How to export iTerm2 Profiles

Question

I needed to reformat my computer and now I'm having trouble copying the settings/profiles over.

I copied the files in ~/Library/Application\ Support/iTerm/

I also copied ~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist but it keeps giving me this error:

Failed to load preferences from custom directory. Falling back to local copy.  Missing or malformed file at "/ com.googlecode.iterm2.plist" 

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I also tried saving the profile in a directory so I could send it but it doesn't work.

Here's the location:

iTerm ▶ General ▶ Preferences ▶ Save Settings To Folder

and here's the output:

Failed to copy preferences to custom directory. Copy      /Users/alexcory/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist  to Alex_Corys_iTerm_Configuration/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist:  No such process 

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The colors work, (found in the path below) but I'm not simply trying to save colors, but rather all my preferences.

iTerm ▶ Preferences ▶ Profiles ▶ Colors ▶ Load Presets ▶ Export

Does anyone know how to get this to work?

Answer 1

If you have a look at Preferences -> General you will notice at the bottom of the panel, there is a setting Load preferences from a custom folder or URL:. There is a button next to it Save settings to Folder.

So all you need to do is save your settings first and load it after you reinstalled your OS.

If the Save settings to Folder is disabled, select a folder (e.g. empty) in the Load preferences from a custom folder or URL: text box.

In iTerm2 3.3 on OSX the sequence is: iTerm2 menu, Preferences, General tab, Preferences subtab

Answer 2

It isn't the most obvious workflow. You first have to click "Load preferences from a custom folder or URL". Select the folder you want them saved in; I keep an appsync folder in Dropbox for these sorts of things. Once you have selected the folder, you can click "Save settings to Folder". On a new machine / fresh install of your OS, you can now load these settings from the folder. At first I was sure that loading preferences would wipe out my previous settings, but it didn't.