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

All desktop folders disappeared after deleting temporary profile

more options

I created a second, temporary FF profile to import some bookmarks from an older computer. When done, went to the profile manager to remove the temp. profile. Confirmed by clicking "Delete Files". Just after doing that, all folders and documents on my desktop disappeared-! Running Windows 7. Nothing was updating at the time. Checked my computer folder options- show hidden boxes all are checked. How could removing the FF profile affect my desktop folders?

I created a second, temporary FF profile to import some bookmarks from an older computer. When done, went to the profile manager to remove the temp. profile. Confirmed by clicking "Delete Files". Just after doing that, all folders and documents on my desktop disappeared-! Running Windows 7. Nothing was updating at the time. Checked my computer folder options- show hidden boxes all are checked. How could removing the FF profile affect my desktop folders?

Chosen solution

Sorry, Firefox doesn't keep track of of what else might be in the folder where the user places a new Profile. The expectation is that the user knows what they're doing when they deviate from default location.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

You should have created a folder for the new Profile rather than having the files sitting on the desktop, or just left the new Profile in the default location.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles#w_creating-a-profile

Warning: If you choose your own folder location for the profile, select a new or empty folder. If you choose a folder that isn't empty and you later remove the profile and choose the "Delete Files" option, everything inside that folder will be deleted.

IOW, the "Desktop" folder was the wrong folder for the new Profile.

more options

So, FF saw everything that was on my desktop as files-to-delete? Without discriminating as to whether it was a profile file?

more options

Suluhisho teule

Sorry, Firefox doesn't keep track of of what else might be in the folder where the user places a new Profile. The expectation is that the user knows what they're doing when they deviate from default location.