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Transfer Firefox settings, logins, and bookmarks from a semi broken PC.

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Can you tell me how to copy and transfer firefox settings, logins, and bookmarks from a P.C. that will not run via the O.S. ( Windows 7 ) I am wanting to copy from, but the hard drive is intact and accessible via an older O.S. ( Windows Vista ). I would like to transfer the FF stuff via copy to flash drive to temporarily transfer to a Windows 8.1 OS. The Win7 and Win Vista are installed on two seperate hard drives, and Vista still works and accesses the Win 7 Hard drive. Not sure about some kind of security or access allowed messages I get though.

Can you tell me how to copy and transfer firefox settings, logins, and bookmarks from a P.C. that will not run via the O.S. ( Windows 7 ) I am wanting to copy from, but the hard drive is intact and accessible via an older O.S. ( Windows Vista ). I would like to transfer the FF stuff via copy to flash drive to temporarily transfer to a Windows 8.1 OS. The Win7 and Win Vista are installed on two seperate hard drives, and Vista still works and accesses the Win 7 Hard drive. Not sure about some kind of security or access allowed messages I get though.

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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)