If you have doubts that your settings are saved, then create a text file which you use for copy and paste of the masks that you want to keep.
This has the advantage that you can add comments that describe what you wanted to do with some of the less readable masks and expressions.
I always "backup" in a text file (together with comments)
whatever masks/expressions I use, for future reference.
Expecially the complicated ones, that I've got from the forum.