Profiles.ini file: Difference between revisions
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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 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 [[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. On Windows 2000 and XP you can go to "Start -> Run" then type in <tt>%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox</tt> (or <tt>%APPDATA%\Thunderbird</tt>) and click "OK" to quickly open the appropriate folder; on Windows Vista, you would | 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. On Windows 2000 and XP you can go to "Start -> Run" then type in <tt>%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox</tt> (or <tt>%APPDATA%\Thunderbird</tt>) and click "OK" to quickly open the appropriate folder; on Windows Vista, you would go to "Start -> Start Search" and type in <tt>%APPDATA%\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox</tt> or <tt>%APPDATA%\Roaming\Thunderbird</tt>. [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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 19:06, 2 March 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. On Windows 2000 and XP you can go to "Start -> Run" then type in %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox (or %APPDATA%\Thunderbird) and click "OK" to quickly open the appropriate folder; on Windows Vista, you would go to "Start -> Start Search" and type in %APPDATA%\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox or %APPDATA%\Roaming\Thunderbird. [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 the next time you start the 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] |
- A profiles.ini file when multiple profiles exist, including an original "default" profile and additional profiles in "custom" locations:
| [General] StartWithLastProfile=1 [Profile0] [Profile1] [Profile2] |
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.
