Profile backup: Difference between revisions

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(mention moved profiles and mail)
(→‎Backing up: Clear Private Data... -> checkmark "Cache" and other unneeded items; profiles.ini file only applies to Firefox and Thunderbird.)
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===Backing up===
===Backing up===
# You may want to begin by clearing unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
# You may want to begin by clearing unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
#* Firefox: "Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> uncheck all except Cache -> Clear Private Data Now".
#* Firefox: "Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> checkmark "Cache" and other unneeded items  -> Clear Private Data Now".
#* Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as [[Compacting folders | compacting your mail]].
#* Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as [[Compacting folders | compacting your mail]].
#* Thunderbird: [[Compacting folders | Compact your mail]].
#* Thunderbird: [[Compacting folders | Compact your mail]].
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# Copy the chosen folder to the backup location.
# Copy the chosen folder to the backup location.


If you have profiles in other locations, look in the text file profiles.ini (in the folder that you have just copied) to find the locations of your other profile folders. Copy those folders to the backup location.
If you have profiles in other locations, copy those folders to the backup location.  Firefox and Thunderbird users can look in the text file [[profiles.ini file |profiles.ini]] (in the folder that was just copied) to find the locations of other profile folders.  


If you have mail in other locations, look in [[Account settings]] to see the location of each account's local directory.  If you have more than one profile, check every account in every profile.  If any local directory is not in a profile, copy it to the backup location.
If you have mail in other locations, look in [[Account settings]] to see the location of each account's local directory.  If you have more than one profile, check every account in every profile.  If any local directory is not in a profile, copy it to the backup location.

Revision as of 14:51, 3 June 2007

The profile folder is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings, bookmarks, etc. for Mozilla applications. It is also the default location for stored mail in Thunderbird and SeaMonkey. You may want to back up the profile folder so you can keep this information in case something happens to your computer. This article describes how to perform a backup and how to restore from backup.

If you want to move your profile to a different place on your computer (possibly because you will upgrade your operating system), see Moving your profile folder.

Full backup

This method will back up your entire profile (or profiles, if you created many). It only works if your profile or profiles are in their default locations. If you have profiles in other locations, then there are additional steps.

In Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, this method only backs up your mail if your mail accounts use their default locations. If you store mail in other locations, then there are additional steps.

Backing up

  1. You may want to begin by clearing unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
    • Firefox: "Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> checkmark "Cache" and other unneeded items -> Clear Private Data Now".
    • Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as compacting your mail.
    • Thunderbird: Compact your mail.
  2. Exit the application completely by choosing File -> Exit. Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users on Windows should also exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
  3. Navigate to your profile folder. Move up in the folder tree to the folder that matches the name of the application you use ("Firefox", "Thunderbird", or "Mozilla" for Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey).
  4. Copy the chosen folder to the backup location.

If you have profiles in other locations, copy those folders to the backup location. Firefox and Thunderbird users can look in the text file profiles.ini (in the folder that was just copied) to find the locations of other profile folders.

If you have mail in other locations, look in Account settings to see the location of each account's local directory. If you have more than one profile, check every account in every profile. If any local directory is not in a profile, copy it to the backup location.

Restoring or migrating

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, SeaMonkey, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Again, Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users should exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
  2. Copy each folder you backed up to the exact same location that it was in when you made the backup or to an identical location on the other computer.

Partial backup

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 for a list of suggested files.

Third party profile backup software

Many programs exist that can automate the backup process for. Below is a partial list. These are third party utilities that have not been evaluated by Mozilla.

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

See also