What is an OPML file?

OPML stands for Outline Processor Markup Language. It is a plain-text XML format (extension .opml) that stores a hierarchical outline as nested elements. Two uses dominate: RSS readers export and import subscription lists as OPML, with each node carrying an xmlUrl, and outliners or mind-map apps such as WorkFlowy, Dynalist, OmniOutliner and XMind use it to move documents between tools.

How do I open an OPML file on a computer or phone?

On a computer the easiest route is this page: drag the .opml file in or click "Browse File" and it opens as an outline tree with no install. You can also right-click the file and open it with Notepad, TextEdit or VS Code to read the raw XML, though without the hierarchy view. On a phone, use "Open with" from your file manager or mail app and pick an app that accepts OPML, or copy the file contents and paste them into the input box here.

Which apps can open or import OPML files?

It depends on what the file holds. Outline or mind-map OPML imports into WorkFlowy, Dynalist, OmniOutliner and XMind; subscription-list OPML imports into RSS readers such as Feedly, Inoreader, NetNewsWire and Folo. OPML import/export is a documented feature of each of these apps; check their current menus for the exact location. If you only want to see what is inside without installing anything, this viewer is the fastest option.

How do I create an OPML file?

Usually you export one: every major RSS reader has an "Export OPML" option in its settings, and outliners offer OPML in their export menu. To write one by hand, create a UTF-8 XML file with an root, a containing , and a where each line is an element; for feeds add type="rss" and xmlUrl. Save it as .opml and paste it here to confirm it parses; the Sample button shows a valid structure.

My OPML import fails in another app. What is usually wrong?

Most failures are invalid files. Drop the file here first: "Root tag missing" means it is not OPML at all (often renamed XML or HTML); "Failed to parse OPML" usually points to an unclosed tag, a bare & or < in the head title or other element text, or a non-UTF-8 encoding; nodes shown as "Untitled Node" lack a text attribute, which some importers reject. Stray & or < characters inside attributes are tolerated here and written back escaped when you export, which often fixes imports into stricter apps. Also make sure the target app import dialog is set to OPML rather than FreeMind or XMind format.

How do I move my RSS subscriptions to another reader with OPML?

Export OPML from the old reader (Feedly, Inoreader, etc.), then use "Import OPML" in the new one (NetNewsWire, Folo, etc.); folders normally survive the move. Before importing, open the file here to confirm each subscription has an xmlUrl and spot-check a few "RSS Feed" links; dead feeds can then be cleaned up after import.

Can I edit an OPML file here and keep working on it in XMind?

Yes. Click any item in the outline editor to change its text, and use Enter, Tab / Shift+Tab, Alt+↑/↓ or the toolbar to add, indent, outdent, move or delete items. "Export OPML" downloads the edited outline as an OPML 2.0 file, which XMind and other mind-map or outliner apps with OPML import can open for further editing. Markdown and JSON are not export formats here; for JSON, run the exported file through the OPML to JSON tool.

Does exporting keep feed URLs and other attributes?

Yes. Editing changes only an item's text attribute; everything else on the node, including xmlUrl, htmlUrl, type, _note and namespaced custom attributes, is written back unchanged, and so are the head fields. Items that only had a title get a matching text attribute, because OPML 2.0 requires one, and dateModified is set to the moment you export. XML comments from the original file are not carried over.

Is my OPML file uploaded to a server?

No. Parsing and editing happen on your device and the file is never sent anywhere. So that a refresh does not wipe your work, the current draft is saved in this browser's localStorage; it never leaves this device, and the Clear button (or "Discard and clear" after a restore) deletes it. The only network requests happen when you deliberately click an "RSS Feed" or "Website" link.

Open OPML Files Online

Q: How do I move my RSS subscriptions to another reader with OPML?

Export OPML from the old reader (Feedly, Inoreader, etc.), then use "Import OPML" in the new one (NetNewsWire, Folo, etc.); folders normally survive the move. Before importing, open the file here to confirm each subscription has an xmlUrl and spot-check a few "RSS Feed" links; dead feeds can then be cleaned up after import.

Q: Can I edit an OPML file here and keep working on it in XMind?

Yes. Click any item in the outline editor to change its text, and use Enter, Tab / Shift+Tab, Alt+↑/↓ or the toolbar to add, indent, outdent, move or delete items. "Export OPML" downloads the edited outline as an OPML 2.0 file, which XMind and other mind-map or outliner apps with OPML import can open for further editing. Markdown and JSON are not export formats here; for JSON, run the exported file through the OPML to JSON tool.

Q: Does exporting keep feed URLs and other attributes?

Yes. Editing changes only an item's text attribute; everything else on the node, including xmlUrl, htmlUrl, type, _note and namespaced custom attributes, is written back unchanged, and so are the head fields. Items that only had a title get a matching text attribute, because OPML 2.0 requires one, and dateModified is set to the moment you export. XML comments from the original file are not carried over.

Q: Is my OPML file uploaded to a server?

No. Parsing and editing happen on your device and the file is never sent anywhere. So that a refresh does not wipe your work, the current draft is saved in this browser's localStorage; it never leaves this device, and the Clear button (or "Discard and clear" after a restore) deletes it. The only network requests happen when you deliberately click an "RSS Feed" or "Website" link.

Open and edit OPML files online: browse the outline tree and RSS links, rename, add, indent or reorder items, export OPML 2.0. Drafts stay in your browser.

How do you open an OPML file? The quickest way is your browser: drop the .opml file onto this page (or paste its XML) and it renders as an outline tree within seconds. Branches collapse and expand, RSS subscriptions are detected from xmlUrl/htmlUrl and shown as clickable links, and the head title and metadata appear above the tree. The outline is also editable in place: rename, add, delete, indent or reorder items, then download the result as an OPML 2.0 file that XMind and other apps with OPML import can open to continue editing. Nothing is installed or uploaded and no signup is needed; until you clear it, the working draft is kept in this browser so a refresh does not lose your changes.

OPML Source

Drag & drop OPML file here

Outline Editor

Enter OPML content to view structure

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Open & View XML Files Online

Open a .xml file in your browser with no software: collapsible tree of elements and attributes, formatting, and syntax errors with line and column. Nothing is uploaded.

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OPML to JSON

Convert OPML outlines to JSON.

Open tool

XML to JSON

Convert XML string to JSON object.

Open tool

Key Features

Outline editing

Rename, add, delete, indent and reorder outline items from the keyboard or the toolbar, with Undo for structural changes.

RSS feed detection

Detects xmlUrl and htmlUrl attributes on each outline and turns feed addresses and website links into clickable links.

Privacy Focused

Files are parsed and edited in your browser. The working draft is kept in this browser's local storage only and is never sent to a server.

How to open, edit and export an OPML file

1
Add the OPML file
Drag the .opml file onto the source pane, click "Browse File" to upload it, or paste the XML into the input on the left. To start from scratch instead, click "New outline".
2
Browse the outline and its links
After checking for the <opml> root element the tool lists every outline node as a tree; click the arrows to expand or collapse levels. Nodes with an xmlUrl show an "RSS Feed" link and nodes with an htmlUrl a "Website" link, handy for confirming that subscriptions still resolve.
3
Edit items in place
Click an item to rename it. Enter adds an item below, Tab and Shift+Tab indent or outdent, Alt+↑/↓ moves it, and Backspace on an empty item removes it; the toolbar offers the same actions plus Undo. Attributes such as xmlUrl, type or _note stay attached to the item while you edit.
4
Export the OPML
Click "Export OPML" to download a .opml file in OPML 2.0 format with dateModified set to the export time, then import it into XMind or another app that supports OPML import to keep working on it. Meanwhile the draft is auto-saved in this browser; "Clear" deletes it.

References

OPML 2.0 Specification (opml.org)
The official specification defining the <opml>, <head>, <body> and <outline> elements and the text, type, xmlUrl and htmlUrl attributes this viewer reads.
Wikipedia: OPML
Background on the format, its history and its role as the de facto exchange format for RSS subscription lists.
RSS 2.0 Specification (RSS Advisory Board)
The RSS 2.0 standard; the xmlUrl of a subscription-list OPML points at feeds of this kind.
MDN: Window.localStorage
The browser storage API the editor uses to keep your working draft on this device between visits; Clear, or clearing this site's data, removes it.

Related Tools

OPML to JSON

Convert an OPML outline to JSON so you can script bulk edits of feeds or outline nodes.

RSS Viewer

Paste an xmlUrl from your OPML to preview the RSS/Atom feed and validate its format.

XML Viewer

Inspect the raw OPML as generic XML to track down unclosed tags or encoding problems.

XML to JSON

Convert any XML document, including OPML, into a JSON object.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an OPML file?: OPML stands for Outline Processor Markup Language. It is a plain-text XML format (extension .opml) that stores a hierarchical outline as nested <outline> elements. Two uses dominate: RSS readers export and import subscription lists as OPML, with each node carrying an xmlUrl, and outliners or mind-map apps such as WorkFlowy, Dynalist, OmniOutliner and XMind use it to move documents between tools.
How do I open an OPML file on a computer or phone?: On a computer the easiest route is this page: drag the .opml file in or click "Browse File" and it opens as an outline tree with no install. You can also right-click the file and open it with Notepad, TextEdit or VS Code to read the raw XML, though without the hierarchy view. On a phone, use "Open with" from your file manager or mail app and pick an app that accepts OPML, or copy the file contents and paste them into the input box here.
Which apps can open or import OPML files?: It depends on what the file holds. Outline or mind-map OPML imports into WorkFlowy, Dynalist, OmniOutliner and XMind; subscription-list OPML imports into RSS readers such as Feedly, Inoreader, NetNewsWire and Folo. OPML import/export is a documented feature of each of these apps; check their current menus for the exact location. If you only want to see what is inside without installing anything, this viewer is the fastest option.
How do I create an OPML file?: Usually you export one: every major RSS reader has an "Export OPML" option in its settings, and outliners offer OPML in their export menu. To write one by hand, create a UTF-8 XML file with an <opml version="2.0"> root, a <head> containing <title>, and a <body> where each line is an <outline text="..."> element; for feeds add type="rss" and xmlUrl. Save it as .opml and paste it here to confirm it parses; the Sample button shows a valid structure.
My OPML import fails in another app. What is usually wrong?: Most failures are invalid files. Drop the file here first: "Root <opml> tag missing" means it is not OPML at all (often renamed XML or HTML); "Failed to parse OPML" usually points to an unclosed tag, a bare & or < in the head title or other element text, or a non-UTF-8 encoding; nodes shown as "Untitled Node" lack a text attribute, which some importers reject. Stray & or < characters inside attributes are tolerated here and written back escaped when you export, which often fixes imports into stricter apps. Also make sure the target app import dialog is set to OPML rather than FreeMind or XMind format.
How do I move my RSS subscriptions to another reader with OPML?: Export OPML from the old reader (Feedly, Inoreader, etc.), then use "Import OPML" in the new one (NetNewsWire, Folo, etc.); folders normally survive the move. Before importing, open the file here to confirm each subscription has an xmlUrl and spot-check a few "RSS Feed" links; dead feeds can then be cleaned up after import.
Can I edit an OPML file here and keep working on it in XMind?: Yes. Click any item in the outline editor to change its text, and use Enter, Tab / Shift+Tab, Alt+↑/↓ or the toolbar to add, indent, outdent, move or delete items. "Export OPML" downloads the edited outline as an OPML 2.0 file, which XMind and other mind-map or outliner apps with OPML import can open for further editing. Markdown and JSON are not export formats here; for JSON, run the exported file through the OPML to JSON tool.
Does exporting keep feed URLs and other attributes?: Yes. Editing changes only an item's text attribute; everything else on the node, including xmlUrl, htmlUrl, type, _note and namespaced custom attributes, is written back unchanged, and so are the head fields. Items that only had a title get a matching text attribute, because OPML 2.0 requires one, and dateModified is set to the moment you export. XML comments from the original file are not carried over.
Is my OPML file uploaded to a server?: No. Parsing and editing happen on your device and the file is never sent anywhere. So that a refresh does not wipe your work, the current draft is saved in this browser's localStorage; it never leaves this device, and the Clear button (or "Discard and clear" after a restore) deletes it. The only network requests happen when you deliberately click an "RSS Feed" or "Website" link.