Does Opera Sync fully replace manual profile backup for complete data recovery?

Answer to the Core Question

No. Opera Sync does not provide a complete, offline‑ready backup of a user’s profile. It only synchronises a subset of data that is explicitly exposed to the Sync service.

What Sync Covers (Confirmed)

• Bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, open tabs, and installed extensions (the extension list, not the extension code)
• Sync is available only when an internet connection is active and, if a passphrase is set, the passphrase must be known to decrypt the data.

What Sync Omits (Confirmed)

• Local‑only settings: proxy configuration, network preferences, per‑site permissions, and other device‑specific options.
• Cached data: browser cache, cookies, local storage, and downloaded files.
• Some extension data that lives in the profile folder (e.g., local storage for an extension).
• Any profile files that are not part of the Sync payload, such as the Cache and Cookies directories.

Why Manual Backup is Still Required

Because Sync excludes the majority of the profile folder, deleting or corrupting the local profile can leave you without cached pages, offline‑downloaded files, or local‑only settings. A manual copy of the entire profile directory is the only way to guarantee that every file can be restored, even when you have no internet connection or have lost the Sync passphrase.

Practical Verification Steps

1. Check Sync Settings
   • Open Opera → Settings → Sync. Confirm that the toggles for Bookmarks, Passwords, History, Tabs, and Extensions are enabled.
2. Verify on a Second Device
   • Log into the same Sync account on another machine. The items listed above should appear. If any are missing, Sync is not covering them.
3. Inspect the Profile Folder
   • Locate the folder: Windows – %APPDATA%\Opera Software\Opera Stable; macOS – ~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera; Linux – ~/.config/opera.
   • Check for Cache, Cookies, Local Storage, and other directories that are not synced.
4. Simulate a Full Restore
   • Delete or rename the profile folder while keeping the Sync account active.
   • Restart Opera and sign in to Sync. Only the items covered by Sync will re‑appear. Anything missing (e.g., cached pages) will be lost.
5. Test Passphrase Dependency
   • If you set a Sync passphrase, attempt to restore on a device that does not have the passphrase. Restoration will fail for encrypted data.

Recommended Disaster‑Recovery Workflow

• Periodically copy the entire profile directory to an external drive or cloud storage. Use a simple script or the OS’s file‑copy utilities; no special commands are required.
• Keep the copy in a segregated location so that a local profile corruption does not erase the backup.
• Use Sync for day‑to‑day cross‑device convenience, but treat it as a partial sync layer, not a full backup.

Missing Diagnostic Detail

To tailor the backup strategy further, could you confirm whether you currently set a passphrase for Opera Sync? This affects whether offline restoration is possible without re‑entering the passphrase.