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How to Switch RSS Readers Without Losing Your Feeds

SereneReader//rssopmlmigrationguide

OPML is how feeds move

OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) is an XML format that stores a list of feed subscriptions and their folder structure. Every serious RSS reader supports it. When you export an OPML file from one reader and import it into another, your feeds and folders transfer.

The process is the same regardless of which readers you're moving between: export, import, verify. It usually takes less than five minutes.

Step 1: Export your OPML

From Feedly

  1. Open Feedly in a web browser (not the mobile app)
  2. Go to your account name in the bottom left, click the gear icon
  3. Find the OPML section
  4. Click "Download your OPML"
  5. Save the .opml file

From Inoreader

  1. Go to Preferences (gear icon)
  2. Navigate to Import/Export
  3. Click "Export OPML"
  4. Save the file

From Feedbin

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Find the Import & Export section
  3. Click "Export" to download your OPML file

From Miniflux

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Find the Import/Export section
  3. Click "Export" to download your OPML
  4. Miniflux also supports export via its REST API: GET /v1/export

From The Old Reader

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Find the Import/Export section
  3. Click "Export" to download your subscriptions as OPML

From any other reader

Look in Settings, Preferences, or Account for an "Export" or "OPML" option. The OPML format is standardized, so the export from any reader will work as an import in any other.

Step 2: Import into your new reader

Into SereneReader

  1. Sign up or log in at serenereader.com
  2. Open your sidebar and look for the import option
  3. Upload your .opml file
  4. Your feeds and folder structure appear in the sidebar

SereneReader preserves your folder hierarchy from the OPML file. Feeds nested inside folders in your old reader will be nested the same way.

Into any reader

The import process is nearly identical everywhere: find the Import option in Settings, select your OPML file, and wait for the feeds to populate. Most readers process the file in under a minute.

What transfers and what doesn't

Transfers via OPML:

  • Feed URLs (RSS and Atom)
  • Folder structure and nesting
  • Feed titles (as stored in the OPML)

Does not transfer:

  • Read/unread status of individual articles
  • Starred or saved articles
  • Tags or labels (unless they map to folders)
  • Social connections (followers, shared items)
  • Automation rules, filters, or custom settings
  • Newsletter subscriptions (these are reader-specific email addresses)
  • YouTube, podcast, or social feed subscriptions

If you have starred articles you want to keep, export or bookmark them separately before switching. Most readers don't have a standard way to transfer read state between services.

Step 3: Verify and clean up

After importing, check a few things:

  1. Feed count. Compare the number of feeds in your new reader against the old one. If numbers don't match, some feeds may have been dead links that the new reader skipped.
  2. Folder structure. Make sure your folders transferred correctly. Some readers handle nested folders differently.
  3. Feed updates. Give the new reader 15-30 minutes to fetch articles from all your feeds. The initial sync takes longer than normal refreshes.
  4. Remove the old reader. Once you're satisfied, you can delete your account on the old service. Keep the OPML file as a backup regardless.

Running two readers in parallel

If you're not sure about switching, run both readers for a week. Subscribe to the same feeds in both and compare the reading experience. OPML makes this easy — just import the same file into both.

This is especially useful when moving between readers with very different philosophies. Reading the same content in Feedly's AI-curated interface versus SereneReader's focus mode gives you a direct comparison that feature lists can't capture.

Common questions

Will I lose my articles?
Articles you've already read won't transfer, but any new articles published after you import will appear in your new reader. Most readers keep 30-90 days of article history regardless of when you subscribed.

Can I import the same OPML into multiple readers?
Yes. The OPML file is just a list of URLs. You can import it into as many readers as you want.

What if a feed doesn't work in the new reader?
Some feeds may have changed URLs or gone offline since you subscribed. If a feed fails to import, try visiting the website directly and re-subscribing with the current feed URL.

How big can an OPML file be?
OPML files are plain text XML. Even with hundreds of feeds, the file is typically under 100 KB. There's no practical size limit.

For detailed comparisons of specific readers, see our comparison pages covering Feedly, Inoreader, Feedbin, Miniflux, and The Old Reader.

Information reflects publicly available documentation as of April 2026.