer extensions?

Yes, extensions are one of the supported Sync categories. An extension’s account, local settings or data may still need separate restoration.

Does Vivaldi Sync transfer passwords?

Yes, stored webpage passwords can sync when Passwords is selected. You must enter the correct Sync encryption password or load the backup encryption key on the new laptop.

Does Vivaldi Sync transfer cookies?

Vivaldi does not list cookies as a supported Sync category. Expect to sign in to websites again after moving.

Will my open tabs move to the new laptop?

Open Tabs is a supported Sync category. You can access tabs from the old device through the Synced Tabs interface. The exact window, stack, tile and workspace layout may not be recreated.

Can I transfer Vivaldi without a Vivaldi account?

Yes. Export bookmarks, passwords, notes and Reading List entries, then import them on the new laptop. Advanced users can also move the full profile, subject to the profile and encryption limitations explained above.

Why did my passwords disappear after moving the Default folder?

Vivaldi’s password database is encrypted for the Windows installation that created it. Copying the profile to a different computer does not transfer the original Windows encryption credentials. Use Sync or a password CSV exported from the working old installation.

Should I delete Vivaldi from the old laptop immediately?

No. Keep it intact until you verify the transferred bookmarks, passwords, notes, extensions, sessions and mail data. The old installation may be your only complete copy of something Sync did not include.

For most Windows 11 users, Vivaldi Sync plus a secure offline export provides the best balance of convenience and safety. A full-profile transfer is valuable when you need local sessions or detailed configuration, but it should be treated as an advanced migration and not as a shortcut for cloning one active browser profile across two computers.