Profile backup: Difference between revisions

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# Copy the folder you backed up to the '''exact''' same location it was when you made the backup. If you are moving from one OS to another (e.g., Windows 98 to Windows XP), or if your Windows boot drive letter has changed (e.g., from "C:\" to "D:\") or your Windows login/user name is different, see [[Moving your profile folder]].
# Copy the folder you backed up to the '''exact''' same location it was when you made the backup. If you are moving from one OS to another (e.g., Windows 98 to Windows XP), or if your Windows boot drive letter has changed (e.g., from "C:\" to "D:\") or your Windows login/user name is different, see [[Moving your profile folder]].


==Making a partial backup==
==Partial backup or restore==
In some situations you might want to back up only certain files from your profile folder. See [[Migrating settings to a new profile | this article]] for a list of suggested files.
In some situations you might want to back up or restore only certain files from your profile folder. See [[Migrating settings to a new profile | this article]] for a list of suggested files.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:29, 29 December 2005


Backing up the entire profile

This method will back up all of your profile data (such as passwords, bookmarks, mail, preference settings and installed extensions and themes) for each profile in the default profile location, as well as the registry.dat or profiles.ini file that records the profile location. All profile data will be backed up together, at once.

  1. (optional) Clear the cache in Firefox ("Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cache -> Clear") and Mozilla Suite ("Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache") and compact the mail in Thunderbird and Mozilla Suite to reduce the size of the backup.
  2. Exit your Mozilla Suite Firefox or Thunderbird program. (Mozilla Suite on Windows: exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled). Make sure no Mozilla Suite/Firefox/Thunderbird processes are still running.
  3. Open the file explorer on your system and find the folder that contains the "Profiles" folder and the files "pluginreg.dat" "registry.dat" and/or "profiles.ini" (some of these files may not exist).
    • For Thunderbird: Copy the "Thunderbird" folder.
    • For Mozilla Suite: Copy the "Mozilla" folder.
    • For Firefox: Copy the "Firefox" folder.
  4. Copy (but not move) the "Thunderbird" "Mozilla" or "Firefox" folder to the backup location. For example, place the backup folder inside your home directory (Windows users: "My Documents" is your home directory) or copy it to another drive.

Note: The "Mozilla" folder contains the "Profiles" folder and the associated files for Mozilla Suite. It may also include a "Firefox" folder containing the "Profiles" folder and the associated files for Firefox. If the "Mozilla" folder includes the "Firefox" folder then you only need to copy the "Mozilla" folder.

Any profile folders created in a "custom" profile location must be backed up separately.

Restoring or migrating your backed-up profile

Use this procedure to restore your backed-up profile or move it to another computer.

  1. Completely close all Mozilla programs, including the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Don't forget to exit the Mozilla Suite's Quick Launch if it's open (as indicated in the Windows system tray). Make sure no Mozilla Suite/Firefox/Thunderbird processes are still running.
  2. Copy the folder you backed up to the exact same location it was when you made the backup. If you are moving from one OS to another (e.g., Windows 98 to Windows XP), or if your Windows boot drive letter has changed (e.g., from "C:\" to "D:\") or your Windows login/user name is different, see Moving your profile folder.

Partial backup or restore

In some situations you might want to back up or restore only certain files from your profile folder. See this article for a list of suggested files.

See also

3rd party profile backup software

  • Bookmark Backup: Profile backup utility for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
  • MozBackup: Profile backup utility for the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird. (Windows only)
  • BackupFox: Backup your profiles of Firefox and Thunderbird. (Win32 only)