Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

transfer passwords from old computer

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

Dan Tonkinson
Dan Tonkinson
more options

I'm not an IT pro and the solution of moving passwords from one computer to another is clear as mud, telling me to type about: config in URL. I don't what that means nor how to do it. I've opened a new tab in firefox and typed "about: config" and got "invalid URL" please help

I'm not an IT pro and the solution of moving passwords from one computer to another is clear as mud, telling me to type about: config in URL. I don't what that means nor how to do it. I've opened a new tab in firefox and typed "about: config" and got "invalid URL" please help

All Replies (2)

jonzn4SUSE
jonzn4SUSE
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Sync is your friend. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-sync-my-computer https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-choose-what-information-sync-firefox

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Note that it is about:config with only a colon between the two words.

You can export the logins in the Password Manager to a CSV file.

You need to enable import CSV in the Password Manager (about:logins) via the about:config page as this menu item is currently hidden for performance reasons.

  • about:config => signon.management.page.fileImport.enabled = true

You can copy certain files with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to transfer or recover personal data. Note that best is to avoid copying a full profile folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.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 (encrypted logins;32+) and key4.db (decryption key;58+) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
    key3.db support ended in 73+; to use key3.db in 58-72, make sure to remove key4.db
  • cert9.db (58+) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words added to the spell 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)