Export, import, and reset VoiceOver preferences on Mac
You can export, import, and reset your VoiceOver preferences.
Tip: If you want to easily use your settings on other Mac computers and keep an up-to-date copy of your current settings always available, use portable preferences. See Use VoiceOver portable preferences.
Note: VO represents the VoiceOver modifier. See Use the VoiceOver modifier.
Export preferences
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File > Export Preferences, select where to save the file, choose the type of preferences to export from the pop-up menu, then click Save.
The default filename indicates the type of preferences exported and has the filename extension “voprefs.” The file will not reflect changes you make to preferences after the export.
Import preferences
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File > Import Preferences, select the preferences file to import, then click Open.
VoiceOver replaces the current preferences of that type with those in the file. If you’re importing window spots or labels, VoiceOver merges them with your existing window spots or labels.
When you import preference files, preferences that are no longer available in VoiceOver are not imported.
Reset preferences
Important: Export your preferences first, so you have a backup copy.
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File, then choose to reset basic, custom (such as hotspots or Keyboard Commander key assignments), or all VoiceOver preferences to their default values.
If you have portable preferences on an external drive and reset basic or all VoiceOver preferences on your Mac, VoiceOver no longer recognizes the portable preferences drive and doesn’t sync VoiceOver preferences on your Mac and the drive. To sync VoiceOver preferences again, you must set up the portable preferences drive again.
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