Profile Folder: Difference between revisions
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'''If you cannot find your profile folder''': Windows 2000 and XP sometimes hide the profile folders because "Application Data" is a hidden folder. In Explorer (i.e. double-click My Computer) click: Tools → Folder Options → View (tab) → Show Hidden files and folders. | '''If you cannot find your profile folder''': Windows 2000 and XP sometimes hide the profile folders because "Application Data" is a hidden folder. In Explorer (i.e. double-click My Computer) click: Tools → Folder Options → View (tab) → Show Hidden files and folders. | ||
For those curious, the "<tt>%APPDATA%</tt>" phrase for Windows 2000/XP is an environment variable that automatically updates for login username changes. Start -> Run -> <tt>%APPDATA%</tt> will quickly open the Application Data folder. | For those curious, the "<tt>%APPDATA%</tt>" phrase for Windows 2000/XP is an environment variable that automatically updates for login username changes. "Start -> Run -> <tt>%APPDATA%</tt>" will quickly open the Application Data folder. | ||
===Mozilla Suite=== | ===Mozilla Suite=== |
Revision as of 11:37, 24 October 2005
- This article applies to the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, Thunderbird and some other Mozilla-based applications.
The Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird each store a user's personal information such as bookmarks, e-mail, address books, extensions, and user preferences in a unique profile. The first time you start the Mozilla Suite (or Firefox or Thunderbird), it will automatically create a default profile; additional profiles can be created using the Profile Manager. Each profile is stored in its own folder on your computer.
Where is my profile folder?
By default, profiles are created in the folders listed below. When creating a profile with the Profile Manager, you can choose to place it elsewhere. Note that, by default, profiles are stored in a completely different location than the application installation directory.
For Windows 2000 and XP users
If you cannot find your profile folder: Windows 2000 and XP sometimes hide the profile folders because "Application Data" is a hidden folder. In Explorer (i.e. double-click My Computer) click: Tools → Folder Options → View (tab) → Show Hidden files and folders.
For those curious, the "%APPDATA%" phrase for Windows 2000/XP is an environment variable that automatically updates for login username changes. "Start -> Run -> %APPDATA%" will quickly open the Application Data folder.
Mozilla Suite
Operating system | Folder(s) |
---|---|
Windows 9x/Me | C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\ |
Windows 9x/Me, alternate | C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\ |
Windows NT 4.x | C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\ |
Windows 2000/XP | C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\ %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\ |
Unix | ~/.mozilla/<Profile name>/********.slt |
Mac OS X | ~/Library/Mozilla/Profiles/<Profile name>/********.slt ~/Library/Application Support/Mozilla/Profiles/<Profile name>/********.slt |
Notice: Firefox and Thunderbird have default profile folder names of "********.default" where "********" is eight random letters and numbers.
Firefox
Operating system | Folder(s) |
---|---|
Windows 9x/Me | C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows 9x/Me, alternate | C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows NT 4.x | C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows 2000/XP | C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\ %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Unix | ~/.mozilla/firefox/<Profile name>/ |
Mac OS X | ~/Library/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/<Profile name>/ ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<Profile name>/ |
Sunbird
Like Firefox above, but replace the directory name "Firefox" with "Sunbird" in the paths.
Thunderbird
Operating system | Folder(s) |
---|---|
Windows 9x/Me | C:\Windows\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows 9x/Me, alternate | C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows NT 4.x | C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Windows 2000/XP | C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ %APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ |
Unix | ~/.thunderbird/<Profile name>/ or possibly ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name> |
Mac OS X | ~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/<Profile name>/ ~/Library/Application Support/Thunderbird/Profiles/<Profile name>/ |
Managing profiles
- You can select a profile to use, create a new profile, and delete or rename an existing profile using Profile Manager. See the linked article for detailed instructions.
- See Profile backup for instructions on backing up your profile.
- If you get a "profile is already in use" message it means that the profile is locked. See Profile in use for details.
What do I do if my profile's corrupted?
If your profile is corrupted, create a new profile then migrate your settings to the new profile.
Files and folders in the profile
Note: it's not recommended to edit these files directly. Instead, use their respective interfaces.
Folders
Name | Application | Description |
---|---|---|
bookmarkbackups | Firefox (starting in 1.5) | Daily rotating backups of your bookmarks. |
Cache | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Cached Internet files. You can't open these files directly, use about:cache |
chrome | Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | |
extensions | Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | Installed extensions |
ImapMail | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Mail from IMAP sources |
Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Mail from POP sources and Local Folders | |
News | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | News from newsgroups |
searchplugins | Firefox (starting in 1.5) | Contains search engine plugins and their icons for the Search Bar |
Files
Name | Application | Description |
---|---|---|
.parentlock | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (MacOS X) | See parent.lock |
abook.mab | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Personal Address Book |
bookmarks.bak | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Backup of bookmarks.html |
bookmarks.html | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Bookmarks |
bookmarks-(date).html in bookmarkbackups | Firefox (starting in 1.5) | Daily rotating backups of your bookmarks. |
cert8.db | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Security certificates |
compatibility.ini | Firefox, Thunderbird | |
components.ini | Firefox, Thunderbird | |
compreg.dat | Firefox, Thunderbird | |
cookies.txt | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Cookies |
defaults.ini | Firefox, Thunderbird | |
downloads.rdf | Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | Download history |
extensions.cache | Firefox | |
extensions.ini | Firefox | |
extensions.rdf | Firefox | Installed extension information |
extensions-startup.manifest | Firefox | |
formhistory.dat | Firefox | Saved form data |
key3.db | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | |
history.dat | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Browsing history |
history.mab | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Collected Addresses |
hostperm.1 | Firefox, Mozilla Suite | Per-site preferences for allowing cookies and popups. |
localstore.rdf | Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | Toolbar and window positioning/sizing settings |
lock (Linux) | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | See parent.lock |
mimeTypes.rdf | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Action to perform when downloading certain types of files |
msgFilterRules.dat in ImapMail, Mail, News | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Message filters |
panacea.dat | Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | |
parent.lock | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Windows) | Marker showing that the current profile is in use |
popstate.dat in Mail | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Keeps track of which messages have been downloaded from the server |
prefs.js | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | All preferences. See: about:config |
search.rdf | Firefox | |
secmod.db | Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite | |
signons.txt | Firefox | Encrypted saved passwords, requires key3.db to work |
training.dat | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Custom training for Junk Mail Controls |
user.js (does not exist by default) | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | User-set overriding preferences |
userChrome.css in chrome (does not exist by default) | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | User-set CSS to change the way the application looks |
userContent.css in chrome (does not exist by default) | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | User-set CSS to change the way webpages look |
virtualfolders.dat | Thunderbird | Virtual folder settings |
xpti.dat | Firefox, Thunderbird | |
xul.mfasl | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Linux) | See XUL.mfl |
XUL.mfl | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Windows) | Cached user interface data |
XUL FastLoad File | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (MacOS X) | See XUL.mfl |
Files without specific names
Name | Application | Description |
---|---|---|
(number).s | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Password data. The "(number).s" value is referenced in the about:config preference "signon.SignonFileName" preference |
(number).w | Mozilla Suite | Saved form data |
*. in ImapMail, Mail, and News | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Mail messages |
*.mab other than abook.mab and history.mab | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | User-created address books |
*.msf in ImapMail, Mail, and News | Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Index files for mail messages |
*.src in searchplugins | Firefox | Search engine plugins for the Search Bar |
Files outside of the profile folder
Name | Application | Description |
---|---|---|
pluginreg.dat | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Registration of plugin mimetypes |
profiles.ini | Firefox, Thunderbird | Keeps track of where your profiles are located |
registry.dat | Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird | Keeps track of where your profiles are located in Mozilla Suite and older versions of Firefox and Thunderbird |