OPML workflow guide: export, import, and move feed subscriptions

This page is the practical workflow guide for using OPML to move a feed list from one reader to another.

Use it when you want to:

• export subscriptions from your current reader
• import them into a new reader
• keep a portable backup of your feed list
• clean up the file before migration
• understand what to do when the OPML imports but the feeds still break

If you are looking for the plain-English definition first, see:

• What is an OPML file?

Quick workflow

The standard OPML workflow is:

1. export the OPML file from your current reader
2. inspect or clean the file if needed
3. import it into the new reader
4. validate broken feeds after import if any subscriptions fail

That is the core use case. Most OPML questions boil down to one of those steps.

Step 1: export OPML from your current reader

Most feed readers offer OPML export somewhere in settings, source management, or import/export tools.

Common cases:

• How to export OPML from Feedly
• export from Inoreader or another reader through its import/export section

Why this matters:

• OPML gives you a portable copy of your subscriptions
• it preserves the list so you do not need to rebuild it manually
• it is usually the safest starting point before switching readers

Step 2: check the OPML file before importing

Before you import, make sure the file is usable.

A healthy OPML file should:

• be valid XML
• contain an <opml> root element
• use <outline> entries for folders or subscriptions
• include xmlUrl values for actual feed entries

If the file is broken, start here:

• OPML Import Errors — How to Fix Broken Feed Lists

This is also the step where you can:

• remove duplicates
• simplify folders
• clean up malformed entries
• split very large lists if a target reader is fragile

Step 3: import OPML into the new reader

Once the file looks healthy, import it into the destination reader.

Most readers ask you to:

• upload the .opml file
• choose whether to merge or replace
• confirm the import

Typical outcomes:

• best case: the folders and feeds appear correctly
• common issue: the OPML imports, but some feeds do not refresh or resolve
• less common issue: the reader flattens folders or handles duplicates poorly

If the destination reader fails during import, go back to the OPML file itself. If the import succeeds but the feeds are broken afterward, the next step is feed validation.

Step 4: validate broken feeds after import

This is where people often confuse an OPML problem with a feed problem.

Two different failure types can happen:

The OPML file is broken

Examples:

• invalid XML
• missing xmlUrl
• malformed outline structure

That is an OPML cleanup issue.

The OPML file is fine, but the feeds inside it are broken

Examples:

• a feed URL returns 404
• a feed redirects badly
• the feed XML is malformed
• an Atom or RSS endpoint has gone stale

That is a feed-validation issue.

If you are in the second case, use:

• /fix
• RSS feed 404 Not Found — how to diagnose and fix
• Why Atom feed not updating

Where this page fits in the OPML cluster

This page is the workflow hub page.

Its job is not to be the deepest page for every subtopic. Its job is to route users to the right exact-match task page.

Use these pages for specific intents:

• How to export OPML from Feedly
• What is an OPML file?
• Import OPML
• OPML Import Errors — How to Fix Broken Feed Lists
• OPML vs RSS: What’s the difference?

Recommended practical workflow

If you want the simplest reliable process, use this sequence:

1. export OPML from the old reader
2. keep a backup copy before making edits
3. check for import errors or malformed entries
4. import into the new reader
5. validate any feeds that fail afterward

That workflow covers most real-world migration cases without overcomplicating the process.

Keep this page practical

This page should stay focused on the real user task: moving a feed list with OPML.

It is not the place for long theory about sync architecture, public OPML bundles, or power-user automation. Those may be useful later, but they are not the clearest match for the current search signal.

FAQ

How do I use OPML to move feed subscriptions?

Export an OPML file from your current reader, clean it if needed, then import it into the new reader.

Can OPML be used for both RSS and Atom feeds?

Yes. OPML usually stores a list of feed URLs, and those can point to either RSS or Atom feeds.

What if the OPML file imports but some feeds are broken?

That usually means the OPML file imported correctly, but some underlying feed URLs are invalid, redirected, stale, or malformed.

Fix RSS/Atom feeds and OPML lists

Paste a feed/OPML URL, upload a file, or paste XML — then validate and fix it.

Fix my feed / Import OPML Back to Help