Transferring data to a new profile - Firefox: Difference between revisions

From MozillaZine Knowledge Base
Jump to navigationJump to search
(added persdict.dat)
(→‎Files: mimeTypes.rdf -> handlers.json in Firefox 55+ (bug 1287658))
(45 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Sometimes when you have problems with Firefox and can't figure out [[:Category:Issues_%28Firefox%29 | what's wrong]], it's easier to create a new profile and transfer any data you want to save, rather than keep trying to fix your existing profile. See [[Transferring data to a new profile - Thunderbird]] or [[Transferring data to a new profile]] if you're using either Thunderbird or SeaMonkey.  
This article explains how to selectively transfer Firefox user data and settings to a new [[Profile folder - Firefox| 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 - SeaMonkey]].  


==Preparation==
==Preparation==
Since you may be copying files over existing files with the same name, its a good idea to first back up your [[Profile_backup | profiles]] as a precaution. [[MozBackup]] is a popular way to do that if you use Windows.
===Back up your profiles===
It's a good idea to first [[Profile_backup | back up your profiles]] as a precaution. [[MozBackup]] (Windows only)(Please note that MBU is no longer being supported or updated.) and [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2109 FEBE] are popular ways to do this.


==Create a new profile==
===Create a new profile===
Create a new profile, if you haven't done so already. To do this, [[Kill application |completely close Firefox ]] by choosing File -> Exit (or  Quit). [[Profile Manager#Accessing_the_Profile_Manager | Use the Profile Manager]] to create a new profile.  Make note of the name you give to the new profile so you can distinguish between the old and the new. Then completely close Firefox.  Firefox must be closed while you make changes to the 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 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 a new profile.  Make note of the name you give to the new profile so you can distinguish between the old and the new. You can exit the Profile Manager at this point and a new profile folder will be created (if you don't open Firefox with the new profile, the newly created profile folder will be an "empty shell").  You can then copy the files containing the data you wish to transfer to the new profile folder.  Firefox will create any additional files it needs when you actually start Firefox with the new profile.


==Identify what you want to salvage==
==Copy data to the new profile==
If you 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.  
Make sure that Firefox is completely closed before you copy data to the new profile.


A list of files used to store each type of data is provided below. '''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, and that you re-install any extensions and themes rather than trying to migrate them. Its frequently quicker to re-install or re-configure something than to spend time debugging what you did wrong. '''
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 transfer them.   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.


This article assumes you're using Firefox 1.5 or later. If you're using a older version, you may need to look at [[Profile_folder - Firefox]] to see if there are any changes that affect you.  
If you were''' not''' having any problems with the old profile,  you can '''clone''' the existing profile by copying everything from the existing profile folder, deleting the entire contents of the '''new''' profile folder and then and pasting the existing profile contents into the new profile folder. Be aware that the 'Downloads' location is locally pathed and may need to be changed if the new profile is on a different Operating System.  


===Add-ons===
'''Transferring useful personal data to a new profile from an old profile that had problems:'''
* <tt>extensions</tt> directory - Themes and Extensions. 
# Open Firefox with your old profile, using the Firefox [[Profile Manager]]. 
Delete the extensions.ini, extensions.cache and extensions.rdf files in the directory. They 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.  
# In the Firefox Menu select "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" and click "Open  Containing Folder" (see note below)
# When the profile folder window appears, '''close Firefox'''
:*Note:  In Firefox 14 and later changed to "Show Folder" on Windows and "Show in Finder" on Mac OS and "Open Directory" on Linux. If you are unable to open Firefox using the old profile,  you can navigate to the old profile manually. See [[Profile folder - Firefox#Finding the profile folder]] for details.


===Bookmarks and browsing history===
You will now be working within the Firefox profile folder window,  which contains the files and folders that you are going to copy to your new profile.  To make the transfer process easier, you should  create a  new "Transfer Profile" folder inside your old Firefox profile folder: 
* <tt>[[bookmarks.html]]</tt>
#Right click on a blank area of the profile folder window and create a New Folder.  
* <tt>[[history.dat]]</tt>
#Rename this new folder to '''Transfer Folder'''.  
#Copy into this Transfer Folder the following files and folders from your old profile and no others:


Firefox 3.0 (not released yet) uses <tt>places.sqlite</tt> instead of those two files
'''Files:'''
*cert8.db  (cert9.db in Firefox 58 and above)
*chromeappsstore.sqlite
*content-prefs.sqlite
*cookies.sqlite
*formhistory.sqlite
*key3.db  (key4.db in Firefox 58 and above)
*logins.json (Firefox 32 and above)
*mimeTypes.rdf
*permissions.sqlite
* persdict.dat
* places.sqlite
*favicons.sqlite (Firefox 55 and above)
* signons.sqlite (Firefox 31 and below)
* signons3.txt (if exists)
* webappsstore.sqlite


===Cookies===
* <tt>[[cookies.txt]]</tt> - Cookies can be used to keep you logged into web sites you logged into before.
* <tt>[[hostperm.1]]</tt> - Cookie exceptions


===Download actions===
'''Folders:'''
* <tt>[[mimeTypes.rdf]]</tt>- What action to perform when [[File types and download actions |downloading certain types of files]] (save or open with a specified application)
*bookmarkbackups
*chrome (if it exists)
*searchplugins (if it exists)


===Form history===
Note: Any existing folders specifically relating to individual extensions that you may wish to re-install later may also be copied over (at your own risk)
* <tt>formhistory.dat</tt> - Autocomplete entries for web forms and the search bar.


===Permissions===
'''Once you have completed the above, you are ready to copy  the contents of  the "Transfer Folder" into your new Firefox profile:'''
* <tt>[[hostperm.1]]</tt> - Cookie, image, and extension install permissions.
# Open Firefox using the [[Profile Manager]] and select the new profile you created earlier.
# In the Firefox Menu select "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" and click  "Open  Containing Folder". When the profile folder appears, '''close Firefox'''.
# Paste the Transfer Folder into the new profile folder and then copy/paste the contents of it into the new profile, overwriting the original files/folders in that profile. When complete, the Transfer Folder may be deleted or kept as a backup.
# Start Firefox using the new profile.


===Preferences===
==Suggested profile contents to transfer==
* <tt>[[user.js file |user.js]]</tt> (an optional file) and <tt>[[prefs.js file|prefs.js]]</tt> 
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.
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.


===Saved passwords===
===Files===
Both of these files must be copied:
'''Bookmarks and browsing history:'''
* <tt>[[key3.db]]</tt> - Key database for passwords.  
* [[places.sqlite]] - Bookmarks and browsing historyNote that Firefox 3 stores both bookmarks and browsing history in the places.sqlite file. From Firefox 55 and above, places.sqlite was split into places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite.
* <tt>[[signons2.txt]]</tt> - Saved passwords. Before version 2.0.0.2,  [[signons.txt]] was used.


===Search engines===
You can alternately [[Import bookmarks#Import from file|import a bookmarks HTML file]] if you wish to add those bookmarks to your current Firefox bookmarks.  In Firefox 3, you can also use the [[Backing up and restoring bookmarks - Firefox|Firefox Library "Restore" feature]] to replace your current bookmarks with a bookmark backup file (such as a dated JSON backup from the  [[bookmarkbackups folder]] of another Firefox 3 profile) but this will not transfer your browsing history.
* <tt>searchplugins</tt> folder - Only copy this if you added another search engine


===Security certificate settings===
'''Cookies:'''
* <tt>cert8.db</tt>
* cookies.sqlite - [[Cookies]]


===Session storage===
'''Download actions for file types:'''
* <tt>[[webappsstore.sqlite]]</tt> - Only copy this if you deliberately keep and use many saved sessions.
* [[mimeTypes.rdf]] (handlers.json in Firefox 55 and above) - What action to perform when [[File types and download actions |downloading certain types of files]] (save or open with a specified application).  


===Spelling corrections===
'''Form history:'''
* <tt>[[persdict.dat]]</tt> - Personal (custom) entries in the spell checker [[dictionary]].
*formhistory.sqlite  - Saved entries for web forms and the [[Search Bar]].


===User styles===
'''Passwords:''' (Both of these files must be copied)
These optional files change the way Firefox and web pages look.
* [[key3.db]] (key4.db in Firefox 58 and above) - Key database for passwords.
* <tt>chrome/[[userChrome.css]]</tt>
* [[signons.sqlite]] (Firefox 3.5) or logins.json (Firefox 32 and above) - Saved passwords.
* <tt>chrome/[[userContent.css]]</tt>
* <tt>chrome/[[userChrome.js]]</tt>


==See Also==
'''Permissions:'''
* [[Profile backup]]  
*permissions.sqlite - Per-site preferences for allowing cookies, images, popups, and extension install permissions.
 
'''Preferences:'''
* [[user.js file |user.js]] (an optional file) and [[prefs.js file|prefs.js]] - User preference settings.  ''Not recommended to transfer 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.
 
'''Security certificate settings:'''
* cert8.db (cert9.db in Firefox 58 and above)
 
'''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 [[Dictionaries|dictionary]].
 
'''Site specific settings (e.g. Page Zoom):'''
* content-prefs.sqlite (Firefox 3 only).
 
===Folders=== 
* '''[[Bookmarkbackups folder|bookmarkbackups]]''' - Contains dated bookmark backup files:
**[[bookmarks-(date).json]]
Note:  You can [[Import bookmarks#Import from file|import an HTML backup file]] into any Firefox version.  You can restore a JSON backup by opening the Library window, selecting [[Backing up and restoring bookmarks - Firefox|"Import and Backup - Restore -> Choose File"]], and choosing one of the bookmark backup files in this folder.
 
*'''[[Chrome folder|chrome]]'''  - Contains "example" files and optional user customization files (if created) that change the way Firefox and web pages look.  Note: The chrome folder is no longer created by default (as of Firefox 4?).  [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=438248]  [https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Chrome_Registration].
**[[userChrome-example.css]]
**[[userContent-example.css]]
**[[userChrome.css]]
**[[userContent.css]]
**[[userChrome.js]]
 
* '''extensions'''  - Contains added themes and extensions. ''Not recommended to transfer if you had problems in your old profile.''  After copying this folder or its contents to the new profile, delete the "extensions.json", "extensions.sqlite", "extensions.ini", "extensions.cache" and "extensions.rdf" files (if found) from the profile folder.  The needed files will be regenerated when you start Firefox.  Note that some extensions store data in additional files in the profile, usually at the top of the directory. You'll need to move them separately.
 
* '''searchplugins''' - Contains additional search engines, if you've added any to Firefox.
 
==See also==
* [[Profile backup]]
* [[Moving your profile folder]]
* [[Moving your profile folder]]
* [[Export bookmarks]]
* [[Troubleshooting Information page#Reset Firefox to its default state|Troubleshooting Information page - Reset Firefox to its default state]]
==External links==
* [http://support.mozilla.com/kb/recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile Recovering important data from an old profile (Firefox Support)]


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

Revision as of 15:33, 18 May 2018

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 - SeaMonkey.

Preparation

Back up your profiles

It's a good idea to first back up your profiles as a precaution. MozBackup (Windows only)(Please note that MBU is no longer being supported or updated.) and FEBE are popular ways to do this.

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 a new profile. Make note of the name you give to the new profile so you can distinguish between the old and the new. You can exit the Profile Manager at this point and a new profile folder will be created (if you don't open Firefox with the new profile, the newly created profile folder will be an "empty shell"). You can then copy the files containing the data you wish to transfer to the new profile folder. Firefox will create any additional files it needs when you actually start Firefox with the new profile.

Copy data to the new profile

Make sure that Firefox is completely closed before you copy data to the new profile.

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 transfer them. 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.

If you were not having any problems with the old profile, you can clone the existing profile by copying everything from the existing profile folder, deleting the entire contents of the new profile folder and then and pasting the existing profile contents into the new profile folder. Be aware that the 'Downloads' location is locally pathed and may need to be changed if the new profile is on a different Operating System.

Transferring useful personal data to a new profile from an old profile that had problems:

  1. Open Firefox with your old profile, using the Firefox Profile Manager.
  2. In the Firefox Menu select "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" and click "Open Containing Folder" (see note below)
  3. When the profile folder window appears, close Firefox
  • Note: In Firefox 14 and later changed to "Show Folder" on Windows and "Show in Finder" on Mac OS and "Open Directory" on Linux. If you are unable to open Firefox using the old profile, you can navigate to the old profile manually. See Profile folder - Firefox#Finding the profile folder for details.

You will now be working within the Firefox profile folder window, which contains the files and folders that you are going to copy to your new profile. To make the transfer process easier, you should create a new "Transfer Profile" folder inside your old Firefox profile folder:

  1. Right click on a blank area of the profile folder window and create a New Folder.
  2. Rename this new folder to Transfer Folder.
  3. Copy into this Transfer Folder the following files and folders from your old profile and no others:

Files:

  • cert8.db (cert9.db in Firefox 58 and above)
  • chromeappsstore.sqlite
  • content-prefs.sqlite
  • cookies.sqlite
  • formhistory.sqlite
  • key3.db (key4.db in Firefox 58 and above)
  • logins.json (Firefox 32 and above)
  • mimeTypes.rdf
  • permissions.sqlite
  • persdict.dat
  • places.sqlite
  • favicons.sqlite (Firefox 55 and above)
  • signons.sqlite (Firefox 31 and below)
  • signons3.txt (if exists)
  • webappsstore.sqlite


Folders:

  • bookmarkbackups
  • chrome (if it exists)
  • searchplugins (if it exists)

Note: Any existing folders specifically relating to individual extensions that you may wish to re-install later may also be copied over (at your own risk)

Once you have completed the above, you are ready to copy the contents of the "Transfer Folder" into your new Firefox profile:

  1. Open Firefox using the Profile Manager and select the new profile you created earlier.
  2. In the Firefox Menu select "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" and click "Open Containing Folder". When the profile folder appears, close Firefox.
  3. Paste the Transfer Folder into the new profile folder and then copy/paste the contents of it into the new profile, overwriting the original files/folders in that profile. When complete, the Transfer Folder may be deleted or kept as a backup.
  4. Start Firefox using the new profile.

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.

Files

Bookmarks and browsing history:

  • places.sqlite - Bookmarks and browsing history. Note that Firefox 3 stores both bookmarks and browsing history in the places.sqlite file. From Firefox 55 and above, places.sqlite was split into places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite.

You can alternately import a bookmarks HTML file if you wish to add those bookmarks to your current Firefox bookmarks. In Firefox 3, you can also use the Firefox Library "Restore" feature to replace your current bookmarks with a bookmark backup file (such as a dated JSON backup from the bookmarkbackups folder of another Firefox 3 profile) but this will not transfer your browsing history.

Cookies:

Download actions for file types:

Form history:

  • formhistory.sqlite - Saved entries for web forms and the Search Bar.

Passwords: (Both of these files must be copied)

  • key3.db (key4.db in Firefox 58 and above) - Key database for passwords.
  • signons.sqlite (Firefox 3.5) or logins.json (Firefox 32 and above) - Saved passwords.

Permissions:

  • permissions.sqlite - Per-site preferences for allowing cookies, images, popups, and extension install permissions.

Preferences:

  • user.js (an optional file) and prefs.js - User preference settings. Not recommended to transfer 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.

Security certificate settings:

  • cert8.db (cert9.db in Firefox 58 and above)

Session storage:

Spelling corrections:

Site specific settings (e.g. Page Zoom):

  • content-prefs.sqlite (Firefox 3 only).

Folders

Note: You can import an HTML backup file into any Firefox version. You can restore a JSON backup by opening the Library window, selecting "Import and Backup - Restore -> Choose File", and choosing one of the bookmark backup files in this folder.

  • extensions - Contains added themes and extensions. Not recommended to transfer if you had problems in your old profile. After copying this folder or its contents to the new profile, delete the "extensions.json", "extensions.sqlite", "extensions.ini", "extensions.cache" and "extensions.rdf" files (if found) from the profile folder. The needed files will be regenerated when you start Firefox. Note that some extensions store data in additional files in the profile, usually at the top of the directory. You'll need to move them separately.
  • searchplugins - Contains additional search engines, if you've added any to Firefox.

See also

External links