How to Export Your Orca Slicer Settings to Use on Another Computer

Export settings from Orca Slicer using the built-in backup tool

Orca Slicer stores your printer profiles, material settings, and print preferences in a single backup file that you can move to another computer. The fastest way is to use Orca Slicer's own export function, which packages everything into one .zip file you can transfer and restore on a different machine.

Open Orca Slicer and go to File > Export > Export Settings. The program will ask you where to save the backup file. Choose a location you can find easily — your Desktop or Documents folder works well. Orca Slicer will create a single compressed file with a name like orca_slicer_backup_[date].zip.

This backup includes your printer profiles, nozzle and bed temperature presets, layer height defaults, print speed settings, and any custom material profiles you have created. It does not include the actual Orca Slicer program itself, only your personal configuration.

Key Takeaways

Use File > Export > Export Settings to create a single backup file of all your Orca Slicer settings.
The backup file is a .zip archive that contains printer profiles, material presets, and all custom configurations you have saved.
Transfer the backup file to another computer using email, cloud storage, or a USB drive.
On the new computer, open Orca Slicer and go to File > Import > Import Settings, then select your backup file to restore everything at once.
You can also manually copy individual profile files from the Orca Slicer config folder if you only need to move specific settings.

Transfer the backup file to your other computer

Once you have created the backup file, you need to move it to the computer where you want to restore your settings. The method depends on what you have available: email the file to yourself, upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, copy it to a USB drive, or use a file transfer tool if both computers are on the same network.

The backup file is usually small — typically under 5 MB — so email and cloud storage work without problems. If you use cloud storage, download the file to your new computer and remember where you saved it. You will need to locate this file in the next step.

Import settings on the destination computer

On the computer where you want to restore your settings, open Orca Slicer and go to File > Import > Import Settings. A file browser window will open. Navigate to the backup .zip file you transferred and select it.

Orca Slicer will unpack the backup and restore all your profiles and presets. The program may ask you to restart or refresh the interface to load the new settings. Once the import finishes, your printer profiles, material presets, and custom configurations will be available in the same menus as they were on your original computer.

Manually copy settings if you only need specific profiles

If you only want to move one or two printer profiles instead of everything, you can copy individual files directly from Orca Slicer's configuration folder. This is faster than creating a full backup if you have many settings but only need a few.

On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\OrcaSlicer. On Mac, open Finder and go to ~/Library/Application Support/OrcaSlicer. On Linux, the folder is usually ~/.config/OrcaSlicer. Inside this folder you will find subfolders for printers, materials, and other settings. Copy the specific files you need to a USB drive or cloud storage, then paste them into the same folder structure on your other computer.

This method requires you to know which files correspond to which settings, so the full backup export is usually simpler unless you are moving only one or two profiles.

Troubleshoot if settings do not restore

If you import the backup file but your settings do not appear, first check that Orca Slicer is fully closed on the destination computer before importing. Some settings only load when the program starts up, so restarting Orca Slicer after the import may be necessary.

If the import still does not work, verify that the backup file is not corrupted by trying to open it with a file manager or archive tool. Windows users can right-click the .zip file and select "Extract All" to see if the contents unpack. If the file is damaged, go back to your original computer and create a new backup.

Another common issue is that the destination computer has a different version of Orca Slicer than the computer where you created the backup. Settings from a newer version sometimes do not restore to an older version. Update Orca Slicer on the destination computer to match the version on your original machine, then try importing again.

Back up your settings regularly

Once you have your settings the way you like them, create a backup file every few months or after you make major changes to your profiles. Store one copy on your computer and another in cloud storage or on an external drive. This protects you if your computer fails or if you need to reinstall Orca Slicer.

You can create multiple backup files with different names — for example, orca_backup_march_2024.zip and orca_backup_april_2024.zip — to keep a history of your settings over time. If you change something and later want to go back to an older configuration, you can import an earlier backup file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the backup include my print history or previous sliced models?

No. The backup file contains only your settings — printer profiles, material presets, nozzle temperatures, and print speeds. It does not include any models you have sliced, print logs, or project files. Those are stored separately and must be copied manually if you need them on another computer.

Can I import a backup from an older version of Orca Slicer into a newer version?

Usually yes. Orca Slicer is designed to read older backup files when you update. However, if you try to import a backup from a much newer version into an older version, some settings may not restore because the older version does not recognize them. Keeping both computers on the same Orca Slicer version avoids this problem.

What if I only want to move my printer profile, not my material settings?

Use the manual copy method instead of the full export. Navigate to the OrcaSlicer config folder on your original computer, find the printer profile file you need, and copy only that file to the destination computer in the same folder location. This is faster than exporting everything if you only need one or two profiles.

Can I share my backup file with someone else so they get my exact settings?

Yes. You can email or share your backup .zip file with another Orca Slicer user, and they can import it on their computer to get all your printer profiles and material presets. This is useful if you and a colleague use the same printer and want to start with identical settings.

Where should I store my backup file for safekeeping?

Keep one copy on your computer in a folder you can find easily, and store another copy in cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. This way if your computer fails, you still have a copy of your settings. You can also save a copy to an external USB drive and store it somewhere safe.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.