Firefox
Firefox
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Last updated:
Here’s how to back up your Firefox installation folder on different operating systems, if you need to do so:
Note: Backing up your Firefox installation folder is normally not necessary, since your user data and settings are stored in a separate profile folder location.
Windows
- Locate your Firefox installation folder. The default location is usually one of the following:
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
for 32-bit Firefox on 32-bit Windows or 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit WindowsC:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
for 32-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows
- Copy your installation folder:
- Ensure Firefox is closed to avoid any file conflicts.
- Navigate to the installation folder.
- Right-click the Mozilla Firefox folder, and select .
- Paste the folder to a safe location, such as an external drive or cloud storage.
macOS
- Locate your Firefox installation folder:
- Open the Applications folder.
- Locate the
Firefox.appfile.
- Copy your installation folder:
- Ensure Firefox is closed.
- Hold the Option key, click and drag
Firefox.appto your backup location (for example, an external drive or another folder). Holding Option ensures the app is copied and not moved.
Linux
- Locate your Firefox installation folder:
- The installation directory can typically be found in
/usr/lib/firefox/or/opt/firefox/. Use the terminal commandwhereis firefoxto confirm the exact location.
- The installation directory can typically be found in
- Copy your installation folder:
- Ensure Firefox is closed.
- Use the command line or a file manager with superuser privileges to copy the directory:
sudo cp -r /usr/lib/firefox /path/to/backup/location/
- Replace
/usr/lib/firefoxwith the actual path if it differs on your system and/path/to/backup/location/with your desired backup location.
- Replace
This method will back up the installation files of Firefox, but it won’t include your user profile data, which is stored separately. If you want to restore your exact browser setup – including bookmarks, settings, extensions and other personal data – you’ll also need to back up your Firefox profiles. Refer to this article for instructions on backing up your Firefox profile.
