Profiles.ini file: Difference between revisions

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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Automatic_Mozilla_Configurator:How_Thunderbird_and_Firefox_find_their_configuration_files]Automatic Mozilla Configurator:How Thunderbird and Firefox find their configuration files - MDC]
* [http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Automatic_Mozilla_Configurator:How_Thunderbird_and_Firefox_find_their_configuration_files Automatic Mozilla Configurator:How Thunderbird and Firefox find their configuration files - MDC]
* [http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/profile Firefox Help: How To Manage Profiles]
* [http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/profile Firefox Help: How To Manage Profiles]
* [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=2536281#2536281


[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:Profiles]]

Revision as of 22:56, 1 January 2007

Firefox and Thunderbird use the information stored inside the profiles.ini file to keep track of profile folders. Whenever you use the Firefox or Thunderbird Profile Manager to create, delete or rename a profile, the changes are reflected in the profiles.ini file.

The profiles.ini file is located inside the "Firefox" or "Thunderbird" folder in the default profile folder path for each application, for example, in Windows XP, in the C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox and C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird folders.

Here are two examples of the profiles.ini file contents [1]:

  • A profiles.ini file for a single profile in the "default" or expected profile location:
[General]

StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=Profiles/2er464rk.default
Default=1

  • A profiles.ini file when multiple profiles exist, including an original "default" profile and additional profiles in "custom" locations:
[General]

StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=Profiles/default.cta

[Profile1]
Name=alicew
IsRelative=0
Path=D:\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\alicew
Default=1

[Profile2]
Name=sheldon
IsRelative=0
Path=D:\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\sheldon

IsRelative=1 refers to the expected or "default" folder path that would be relative to the operating system, e.g., Path=Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default would be C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default for a Firefox profile folder in Windows XP.

IsRelative=0 refers to a custom profile location such as Path=D:\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\MyProfile

The profiles.ini file is a plain-text file that can be easily viewed with a text editor such as Notepad. Caution: A Firefox or Thunderbird "already running but is not responding" error can occcur as a result of incorrect editing of the "profiles.ini" file (bug 278860). Always make a backup copy before editing the profiles.ini file.

If you delete the Firefox or Thunderbird profiles.ini file, a new default profile will be created for that application and a new profiles.ini file will be generated that references the new profile. The Profile Manager will only show the newly-created profile' the old profiles will no longer be listed. For information about adding back or accessing profiles that are no longer listed in the Profile Manager, see the articles, Moving your profile folder and Starting Firefox or Thunderbird with a specified profile.

External links