Transferring data to a new profile - Firefox: Difference between revisions
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==Preparation== | ==Preparation== | ||
===Back up your profiles=== | ===Back up your profiles=== | ||
It's a good idea to first [[Profile_backup | back up your profiles]] as a precaution. [[MozBackup]] is a popular way to do that if you use Windows. | |||
===Create a new profile=== | ===Create a new profile=== | ||
Installing Firefox and running it for the first time automatically creates a "default" [[Profile folder - Firefox| Firefox profile]]. Additional profiles can be created using the Firefox [[Profile Manager]]. If you | Installing Firefox and running it for the first time automatically creates a "default" [[Profile folder - Firefox| Firefox profile]]. Additional profiles can be created using the Firefox [[Profile Manager]]. If you haven't yet created a new profile, [[Kill application |completely close Firefox]] by choosing File -> Exit (or Quit) and then [[Profile Manager#Accessing_the_Profile_Manager | open the Profile Manager]] and follow the prompts to create the new profile, Make note of the name you give to the new profile so you can distinguish between the old and the new, then exit the Profile Manager (do not start Firefox with the new profile). | ||
== | ==Copy data to the new profile== | ||
If you had problems with your old profile and haven't identified what set of files is causing your problem, it's recommended you copy files from your old [[Profile folder - Firefox | profile folder]] to the new one in several steps, testing whether things are still working okay between steps. | If you had problems with your old profile and haven't identified what set of files is causing your problem, it's recommended you copy files from your old [[Profile folder - Firefox | profile folder]] to the new one in several steps, testing whether things are still working okay between steps. | ||
It's recommended that you only copy data that would be a lot of work to recreate (such as [[bookmarks]], passwords, and [[cookies]]) to the new profile. Extensions, themes, and preferences are a common cause of Firefox problems so you should re-install any extensions and themes and reconfigure your preference settings if you had problems with the old profile, instead of trying to migrate them. | |||
Note that Firefox 3 uses a new file format for certain profile data (e.g., "cookies.sqlite" instead of [[cookies.txt]]) and will create files using data contained in files from older Firefox versions, if found. If you are copying profile data from a profile used with an older version of Firefox, make sure to delete any sqlite files in the new profile folder so that Firefox can create a file in the new format using the data in the copied file. | |||
==Suggested profile contents to transfer== | |||
The following files and folders are found in your [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]]. Note that, on Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Linux, you will need to [[show hidden files and folders]] to navigate to the profile folder or search for the files. | The following files and folders are found in your [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]]. Note that, on Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Linux, you will need to [[show hidden files and folders]] to navigate to the profile folder or search for the files. | ||
=== | ===Extensions and themes=== | ||
* "extensions" folder - Contains your themes and extensions. ''Not recommended to migrate if you had problems in your old profile.'' | * "extensions" folder - Contains your themes and extensions. ''Not recommended to migrate if you had problems in your old profile.'' | ||
Delete the "extensions.ini", "extensions.cache" and "extensions.rdf" files inside this folder after copying it to the new profile. These files will be regenerated when you start Firefox. This avoids potential problems due to old paths. A few extensions store data in additional files in the profile, usually at the top of the directory. You'll need to move them separately. | Delete the "extensions.ini", "extensions.cache" and "extensions.rdf" files inside this folder after copying it to the new profile. These files will be regenerated when you start Firefox. This avoids potential problems due to old paths. A few extensions store data in additional files in the profile, usually at the top of the directory. You'll need to move them separately. | ||
===Bookmarks and browsing history=== | ===Bookmarks and browsing history=== | ||
* [[bookmarks.html]] | * [[bookmarks.html]] (Firefox 2) - [[Bookmarks]] | ||
* [[history.dat]] | * [[history.dat]] (Firefox 2) - Browsing history of previously visited websites | ||
Firefox 3.0 uses [[places.sqlite]] instead of those two files. | Firefox 3.0 uses [[places.sqlite]] instead of those two files. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 31: | ||
===Cookies=== | ===Cookies=== | ||
* [[cookies.txt]] - | * [[cookies.txt]] (Firefox 2) or cookies.sqlite (Firefox 3) - [[Cookies]] | ||
===Download actions=== | ===Download actions=== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 37: | ||
===Form history=== | ===Form history=== | ||
* formhistory.dat - | * formhistory.dat (Firefox 2) or formhistory.sqlite (Firefox 3) - Saved entries for web forms and the [[Search Bar]]. | ||
===Permissions=== | ===Permissions=== | ||
* [[hostperm.1]] - | * [[hostperm.1]] (Firefox 2) or permissions.sqlite (Firefox 3) - Per-site preferences for allowing cookies, images, and popups and extension install permissions. | ||
===Passwords=== | ===Passwords=== | ||
Both of these files must be copied: | Both of these files must be copied: | ||
* [[key3.db]] - Key database for passwords. | * [[key3.db]] - Key database for passwords. | ||
* [[signons2.txt]] (Firefox 2) or [[signons3.txt]] ( | * [[signons2.txt]] (Firefox 2) or [[signons3.txt]] (Firefox 3) - Saved passwords. | ||
Note: [[signons.txt]] was used prior to version 2.0.0.2. | Note: [[signons.txt]] was used prior to version 2.0.0.2. | ||
| Line 59: | Line 62: | ||
===Spelling corrections=== | ===Spelling corrections=== | ||
* [[ | * [[persdict.dat]] - Personal (custom) entries in the spell checker [[Dictionaries|dictionary]]. | ||
===User styles=== | ===User styles=== | ||
| Line 70: | Line 73: | ||
* [[Profile backup]] | * [[Profile backup]] | ||
* [[Moving your profile folder]] | * [[Moving your profile folder]] | ||
==External links== | |||
* [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile Recovering important data from an old profile (Firefox Support) | |||
[[Category:Profiles]] | [[Category:Profiles]] | ||
Revision as of 01:34, 5 June 2008
This article explains how to selectively transfer Firefox user data and settings to a new Firefox profile and provides a list of suggested files. If you're using either Thunderbird or SeaMonkey, see Transferring data to a new profile - Thunderbird or Transferring data to a new profile.
Preparation
Back up your profiles
It's a good idea to first back up your profiles as a precaution. MozBackup is a popular way to do that if you use Windows.
Create a new profile
Installing Firefox and running it for the first time automatically creates a "default" Firefox profile. Additional profiles can be created using the Firefox Profile Manager. If you haven't yet created a new profile, completely close Firefox by choosing File -> Exit (or Quit) and then open the Profile Manager and follow the prompts to create the new profile, Make note of the name you give to the new profile so you can distinguish between the old and the new, then exit the Profile Manager (do not start Firefox with the new profile).
Copy data to the new profile
If you had problems with your old profile and haven't identified what set of files is causing your problem, it's recommended you copy files from your old profile folder to the new one in several steps, testing whether things are still working okay between steps.
It's recommended that you only copy data that would be a lot of work to recreate (such as bookmarks, passwords, and cookies) to the new profile. Extensions, themes, and preferences are a common cause of Firefox problems so you should re-install any extensions and themes and reconfigure your preference settings if you had problems with the old profile, instead of trying to migrate them.
Note that Firefox 3 uses a new file format for certain profile data (e.g., "cookies.sqlite" instead of cookies.txt) and will create files using data contained in files from older Firefox versions, if found. If you are copying profile data from a profile used with an older version of Firefox, make sure to delete any sqlite files in the new profile folder so that Firefox can create a file in the new format using the data in the copied file.
Suggested profile contents to transfer
The following files and folders are found in your Firefox profile folder. Note that, on Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Linux, you will need to show hidden files and folders to navigate to the profile folder or search for the files.
Extensions and themes
- "extensions" folder - Contains your themes and extensions. Not recommended to migrate if you had problems in your old profile.
Delete the "extensions.ini", "extensions.cache" and "extensions.rdf" files inside this folder after copying it to the new profile. These files will be regenerated when you start Firefox. This avoids potential problems due to old paths. A few extensions store data in additional files in the profile, usually at the top of the directory. You'll need to move them separately.
Bookmarks and browsing history
- bookmarks.html (Firefox 2) - Bookmarks
- history.dat (Firefox 2) - Browsing history of previously visited websites
Firefox 3.0 uses places.sqlite instead of those two files.
You can alternately use the import bookmarks from file feature of the Bookmarks Manager to add the contents of any bookmarks file in HTML format to your current Firefox bookmarks.
Cookies
- cookies.txt (Firefox 2) or cookies.sqlite (Firefox 3) - Cookies
Download actions
- mimeTypes.rdf - What action to perform when downloading certain types of files (save or open with a specified application).
Form history
- formhistory.dat (Firefox 2) or formhistory.sqlite (Firefox 3) - Saved entries for web forms and the Search Bar.
Permissions
- hostperm.1 (Firefox 2) or permissions.sqlite (Firefox 3) - Per-site preferences for allowing cookies, images, and popups and extension install permissions.
Passwords
Both of these files must be copied:
- key3.db - Key database for passwords.
- signons2.txt (Firefox 2) or signons3.txt (Firefox 3) - Saved passwords.
Note: signons.txt was used prior to version 2.0.0.2.
Preferences
- user.js (an optional file) and prefs.js - User preference settings. Not recommended to migrate if you had problems in your old profile.
You may need to manually edit the paths in prefs.js to reflect the new profile location. If the new profile doesn't have the same extensions, you may have some unused preferences set by those extensions, but that usually doesn't harm anything.
Search engines
- "searchplugins" folder - Only copy this folder if you added another search engine.
Security certificate settings
- cert8.db
Session storage
- webappsstore.sqlite - Only copy this if you deliberately keep and use many saved sessions.
Spelling corrections
- persdict.dat - Personal (custom) entries in the spell checker dictionary.
User styles
These optional files (located in the "chrome" folder) change the way Firefox and web pages look.
- chrome/userChrome.css
- chrome/userContent.css
- chrome/userChrome.js
See also
External links
- [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile Recovering important data from an old profile (Firefox Support)
