Backup and Restore

Since the author's SD card is 128GB, all mounted to the OpenWrt system, but the entire system only consumes 287MB of resources, which is a bit overkill. Therefore, the plan is to backup and switch to a 4GB memory card.

Backup

Go to system settings and fill in the Backup List.
In System -> Backup & Upgrade -> Generate Backup Backup system-related configurations: (Save file to local)

If the backup file is only 170B, this size definitely indicates an error! Please turn off your IDM or NDM plugin and use the browser's default download. Backup complete.

If you exported the backup in system settings, OpenClash will also be included in the backup; the following is just a separate plugin backup method. (Optional) Backup OpenClash-related configurations: (Save file to local)

Backup complete.

Restore

Take out new card or USB drive.

Read the restore flow in order:

Flash the firmware first.

Flash the Raspberry Pi related version firmware. Please see OpenWrt Firmware Selection and Flashing Tutorial

Then restore the backup.

Important: If you do not perform the following operations and directly upload the backup from Backup & Restore settings, it will report errors! And it's difficult to resolve! The best way is to install plugins on the new system first, then upload the backup file.

After flashing the firmware, please configure the network first, i.e., OpenWrt can update software packages, and install the following content:

Install cargo luci theme to enhance interface aesthetics (refer to video at 33:12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfSJmPFiL_s&t=1992s

First identify your OpenWrt branch:

OpenWrt 24.10 and earlier stable releases: use opkg
OpenWrt 25.12 and newer: use apk

If your goal is simply to restore a working system, the LuCI package page is the safest default path for reinstalling the theme and the required plugins before importing the backup.

If you know how to install it yourself, follow these steps directly:

System--Software Packages--Update Lists--No errors--Install luci-theme-argon--Install luci-i18n-ttyd-zh-cn

Plugin Installation:

luci-app-openclash
luci-i18n-passwall-zh-cn
luci-i18n-homeproxy-zh-cn
luci-i18n-quickstart-zh-cn

Plugin location: In the "Services" tab on the sidebar.

If you prefer the command line, use the package manager that matches your system:

# OpenWrt 24.10 and earlier stable releases
opkg update
opkg install luci-theme-argon luci-app-openclash luci-i18n-passwall-zh-cn luci-i18n-homeproxy-zh-cn luci-i18n-quickstart-zh-cn

# OpenWrt 25.12 and newer
apk update
apk add luci-theme-argon luci-app-openclash luci-i18n-passwall-zh-cn luci-i18n-homeproxy-zh-cn luci-i18n-quickstart-zh-cn

Third-party installer wrappers such as imm.sh or is-opkg may not be updated at the same speed as the opkg -> apk transition. On 25.12+, verify compatibility first instead of treating them as the default path.

Important: If you do not perform the above operations and directly upload the backup from Backup & Restore settings, it will report errors! And it's difficult to resolve!

After installing the plugins, go to system settings to upload the backup:

Restore complete. You can exit this document now!

If you are a command-line user, please follow me.

If you prefer the command line, use this path instead.

Install SFTP service for OpenWrt:

# OpenWrt 24.10 and earlier stable releases
opkg update
opkg install openssh-sftp-server

# OpenWrt 25.12 and newer
apk update
apk add openssh-sftp-server

After installing luci-theme-argon, go to System--Backup & Upgrade--Upload Backup.
Install plugins (recommended before restore):

# OpenWrt 24.10 and earlier stable releases
opkg install luci-app-openclash luci-i18n-passwall-zh-cn luci-i18n-homeproxy-zh-cn luci-i18n-quickstart-zh-cn

# OpenWrt 25.12 and newer
apk add luci-app-openclash luci-i18n-passwall-zh-cn luci-i18n-homeproxy-zh-cn luci-i18n-quickstart-zh-cn

Restore OpenClash configuration files (after testing, this is not necessary, OpenClash-related backup is already included in the system backup)

Success!