Profile folder - SeaMonkey
This article is about the profile folder in SeaMonkey and also applies to Mozilla Suite. See also Profile folder - Thunderbird and Profile folder - Firefox.
SeaMonkey stores user data and settings, such bookmarks, browsing history, mail, address books and preference settings, in a special profile folder on your computer, in a location that is separate from the program installation directory. The SeaMonkey installation directory also includes a "profile" folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\SeaMonkey\defaults\profile on Windows) but this folder contains program defaults, not your user profile data. Use the information given below to find the profile folder.
In current versions of SeaMonkey 2, you can open your profile folder directly from the Help menu, as follows:
- In the SeaMonkey menu bar, click "Help" and select "Troubleshooting Information". The about:support page will open.
- Under "Application Basics", click on "Open Folder" (Windows and Linux) or "Show in Finder" (Mac OS).
For Windows users
On Windows 2000 and above, the profile folder containing your SeaMonkey user data and settings is stored under one of these locations, which is hidden by default:
- Windows 2000 and Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login user name>\Application Data\
- Windows Vista and above: C:\Users\<Windows login user name>\AppData\Roaming\
To quickly find your profile folder, you can use the %APPDATA% environment variable as follows:
- Windows 2000/XP: Click Start → Click Run → Type in: %APPDATA% → click OK
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Press "Windows key
+R" to open the Run dialog → type %APPDATA% → click OK (Alternatively, press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type %APPDATA% in the search box and press the enter key.)
This will open a Windows Explorer window showing the contents of the "Application Data" folder in Windows 2000/XP or the "AppData\Roaming" folder in Windows Vista and above. You can then open successive folders until you get to the profile folder. You can also specify which folder to open, such as %APPDATA%\Mozilla\SeaMonkey\Profiles\ (SeaMonkey 2) or %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Profiles\ (Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey 1.x).
You can also navigate to to the profile folder location in Windows Explorer or My Computer but on Windows 2000 and above, you first need to enable viewing hidden files and folders in your Windows Folder Options. You can also use Windows Search to find specific files in your profile folder but on Windows XP and above you must enable searching hidden files and folders in the Search tool itself. See this article for more information.
For Linux users
The .mozilla folder is a hidden folder. To show hidden folders in Nautilus (Gnome desktop's default file browser), choose View -> Show Hidden Files> (read this for more information about hidden files and folders on Linux).
For Mac users
The SeaMonkey profile folder is located a few levels under the "~/Library" folder, which is the "/Macintosh HD/Users/<username>/Library" folder. The tilde character (~) refers to the current user's Home folder. Starting in Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) the Library folder is hidden by default. You can open it by holding down the Option key while opening the Go menu, then selecting Library (read this for more information about hidden files and folders on Mac OS.)
Default profile location
Profile folders are placed in the same location by default but are named randomly for additional security. If you chose a custom location, see Other profile locations below.
The original profile is named default. Additional profiles can be created using the Profile Manager and can have any name. Note that SeaMonkey 2 stores profiles in a separate location and does not share profiles with Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey 1.x.
SeaMonkey 2
The first time SeaMonkey 2 is started, a profile named "default" is created. The default SeaMonkey 2 profile folder locations are shown below. Asterisks ( * ) in the folder names shown below represent a random string of numbers or letters.
| Operating system | SeaMonkey 2 profile folder location |
|---|---|
| Windows 2000 and Windows XP |
C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\SeaMonkey\Profiles\ ********.<Profile name> or: |
| Windows Vista and above |
C:\Users\<Windows login user name>>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\SeaMonkey\Profiles\********.<Profile name> or: |
| Linux | ~/.mozilla/seamonkey/********.<Profile name> |
| Mac OS X | ~/Library/Application Support/SeaMonkey/Profiles/********.<Profile name> |
SeaMonkey 1.x
Netscape 7.x, Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey 1.x all use the same profile folder location and profile registry file ("registry.dat"). The first time one of these applications is started, a profile named "default" is created. The same profile will also be used if another of these applications is later installed (but sharing a single profile back and forth among applications is not recommended, as it may corrupt the profile). The named profile folder contains the "********.slt" ("salted") folder where the actual profile data is stored. Asterisks ( * ) represent a random string of numbers or letters.
| Operating system | Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey 1.x profile folder location |
|---|---|
| Windows 95 (without Desktop Update) | C:\Windows\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt |
| Windows 95 (with Desktop Update) and Windows 98/Me | C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt |
| Windows 95 (with Desktop Update) and Windows 98/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 and Windows XP | C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt or: |
| Windows Vista and above | C:\Users\<Windows login user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Profiles\<Profile name>\********.slt or: |
| Linux | ~/.mozilla/<Profile name>/********.slt |
| Mac OS X | One of these locations: ~/Library/Mozilla/Profiles/<Profile name>/********.slt |
Other profile locations
When creating a profile with the Profile Manager, you can choose to place it in a location other than the default profile location. This section describes how you can find one of these other profiles.
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.
From the SeaMonkey menu bar, choose "Tools -> Web Development -> Error Console" (it may be called "JavaScript Console" in some versions). Copy the following code. It is one very long line ending in path—make sure that you get all of it:
Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/directory_service;1"].getService( Components.interfaces.nsIProperties).get("ProfD", Components.interfaces.nsIFile).path
In the Error Console or 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.
Managing profiles
You can select a profile to use, delete or rename an existing profile or create a new profile using the Profile Manager. You can transfer your data to a new profile, back up your profile or move your profile to a new location.
Caution: If you manually delete, rename or move the profile folder, instead of going through the Profile Manager, SeaMonkey may report that the profile is "in use" or is "already running" when you next start the application.
Files and folders in the profile
Important: None of these files should be write-protected ("read-only" or "locked"), which might be a side effect of backing up the profile to removable media and then restoring your profile from that media. Having read-only or locked files in the profile can result in serious profile issues, as described in this article.
It's not recommended to edit these files directly. Instead, use their respective interfaces. The files whose names begin with "user" are exceptions to this—they are designed to be edited directly. For more information on these files, follow their links in the tables below.
Folders
| Name | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Cached Internet files. May be located outside the profile folder starting in SeaMonkey 1.0. To find the location, use about:cache or look in "Edit → Preferences → Advanced → Cache" under "Cache Folder Location" (see also browser.cache.disk.parent directory). | |
| chrome | SeaMonkey 2.0 (?) and below, and Mozilla Suite | Contains userChrome-example.css, userContent-example.css, and the optional userChrome.css, userChrome.js, and userContent.css user customization files. Contains the "chrome.rdf" file and stores installed extensions and themes in SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite. Note: The chrome folder is no longer created by default (as of SeaMonkey 2.1?). [1]. |
| extensions | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Installed extensions and themes. |
| ImapMail | Mail from IMAP sources | |
| Mail from POP sources and Local Folders | ||
| News | News from newsgroups | |
| searchplugins | Contains search engine plugins and their icons |
Files
| Name | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| (number).s | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Password data. The "(number).s" value is referenced in the about:config preference signon.SignonFileName |
| (number).w | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Saved form data |
| (mbox name) - in the ImapMail, Mail, and News folders | Mbox files. These are text files that contain all of the messages for that folder, for example, Inbox. | |
| (mbox name).msf - in the ImapMail, Mail, and News folders | Index files for mail messages, for example, Inbox.msf | |
| *.mab (other than abook.mab and history.mab) | User-created address books | |
| *.rc - in the News folder | Contains subscribe newsgroups for the current server. | |
| .autoreg | Temporary empty file that signals a change in the installed extensions. | |
| .parentlock (Mac OS X) | See parent.lock | |
| abook.mab | Personal Address Book | |
| bookmarks.html | SeaMonkey 2.0 and below and Mozilla Suite | Bookmarks (for SeaMonkey 2.1 and above, see places.sqlite below, and also the about:config prefs browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML and browser.places.importBookmarksHTML.) |
| bookmarks.html.moztmp | Temporary bookmarks file. If found, remove the 'read-only' attribute (or unlock the file on MacOS), as it results in creation of multiple numbered bookmarks-n.html files [2] | |
| cert8.db | Security certificates | |
| chrome.rdf - in the "chrome" folder. | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Stores extension and theme information. Deleting the chrome.rdf file effectively "uninstalls" all extensions and themes although the files themselves will remain. [3] |
| compreg.dat | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Lists registered XPCOM components. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered. [4] |
| cookies.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Cookies [5] |
| cookies.txt | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Cookies |
| cookies.txt.moztmp | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Temporary cookies file. If found, either delete the file or remove the 'read-only' attribute (or unlock the file on MacOS), as it results in creation of multiple numbered cookies-n.txt files [6] |
| downloads.rdf | Download history. Can be deleted to resolve slow downloads or hangs [7] | |
| extensions.cache | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Lists installed extensions, their IDs, and the folders where they are installed, along with their last-modify time. This file is automatically regenerated and can be deleted to resolve various issues. |
| extensions.ini | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Lists folders of installed extensions and themes. The file is automatically generated by nsExtensionManager and is used by low-level code to detect chrome packages and XPCOM components provided by installed addons. It can be deleted to resolve various issues.
|
| extensions.rdf | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Installed extension information. It can be deleted to remove "ghost" entries from the extension list [8] and to resolve various other issues. |
| formhistory.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Saved form data [9] |
| feeditems.rdf - in the Mail/Feeds folder | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Blogs & News Feeds items (including links to the actual messages) |
| feeds.rdf - in the Mail/Feeds folder | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Blogs & News Feeds subscriptions |
| history.dat | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Browsing history. Can be deleted to resolve various issues. |
| history.mab | Collected Addresses | |
| hostinfo.dat - in the News folder | Contains all the newsgroups available for the current server. | |
| hostperm.1 | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite |
Per-site preferences for allowing cookies images and popups. |
| key3.db | Key database for passwords | |
| localstore.rdf | Previous to 2.31 | Toolbar and window size/position settings. Can be deleted to resolve various issues. See Corrupt localstore.rdf. Contained the Location bar history before 2.0. Replaced by xulstore.json in 2.31. |
| lock (Linux) | See parent.lock | |
| mailviews.dat | Defines your current message view (you can customize it) | |
| mimeTypes.rdf | Action to perform when downloading certain types of files. Can be deleted to reset download actions. | |
| msgFilterRules.dat - in the ImapMail, Mail, and News folders | Message filters | |
| newsrc-* — in the News folder | See *.rc | |
| nsmail.eml, nsmail.tmp, nsmail.html | Temporary files created when sending a message. | |
| panacea.dat | Mail folder cache | |
| panels.rdf | Information about which panels that will be displayed in the sidebar | |
| parent.lock (Windows) | Marker showing that the current profile is in use. Can be deleted to unlock the profile. | |
| permissions.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Permission database for allowing cookies, images, and popups. |
| persdict.dat | Personal spelling dictionary | |
| places.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Browsing history [10]; SeaMonkey 2.1 and above: also Bookmarks [11] |
| pluginreg.dat | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Registration of plugin mimetypes (see also about:plugins). Note: In Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey 1.x, the pluginreg.dat file is located outside the profile folder, in the "Mozilla" folder (".mozilla" on Linux) in the profile folder path. |
| popstate.dat - in the Mail folder | Keeps track of which messages have been downloaded and left on the POP3 server | |
| prefs.js | Preferences and mail account settings. See: about:config | |
| search.rdf | Information about your search plugins | |
| signons.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Password data. [12] [13] |
| secmod.db | Security module database | |
| training.dat | Custom training for Junk Mail Controls | |
| URL.tbl | Excluded Fill Form data sites | |
| urlbarhistory.sqlite | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Location bar history. [14] |
| user.js | Does not exist by default. User-set overriding preferences | |
| userChrome.css - in the "chrome" folder. | User-set CSS to change the way the application looks. Does not exist by default. | |
| userContent.css - in the "chrome" folder. | User-set CSS to change the way webpages look. Does not exist by default. | |
| userChrome.js - in the "chrome" folder. | User-set JavaScript to change the way the application works. Does not exist by default. | |
| virtualfolders.dat | Saved Search folder settings | |
| xpti.dat | Lists registered XPCOM interfaces. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered. | |
| xul.mfasl (Linux) | See XUL.mfl | |
| XUL.mfl (Windows) | Cached user interface data. Located in the same directory as the Cache folder (see above). Can be deleted to resolve various issues | |
| XUL FastLoad File (Mac OS X) | See XUL.mfl | |
| xulstore.json | 2.31 and above | Toolbar and window size/position settings (replaces localstore.rdf). [15] [16] [17] |
Files and folders outside the profile folder
| Name | Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Reports | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Directory containing Breakpad data from past crashes. Located in the "SeaMonkey" folder that contains the "Profiles" folder (Windows and Mac OS X) or in the "seamonkey" folder that contains the ********.<profile name> folder (Linux). Its contents include these files and folders:
|
| pluginreg.dat | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite | Registration of plugin mimetypes (see also about:plugins). Located in the "Mozilla" folder that contains the "Profiles" folder (Windows and Mac OS X) or in the ".mozilla" folder that contains the <profile name> folder (Linux). Note: pluginreg.dat is located in the profile folder in SeaMonkey 2.0 and above. |
| profiles.ini | SeaMonkey 2.0 and above | Keeps track of profiles. Located in the "SeaMonkey" folder that contains the "Profiles" folder (Windows and Mac OS X) or in the "seamonkey" folder that contains the ********.<profile name> folder (Linux). |
| registry.dat | SeaMonkey 1.x and Mozilla Suite | Keeps track of profiles. Located in the "Mozilla" folder that contains the "Profiles" folder (Windows and Mac OS X) or in the ".mozilla" folder that contains the <profile name> folder (Linux). |
