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Migrate Firefox profile. Move it to another computer.

Type: Picture Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Level: Beginner Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials 
Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Date: 2009-Feb-19
Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Visited: 14817 times
Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Rating: Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Networking, Programming and Graphics - Tutorials
Published: Tony Potter

Move Forefox profile to another computer” will be the subject of this tutorial.
We had several requests from users about how to move their Firefox passwords from one to another computer or account.
Honestly there is no easy two-clicks way to migrate the passwords, history, bookmarks, etc on Mozilla Firefox broswer.

The profile is located at:

‘C:Documents and Settings%User name%Application DataMozillaFirefoxProfiles’

We presume that your Windows is installed on C: drive. Also take in mind if you think to copy and paste this raw that ‘%User name%’ should be the username of your Windows login.

‘Application Data’ is a hidden folder so you need to enable this option: Show hidden files and folders - in order to have access and see it.

This can be done as going to:

Start button - > Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer

Once Windows Explorer is opened go to:

Tools -> Folder Options ...

Then on the top second tab ‘View’ and check ‘Show hidden files and folders' option.
Migrate Firefox profile. Move it to another computer.
Next step is to go to your Firefox Profite folder.

There you will find profile folder with strange name. As you can see from the image bellow my folder is called '0lvoi2l0.default'
Migrate Firefox profile. Move it to another computer.
Now you can plug one Memory stick to your computer and just copy this *****.default folder to it.

On the other computer/new installation, go again to the Firefox profile, which should be located to a common location, probably with different windows user name.
'C:\Documents and Settings\%User name%\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles'
There should be folder with strange name like '0lvoi2l0.default'.
Backup (copy to other location) this folder is recommended.
Either with backup or not, to finish the migration of your Firefox profile just copy the profile folder from the memory stick over the one located on the computer. You must keep the name of the new folder! Otherwise when you try starting Mozilla Firefox it will generate error.
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Post Comment

    • ( definately . not [ at ] virgin . net ),

      posted on 2010-Jan-18 | 03:47:05 PM
      I have done all that, but when I start firefox none of my bookmarks are there and none of my passwords are there. It still behaves as if it is a new installation.

    • posted on 2010-Jan-19 | 06:37:10 AM
      The tricky moments is that you have to rename your old Firefox folder with the same name as the new one and to overwrite it..

    • posted on 2010-Jul-31 | 08:56:25 AM
      I did remame the old one and copy it into the "Profiles" folder of the new one. It doesn't work. Not on FF 3.6.8 and Windows 7 anyway.

    • posted on 2010-Aug-10 | 10:22:02 AM
      It works for me fine. I tried with the same version. There is an option to select profile and this could be the issue.
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