Profiles.ini file: Difference between revisions

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{{wrongtitle|title=profiles.ini file}}
{{wrongtitle|title=profiles.ini file}}


Firefox and Thunderbird use the information stored inside the ''profiles.ini'' file to keep track of [[profile folder | 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 contains information used by Firefox and Thunderbird to keep track of [[profile folder |profiles]].  Whenever you use the Firefox or Thunderbird [[Profile Manager]] to create, rename or delete 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, on Windows XP,  in the <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\'''Firefox''' folder </tt> and the <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\'''Thunderbird'''</tt> folder.
The profiles.ini file is located inside the "Firefox" or "Thunderbird" folder in the [[Profile folder#Where is my profile folder?|  profile folder path]] for each application, for example, on Windows XP,  in the <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\'''Firefox''' folder </tt> and the <tt>C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\'''Thunderbird'''</tt> folder.  Windows 2000/XP/Vista users can go to  "Start -> Run" and enter '''%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox''' or '''%APPDATA%\Thunderbird''' to open the appropriate folder [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=505347].  


'''Note:''' Windows2000/XP/Vista users can go to  "Start -> Run" and enter '''%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox''' or '''%APPDATA%\Thunderbird''' to open the appropriate folder, as explained [[Profile_folder#Where_is_my_profile_folder.3F| here]] [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=505347] .   
Since the profiles.ini file is a plain-text file, it can be easily opened, viewed and edited, if necessary, with a text editor such as Notepad.  '''Caution:''' A Firefox or Thunderbird [[Profile_in_use#Check_the_profile_folder_name_and_location |"already running but is not responding" error]] can occur as a result of incorrect editing of the "profiles.ini" file ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=278860 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 and the old profiles will no longer be listed.  For information about adding profiles to the Profile Manager or accessing profiles that are no longer listed, see the articles, [[Moving your profile folder]] and [[Starting Firefox or Thunderbird with a specified profile]].


Here are two examples of the profiles.ini file contents [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=473308]:  
Here are two examples of the profiles.ini file contents [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=473308]:  
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'''Default=1''' refers to the last selected profile.
'''Default=1''' refers to the last selected profile.
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 [[Profile_in_use#Check_the_profile_folder_name_and_location |"already running but is not responding" error]] can occcur as a result of incorrect editing of the "profiles.ini" file ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=278860 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==
==External links==

Revision as of 02:23, 2 January 2007

The profiles.ini file contains information used by Firefox and Thunderbird to keep track of profiles. Whenever you use the Firefox or Thunderbird Profile Manager to create, rename or delete 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 profile folder path for each application, for example, on Windows XP, in the C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox folder and the C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird folder. Windows 2000/XP/Vista users can go to "Start -> Run" and enter %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox or %APPDATA%\Thunderbird to open the appropriate folder [1].

Since the profiles.ini file is a plain-text file, it can be easily opened, viewed and edited, if necessary, with a text editor such as Notepad. Caution: A Firefox or Thunderbird "already running but is not responding" error can occur 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 and the old profiles will no longer be listed. For information about adding profiles to the Profile Manager or accessing profiles that are no longer listed, see the articles, Moving your profile folder and Starting Firefox or Thunderbird with a specified profile.

Here are two examples of the profiles.ini file contents [2]:

  • 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

StartWithLastProfile=1 indicates that the "Don't ask at startup" option is selected.

Default=1 refers to the last selected profile.

External links