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unsolved & unanswered still: we all need the full steps of how to transfer an old profile into a new profile so that we have two profiles

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  • Last reply by user633449

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we all need the full steps of how to transfer an old profile into a new profile so that we have two profiles

two profiles:

1. the current default one

2. and the old profile that has been transferred into the new profile

only comment with the steps very very clearly


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old profile is firefox dev edition if that matters

good steps would have already included info on if that mattered or not anyway



old version:

could you please list the steps that are needed to create a new profile, and what folder in win10 would that profile be in?

a new profile in addition to the current one

for win10

i'd like to transfer/move a profile i had into the 'new profile' created

need the steps please

we all need the full steps of how to transfer an old profile into a new profile so that we have two profiles two profiles: 1. the current default one 2. and the old profile that has been transferred into the new profile only comment with the steps very very clearly --- old profile is firefox dev edition if that matters good steps would have already included info on if that mattered or not anyway ---- old version: could you please list the steps that are needed to create a new profile, and what folder in win10 would that profile be in? a new profile in addition to the current one for win10 i'd like to transfer/move a profile i had into the 'new profile' created need the steps please

Modified by helpwitfirefoxstuff

All Replies (20)

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Hi, always do this :

Never work with original files.

What's What in the Profile :

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
  • cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Do not create a new Profile anywhere other than the suggested location, which is in the Profiles folder. We have seen too many users who did that and later lost everything that was in the folder where they created the new Profile; and when that was a root folder they "bricked" their PC.

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@Pkshadow

is this 4 links of steps, this is far too much

just looking for the simplest way and the simplest steps so that there wont be any errors also

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The 1st two are always back up. 2nd 2 where the profile is and how to create a profile. next 2 are for recovery of a profile and what files are in the profile.

Just need this 1 to create a new profile: https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

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i'd assume that there's one link that has the relevant steps for this common thing of achieving the goal in the post

soemone say, 'Do not create a new Profile' tho they were talking about a sepcific location

assuming they are accuraate, is there a good link that has the relevant steps clearly and cleanly?

without clutter or excess?

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This covers the creation of a new Profile: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles#w_creating-a-profile

But as I warned you, it is best to allow Firefox to create the new Profile in the default location. If you pick the location yourself, and don't create that new Profile in its' own empty folder should you ever decide to Delete Profile via the Profile Manager, you would delete every file that is in the same folder as the Profile files. We have had reports from users who created a new Profile in the root C:\ drive directory folder (not in an empty folder) and when they did Remove Profile they wiped their entire hard drive. They had to reinstall Windows and ALL their applications, losing all the data on the C:\ drive, over a bone-head stunt like that - do to those users ignoring the warning that all files in that folder would be deleted. No "go back-sises" and no additional warnings.

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If you do want to create the profile in a non default location using Choose Folder then make sure to select (specify) an empty folder that doesn't contain files not created by Firefox. Choose folder is normally used to recover a lost (orphaned) profile that isn't listed in the Profile Manager (profiles.ini) and should always be used with care (never create a profile folder on the desktop or in another location that stored important files).

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i dont think i said anywhere that we wanted to make new profile in

non default location


adding these types of comments clutters up the thread and confuses the OP

if it was important enough this info would likely be on whichever link had the answer

i've no idea why someone posted a bunch of random links (that is not helpful)


so this apparently is the link -- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles#w_creating-a-profile

ill give it a try,

i dunno why that just wasnt posted,

simple question

good answer is all we ask for

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btw im assuming this link is creating new profile in addition to the current one

as already asked in the OP

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read

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1046209#answer-689724

this person is a genius:

"I solved my issue by changing to Chrome.

Thanks for your highly technical and befuddling answers to the simple question..."

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helpwitfirefoxstuff said

i dont think i said anywhere that we wanted to make new profile in non default location

That was just a warning, based upon past users experiences posted in this forum when creating a new Profile and losing vast amounts of data.

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this is a seperate question

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1221711#answer-1122369

this thread is extermely cluttered

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'based upon past users experiences'

this was already replied to:

"if it was important enough this info would likely be on whichever link had the answer"

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this is a seperate question that has no answers due to someone closing it which they shouldnt have done

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1221711#answer-1122369

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See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

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i need to know the answer to the question asked on

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1221711#answer-1122369

am i doing it correctly or not?

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i also need this:

"just list the steps of what im suppose to do just list the

want the saved/backuped 'old profile' to the current install of firefox"

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To what location are you copying the files?

Firefox uses two locations for the Firefox profile folder, so make sure to look in the correct location.

Location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data in "AppData\Roaming" (Root Directory on about:profiles).

  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\

Location used for the disk cache and other temporary files in "AppData\Local" (Local Directory on about:profiles).

  • C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
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Location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data in

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\

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oh which one link had the clear steps to follow to make sure i put the profile in the right section?

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