Profile folder: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Profiles]]
Mozilla applications store a user's personal information in a unique profile. The first time you start any Mozilla application, it will automatically create a default profile; additional profiles can be created using the [[Profile Manager]]. The settings which form a profile are stored in files within a special folder on your computer — this is the ''profile folder''. The installation directory also includes a "profile" folder but this folder contains program defaults, not your user profile data.
:''This article applies to the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird and some other Mozilla-based applications.''
 
The Mozilla Suite, Firefox, Thunderbird and Sunbird each store a user's personal information such as bookmarks, e-mail, address books, extensions, and user preferences in a unique [[:Category:Profiles | profile]]. The first time you start the Mozilla Suite (Firefox, Thunderbird or Sunbird), it will automatically create a default profile; additional profiles can be created using the [[Profile Manager]]. The settings which form a profile are stored in files within a special folder on your computer—this is the ''profile folder''.
 
==Where is my profile folder?==
The default profile locations are listed below (<tt>********</tt> in the folder name represents a random string of eight letters or numbers). 
 
When creating a profile with the [[Profile Manager]], you can choose to place it in a location other than the default profile location.  The section [[#Other_profiles|Other profiles]] below describes how you can find one of these other profiles.
 
===For Windows 2000 and XP users===
'''If you cannot find your profile folder:'''  In Windows 2000 and XP, the default profile locations listed below are inside the "Application Data" folder, which is hidden; in order to see it, you will need to enable viewing of hidden files and folders:
*In Windows Explorer (or My Computer), click: "Tools &rarr; Folder Options &rarr; View (tab) &rarr; Show Hidden files and folders".
 
If you are having trouble finding your "Application Data" folder, you may wish to make use of the <tt>%APPDATA%</tt> ''[http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/environment.htm environment variable]'', which points to the location of the folder for the logged-in user.  For example:
* "Start &rarr; Run &rarr; <tt>%APPDATA%</tt> will  open the "Application Data" folder.
* "Start &rarr; Run &rarr; <tt>%APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles</tt> will open the "Thunderbird\Profiles" folder.
 
'''To do a Windows Search:'''  To search default profile locations under the "Application Data" folder, Windows 2000 users will need to enable viewing of hidden files and folders as  described above.  '''Important:  In Windows XP you must click "Start &rarr; Search &rarr; More advanced options" and select "Search hidden files and folders" ''in the Search tool''.'''
 
===Mozilla Suite===
'''Note:'''  Mozilla Suite, Netscape 7.x and [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/ SeaMonkey] all use the same profile locations.
 
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
! Operating&nbsp;system !! Folder(s)
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me || <tt>C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\</tt>
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me, alternate || <tt>C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\</tt>
|-
| Windows NT 4.x || <tt>C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\</tt>
|-
| Windows 2000 and XP || <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\<br/>
in other words<br /> %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt\</tt> ([[#For_Windows_2000_and_XP_users |see above]])
|-
| Unix || <tt>~/.mozilla/<Profile name>/********.slt</tt>
|-
| Mac OS X || <tt>~/Library/Mozilla/Profiles/<Profile name>/********.slt<br />
~/Library/Application Support/Mozilla/Profiles/<Profile name>/********.slt</tt>
|}


===Firefox===
For information on the profile folder specific to certain applications, including how to find the profile folder, see the following articles:
'''Note:'''  Firefox has a default profile folder name of <tt>********.default</tt> (or <tt>default.***</tt> for an older profile  [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=256076]).
*[[Profile folder - Firefox]]
*[[Profile folder - Thunderbird]]
*[[Profile folder - SeaMonkey|Profile folder - Mozilla Suite / SeaMonkey]]


{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
For other applications, see the information below. Some of these folders may be hidden.
! Operating&nbsp;system !! Folder(s)
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me || <tt>C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me, alternate || <tt>C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
|-
| Windows NT 4.x || <tt>C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
|-
| Windows 2000 and XP || <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\<br />
in other words<br /> %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt> ([[#For_Windows_2000_and_XP_users |see above]])
|-
| Windows Vista || <tt>C:\Users\<Windows login/user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name></tt>\<br />
|-
| Unix || <tt>~/.mozilla/firefox/<Profile name>/</tt>
|-
| Mac OS X || <tt>~/Library/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/<Profile name>/<br />
~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<Profile name>/</tt>
|}
 
===Sunbird===
Like Firefox above, but replace the directory name "Firefox" with "Sunbird" in the paths.
 
===Thunderbird===
'''Note:''' Thunderbird has a default profile folder name of <tt>********.default</tt> (or <tt>default.***</tt> for an older profile).  


{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
! Operating&nbsp;system !! Folder(s)
! Operating&nbsp;system !! Profile folder location(s)
|-
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me || <tt>C:\Windows\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
| Windows NT (NT4.x/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10) || "%APPDATA%\Mozilla\"
|-
|-
| Windows 95/98/Me, alternate || <tt>C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
| Windows 95 (without Desktop Update) || C:\Windows\Mozilla
|-
|-
| Windows NT 4.x || <tt>C:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt>
| Windows 95 (with Desktop Update)/98/Me || C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\<br/>
C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\
|-
|-
| Windows 2000 and XP || <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\<br/>
| Unix/Linux || ~/.mozilla/
in other words<br /> %APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\</tt> ([[#For_Windows_2000_and_XP_users |see above]])
|-
|-
| Unix || <tt>~/.thunderbird/<Profile name>/</tt> or possibly <tt>~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name></tt>
| Mac OS X || ~/Library/Mozilla/<br />
|-
~/Library/Application Support/
| Mac OS X || <tt>~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/<Profile name>/<br />  
~/Library/Application Support/Thunderbird/Profiles/<Profile name>/<br />
/Users/<user name>/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/<Profile name>/</tt><br />
|}
|}


===Other profiles===
===For Windows users===
You can use the following technique to find the location of the profile that you are currently using. This is useful, for example, if you are using a profile that is not in the default location given in the above tables.
On Windows systems, the default location of the profile folder containing your user data is under the "Application Data" folder in Windows XP and below or under the "AppData\Roaming" folder in Windows Vista and above. In Windows 2000 and above, these folders are hidden. To find your profile folder in Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10:
: Press [Windows Key]+[R] &rarr; Type in '''%APPDATA%''' &rarr; click OK
A Windows Explorer window will open, showing the contents of the ''C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data'' folder (Windows 2000 and XP) or the ''C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming'' folder (Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10).  You can then open successive folders  until you get to the profile folder.  


From the Mozilla application's menu bar, choose Tools &ndash; JavaScript Console (or Tools &ndash; Web Development &ndash; JavaScript Console)Copy the following codeIt is one very long line ending in <tt>path</tt>&mdash;make sure that you get all of it:
If you want to browse to the default profile folder locations for Windows 2000 or later you will need to enable viewing of hidden files and folders in your Windows Folder Options. You can also search for specific files in your profile folder using Windows SearchIn Windows 2000 you must first enable viewing of hidden files and folders; in Windows XP and Vista,  you must enable searching for hidden files and folders ''in the Search tool itself.'' If you need more help viewing or searching hidden files and folders in Windows 2000 or later, see [[Finding the profile folder on Windows|this article]].


:<code>Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/directory_service;1"].getService( Components.interfaces.nsIProperties).get("ProfD", Components.interfaces.nsIFile).path</code>
==Write-protected files==
Make sure that you do not have read-only or locked files in your profile, which might be a side effect of backing up the profile to removable media and then restoring your profile from that media.  Having such write-protected files in the profile can result in serious problems, as described in [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=257288 bug 257288]. Note that, on Windows, you can remove read-only attributes at the directory level for all subordinate folders and files, through the file properties of a folder.


In the JavaScript Console window, paste the code in the field near the top. Click the Evaluate button.  The console should display the location of the profile that is currently in use. If you don't see it, make sure you have the "All" button pushed.


You could also use [http://www.mrtech.com/extensions/local_install/ MR Techs Local Install extension]. It adds a Tools -> Edit My Config -> Open Profile Folder command that will display the profile folder using your file manager.


==Managing profiles==
[[Category: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 is corrupted?===
If your profile is corrupted, [[Profile_Manager#Creating a new profile |create a new profile]] then [[Migrating settings to a new profile | 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.  The three files whose names begin with "user" are exceptions to this&mdash;they are designed to be edited directly.  For more information on these three files, follow their links in the tables below.
 
===Folders===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
!Name
!Application
!Description
|-
| <tt>backupData</tt>
| Sunbird (starting in 0.3)
| Backups of your calendars.
 
|-
| <tt>[[Bookmarkbackups folder | bookmarkbackups]]</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 1.5)
| Daily rotating backups of your bookmarks.
|-
| <tt>Cache</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Cached Internet files.  Folder location changed in Firefox 1.5 [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=291033].  Use [[About_protocol_links | about:cache]] for information about the cached files and to find the <tt>Cache</tt> folder location.
|-
|<tt>chrome</tt> 
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite, Sunbird
| (In Firefox 1.5, Thunderbird 1.5 and Sunbird 0.3, the <tt>chrome</tt> folder is only used for [[userChrome.css]] and [[userContent.css]])
|-
| <tt>extensions</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite, Sunbird
| Installed extensions
|-
| <tt>ImapMail</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Mail from IMAP sources
|-
| <tt>Mail</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Mail from POP sources and Local Folders
|-
| <tt>microsummary-generators</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Regularly-updated succinct compilations of the most important information on web pages.
|-
| <tt>News</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| News from newsgroups
|-
| <tt>searchplugins</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 1.5)
| Contains search engine plugins and their icons for the [[Search Bar]]
|}
 
===Files===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
! Name
! Application
! Description
|-
| <tt>.autoreg</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Temporary empty file that signals a change in the installed extensions.
|-
| <tt>.parentlock</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (MacOS X)
| See <tt>parent.lock</tt>
|-
| <tt>abook.mab</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Personal Address Book
|-
| <tt>blocklist.xml</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird (starting in 2.0)
| Automatically downloaded list of dangerous extensions.
|-
| <tt>[[bookmarks.bak]]</tt>
| Firefox
| Backup of bookmarks.html ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=218636 Bug 218636])
|-
| <tt>[[bookmarks.html]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Bookmarks
|-
| <tt>[[bookmarks.html.moztmp]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Temporary bookmarks file.  If found, remove the 'read-only' attribute, as it results in creation of multiple numbered bookmarks-n.html files ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=157152 Bug 157152]).
|-
| <tt>[[Bookmarks-(date).html | bookmarks-''(date)''.html]]</tt> in <tt>bookmarkbackups</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 1.5)
| Daily rotating backups of your bookmarks.
|-
| <tt>cert8.db</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Security certificates
|-
| <tt>compatibility.ini</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Stores version and path of the application this profile was last used with. When the profile is loaded with an application of a different version/path, the XPCOM components registration process is triggered. This file is automatically generated and can safely be deleted.
|-
| <tt>components.ini</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird
| Lists extension folders with XPCOM components. Replaced with <tt>extensions.ini</tt> in 1.5.
|-
| <tt>compreg.dat</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Lists registered XPCOM components. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered.
|-
| <tt>[[cookies.txt]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| [[Cookies]] [[RSS_cookies_%28Thunderbird%29]]
|-
| <tt>cookies.txt.moztmp</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Temporary cookies file.  If found, either delete or remove the 'read-only' attribute, as it results in creation of multiple numbered cookies-n.txt files ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=257288 Bug 257288]).
|-
| <tt>defaults.ini</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird (before 1.5)
| Lists extension folders with [[Dev_:_Using_preferences#Where_are_the_default_values_read_from|default pref files]]. Replaced with <tt>extensions.ini</tt> in 1.5.
|-
| <tt>[[downloads.rdf]]</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite
| Download history.  Can be deleted to resolve slow downloads or program hangs ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=159107 Bug 159107])
|-
| <tt>extensions.cache</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird (starting in 1.5), Sunbird
| Lists installed extensions, their IDs, and the folders they are installed to, along with their last-modify time. It is used, for example, to register extensions installed by dropping a folder into one of known install locations. This file is automatically regenerated and can be deleted to resolve various issues.
|-
| <tt>extensions.ini</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird (starting in 1.5), Sunbird
| Lists folders of installed extensions and themes. The file is automatically generated by <code>nsExtensionManager</code> and is used by low-level code to detect chrome packages and XPCOM components provided by installed addons. Can be deleted to resolve various issues.
|-
| <tt>extensions.rdf</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird
| Installed extension information.  Can be deleted in Firefox 1.5 or Thunderbird 1.5 to  remove "ghost" entries from the extension list [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=319022] and to resolve various other issues.
|-
| <tt>extensions-startup.manifest</tt>
| Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5 alphas
| This file was used in Deer Park alphas and was later [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=297312#c17 renamed to extensions.cache]
|-
| <tt>formhistory.dat</tt>
| Firefox
| Saved form data
|-
| <tt>[[history.dat]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Browsing history.  Can be deleted to resolve various issues.
|-
| <tt>history.mab</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Collected Addresses
|-
| <tt>[[hostperm.1]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite
| Per-site preferences for allowing [[cookies]] and popups.
|-
| <tt>[[key3.db]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Key database
|-
| <tt>kf.txt</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Key database for phishing protection.
|-
| <tt>[[localstore.rdf]]</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite, Sunbird
| Toolbar and window size/position settings.  Can be deleted to resolve various issues.
|-
| <tt>localstore-safe.rdf</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 1.5)
| Special version of localstore.rdf used in [[Safe Mode]] to set toolbars and window customizations to defaults. [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=303279]
|-
| <tt>lock</tt> (Linux)
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| See <tt>parent.lock</tt>
|-
| <tt>mailviews.dat</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Defines your current message view (you can customize it)
|-
| <tt>[[mimeTypes.rdf]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Action to perform when downloading certain types of files.  Can be deleted to reset download actions.
|-
| <tt>msgFilterRules.dat</tt> in <tt>ImapMail</tt>, <tt>Mail</tt>, <tt>News</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| [[Filters (Thunderbird)|Message filters]]
|-
| <tt>nsmail.eml, nsmail.tmp, nsmail.html</tt>
| Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite
| Temporary files created when sending a message.
|-
| <tt>panacea.dat</tt>
| Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite
| Mail folder cache
|-
| <tt>parent.lock</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Windows)
| Marker showing that the current [[profile in use | profile is in use]].  Can be deleted to unlock the profile.
|-
| <tt>persdict.dat</tt>
| Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite
| Personal spelling dictionary
|-
| <tt>[[popstate.dat]]</tt> in Mail
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Keeps track of which messages have been left on the POP3 server
|-
| <tt>[[prefs.js file|prefs.js]]</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| All preferences. See: [[about:config]]
|-
| <tt>search.rdf</tt>
| Firefox
| Information about your search plug-ins
|-
| <tt>search.sqlite</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Information about your search plug-ins
|-
| <tt>secmod.db</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite, Sunbird
| Security module database
|-
| <tt>sessionstore.js</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Stored session.
|-
| <tt>[[signons.txt]]</tt>
| Firefox, Sunbird
| Encrypted saved passwords, requires <tt>key3.db</tt> to work
|-
| <tt>storage.sdb</tt>
| Sunbird (from 0.3)
| Internal calendar data (in SQLite format)
|-
| <tt>training.dat</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Custom training for [[Junk Mail Controls]]
|-
| <tt>tmprules.dat</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Temporary file used when modifying message filters.
|-
| <tt>urlclassifier.sqlite</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Phishing protection data.
|-
| <tt>[[user.js]] (does not exist by default)</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| User-set overriding preferences
|-
| <tt>[[userChrome.css]]</tt> in <tt>chrome</tt> (does not exist by default)
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| User-set CSS to change the way the application looks
|-
| <tt>[[userContent.css]]</tt> in <tt>chrome</tt> (does not exist by default)
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| User-set CSS to change the way webpages look
|-
| <tt>virtualfolders.dat</tt>
| Thunderbird
| [[Saved Search]] folder settings
|-
| <tt>webappsstore.sqlite</tt>
| Firefox (starting in 2.0)
| Session storage.
|-
| <tt>xpti.dat</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird
| Lists registered XPCOM interfaces. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered.
|-
| <tt>xul.mfasl</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Linux)
| See <tt>XUL.mfl</tt>
|-
| <tt>XUL.mfl</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (Windows), Sunbird
| Cached user interface data.  Can be deleted to resolve various issues (file location changed in Firefox 1.5, Thunderbird 1.5  [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=291033])
|-
| <tt>XUL FastLoad File</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird (MacOS X)
| See <tt>XUL.mfl</tt>
|}
 
===Files without specific names===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
! Name
! Application
! Description
|-
| <tt>''(number)''.s</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Password data.  The "(number).s" value is referenced in the [[about:config]] preference "signon.SignonFileName" preference
|-
| <tt>''(number)''.w</tt>
| Mozilla Suite
| Saved form data
|-
| <tt>*.</tt> in <tt>ImapMail</tt>, <tt>Mail</tt>, and <tt>News</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Mail messages
|-
| <tt>*.mab</tt> other than <tt>abook.mab</tt> and <tt>history.mab</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| User-created address books
|-
| <tt>*.msf</tt> in <tt>ImapMail</tt>, <tt>Mail</tt>, and <tt>News</tt>
| Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Index files for mail messages
|-
| <tt>*.src</tt> in <tt>searchplugins</tt>
| Firefox
| [[Uninstall search plugins|Search engine plugins]] for the [[Search Bar]]
|}
 
===Files outside the "Profiles" folder===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #fcfcfc; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
! Name
! Application
! Description
|-
| <tt>pluginreg.dat</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Registration of plugin mimetypes.  Located in the <parent> folder containing the "Profiles" folder.
|-
| <tt>[[profiles.ini file |profiles.ini]]</tt>
| Firefox, Thunderbird
| Keeps track of profile location. Located in the <parent> folder containing the "Profiles" folder.  Can be edited to point to a [[moving your profile folder |moved profile folder]].  If deleted, <tt>profiles.ini</tt> will be regenerated along with a new default profile folder upon program restart.
|-
| <tt>registry.dat</tt>
| Firefox, Mozilla Suite, Thunderbird
| Keeps track of where your profiles are located in Mozilla Suite and older Firefox and Thunderbird versions.  Located in the <parent> folder containing the "Profiles" folder.
|}
 
==See also==
* [[Migrating settings to a new profile]]
* [[Profile backup]]
* [[Profile Manager]]
* [[Roaming profile]]
* [[Profile in use]]
 
==External links==
* [http://www.mozilla.org/start/1.5/faq/profile.html Mozilla Suite Profile FAQ]
* [http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/profile Firefox Help: How To Manage Profiles]
* [http://www.mozilla.org/support/thunderbird/profile Thunderbird Help: How To Manage Profiles]

Revision as of 23:56, 6 March 2016

Mozilla applications store a user's personal information in a unique profile. The first time you start any Mozilla application, it will automatically create a default profile; additional profiles can be created using the Profile Manager. The settings which form a profile are stored in files within a special folder on your computer — this is the profile folder. The installation directory also includes a "profile" folder but this folder contains program defaults, not your user profile data.

For information on the profile folder specific to certain applications, including how to find the profile folder, see the following articles:

For other applications, see the information below. Some of these folders may be hidden.

Operating system Profile folder location(s)
Windows NT (NT4.x/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10) "%APPDATA%\Mozilla\"
Windows 95 (without Desktop Update) C:\Windows\Mozilla
Windows 95 (with Desktop Update)/98/Me C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\

C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\

Unix/Linux ~/.mozilla/
Mac OS X ~/Library/Mozilla/

~/Library/Application Support/

For Windows users

On Windows systems, the default location of the profile folder containing your user data is under the "Application Data" folder in Windows XP and below or under the "AppData\Roaming" folder in Windows Vista and above. In Windows 2000 and above, these folders are hidden. To find your profile folder in Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10:

Press [Windows Key]+[R] → Type in %APPDATA% → click OK

A Windows Explorer window will open, showing the contents of the C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data folder (Windows 2000 and XP) or the C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming folder (Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10). You can then open successive folders until you get to the profile folder.

If you want to browse to the default profile folder locations for Windows 2000 or later you will need to enable viewing of hidden files and folders in your Windows Folder Options. You can also search for specific files in your profile folder using Windows Search. In Windows 2000 you must first enable viewing of hidden files and folders; in Windows XP and Vista, you must enable searching for hidden files and folders in the Search tool itself. If you need more help viewing or searching hidden files and folders in Windows 2000 or later, see this article.

Write-protected files

Make sure that you do not have read-only or locked files in your profile, which might be a side effect of backing up the profile to removable media and then restoring your profile from that media. Having such write-protected files in the profile can result in serious problems, as described in bug 257288. Note that, on Windows, you can remove read-only attributes at the directory level for all subordinate folders and files, through the file properties of a folder.