Can't copy Firefox profile from old system to new system

x509 · Jan 12, 2025

Old system is Win 10 2H22, if that matters. New system is 23H2 22631.4602
I copied all the folders from the old folder into Mozilla Profiles in both AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\, per Mozilla instructions, and also AppData\Low\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. Then I rebooted the system, for good measure. However, when I started up Firefox, I did not get all the saved bookmarks, etc., etc.

This failure makes me look bad on front of my wife.

I need to fix this asap.

pseymour · Jan 12, 2025

You'll need to edit the profiles.ini file in %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox to give it the paths of the new (copied) profiles.

I don't think the profile manager (firefox.exe -P) or about:profiles lets you import and existing profile folder. Could be wrong though.

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

Hi.

I am yet to try this free app from Sordum (who make awesome free apps). If you do, could you let us know how it is?

Simple Firefox Backup v1.2

Simple Firefox Backup is portable freeware by sordum that will help you easily create back-up copies of your Mozilla Firefox data and restore them effectively.

www.sordum.org

abactuon · Jan 12, 2025

Start firefox
about:profiles

Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles | Firefox Help

Firefox stores your personal information and settings in a profile folder. Learn to work with different profiles on Firefox.

support.mozilla.org

Melchior · Jan 12, 2025

I usually just back up the whole Mozilla folder,
- ./AppData/Roaming/Mozilla
keeps it simple for a backup.
as I only use Firefox and Chrome
stable and canary of both.

abactuon · Jan 12, 2025

If there are any problems, just copy the key4.db, logins.json, places.sqlite files to the new profile.

glasskuter · Jan 12, 2025

I created a FF account and synced my bookmarks, addons and all my settings. They stay the same no matter what computer I am using. When you get a new computer just login and they are all there.
Hamburger icon>settings>sync

You can also export your bookmarks to a file and then import that file into FF on any other system.
In Firefox, click hamburger icon>bookmarks>manage bookmarks>import and backup

antspants · Jan 12, 2025

Even better, sync with Firefox online. Add-ons, bookmarks, everything. As long as you sign in with the same sync account on both machines.

cheaterslick · Jan 12, 2025

glasskuter said:
I created a FF account and synced my bookmarks, addons and all my settings. They stay the same no matter what computer I am using. When you get a new computer just login and they are all there.
Hamburger icon>settings>sync

Yeah, but are they physically still there? Or do they all disappear when you log out?

Scott · Jan 12, 2025

@x509 From the computer you want to copy a profile from, open Firefox and enter

about:profiles

From the Default profile, open the root directory.

Copy everything in the right pane to a thumb drive, external drive, etc. Of course put it all in one directory.

Now on the computer you want this profile on open Firefox and go to about:profiles
Select Create a New Profile and open it's root directory. Copy everything from the thumb drive to this new profile.
Make sure the new profile is the default and restart Firefox.
It should work. That's how I copied my profile from my System 1 to System 2.

x509 · Jan 13, 2025

Melchior said:
I usually just back up the whole Mozilla folder,
- ./AppData/Roaming/Mozilla
keeps it simple for a backup.
as I only use Firefox and Chrome
stable and canary of both.

I did that but it didn't work. I think I will have to look into the sync approach.

XxXxX · Jan 13, 2025

have you tried import bookmarks and saved passwords using the 'import' menu
menu bar > file > import from another browser

see if that will import the old default data from the old default folder.
best of luck, Steve ..

Melchior · Jan 13, 2025

x509 said:
I did that but it didn't work. I think I will have to look into the sync approach.

bummer, I have never had a hard time with that approach to backups.

Berton · Jan 13, 2025

I do a two-step thing with Firefox, first is Bookmarks, Manage bookmarks then Export to a file. Second is Tools, Settings, Privacy and security and backup/export the logins as a .csv file. Then I can do the same on the new machine except use Import.

trevo · Jan 13, 2025

Melchior said:
bummer, I have never had a hard time with that approach to backups.

Me neither, has always worked to date.

cheaterslick · Jan 13, 2025

Melchior said:
bummer, I have never had a hard time with that approach to backups.

Yeah, I've done it that way, too. The trick is knowing what profile folder you're gonna be using.

Melchior · Jan 13, 2025

cheaterslick said:
Yeah, I've done it that way, too. The trick is knowing what profile folder you're gonna be using.

That is why I just copy the whole Mozilla folder which gets all of it as is and in the form that should work..
I have two Firefox profile sub folders.. one for release builds and one for nightly builds.

cheaterslick · Jan 14, 2025

Melchior said:
That is why I just copy the whole Mozilla folder which gets all of it as is and in the form that should work..
I have two Firefox profile sub folders.. one for release builds and one for nightly builds.

A copy of the old folder (profile) is on a USB stick.

Basically I copy the contents of the old folder (that I saved) and paste them into the contents of the new folder on the new machine that I'm going to use.

I do not copy the folders themselves. Just all the contents of those folders.

Winuser · Jan 15, 2025

I always used Mozbackup when I needed to move my Firefox and/or Thunderbird profile. I haven't used it in years so I can't say if it still works or not. MozBackup - Backup tool for Firefox and Thunderbird

x509 · Jan 19, 2025

pseymour said:
You'll need to edit the profiles.ini file in %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox to give it the paths of the new (copied) profiles.

I don't think the profile manager (firefox.exe -P) or about:profiles lets you import and existing profile folder. Could be wrong though.

I found that I also needed to edit installs.ini.

Even with these two ini files edited, still did not get the old browser settings available when I uninstalled and then re-installed Firefox 106.0.1

Can't copy Firefox profile from old system to new system

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