How to Migrate Zen Browser from Windows to Linux

2026-01-22

Table of Contents

I finally made the switch from Windows to Linux. The browser I used on Windows was Zen Browser, and I wanted all my bookmarks, extensions, pinned tabs, and workspaces to be the same on Linux, so I followed the steps explained here. Before you make the switch, make sure to copy your profile files to a safe place such as a flash drive, the cloud, or another partition on your drive and follow the instructions below.

If you are using the Flatpak version of Zen on Linux (which is recommended for easy updates and security), the file paths are a bit different than standard Firefox-based browsers.

Here is the quick, clean guide to installing Zen, migrating your full profile from Windows, and forcing it to be your default browser.

Step 1: Export from Windows

First, grab your data before wiping your Windows partition.

  1. Open Zen on Windows.
  2. Type about:profiles in the address bar.
  3. Find the "Root Directory" row and click the Open Directory button.
  4. Close Zen completely.
  5. Go up one level in the file explorer so you can see the profile folder itself.
  6. Copy that entire folder to a USB drive or cloud storage.

Step 2: Install Zen Browser (Flatpak)

On your new Linux machine, the best way to install Zen is via Flatpak. This ensures you get automatic updates and a stable environment.

Run these commands in your terminal:

bash 
# 1. Install Flatpak (if you haven't already)
sudo apt install flatpak

# 2. Add the Flathub repository
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# 3. Install Zen Browser
flatpak install flathub io.github.zen_browser.zen

Note: Once installed, open Zen once to let it generate the necessary files, then close it completely.

Step 3: Locate the Flatpak Data Folder

The trick here is finding where Flatpak hides the profile data, as it doesn't use the standard home folder path due to "sandboxing."

  1. Open your Linux File Manager.
  2. Go to your Home directory.
  3. Press Ctrl + H to Show Hidden Files.
  4. Navigate to this exact path:
    Home -> .var -> app -> io.github.zen_browser.zen -> .zen

Note: This is the crucial difference. Standard installs go to ~/.zen, but Flatpaks live inside .var/app.

Step 4: The Transfer

Inside that .zen folder you just navigated to:

  1. Open the folder that ends in .default-release or .default (alpha) (this is the new, empty profile Zen created).
  2. Delete all the contents inside this folder.
  3. Open your Windows backup.
  4. Copy the contents of your Windows profile and paste them into this empty Linux folder.

Step 5: Make Zen Default

Sometimes Linux doesn't list Flatpak browsers in the "Default Applications" settings menu. You can force it via the terminal, but you need to know the correct App ID first.

  1. Find your App ID:
    Run this command to see the exact ID of your Zen installation:

    Bash 
    flatpak list --app --columns=application

    It will likely be either app.zen_browser.zen or io.github.zen_browser.zen.

  2. Set it as Default:
    Run the following command, ensuring the ID matches what you found above (e.g., if your ID is app.zen_browser.zen):

    Bash 
    xdg-settings set default-web-browser app.zen_browser.zen.desktop

The Result

Open Zen Browser on Linux, and it will look identical to your Windows setup. Your workspaces, themes, cookies, and pinned tabs will be right where you left them—and links from other apps will now correctly open in Zen.

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