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Can you copy and paste profiles and still have your book marks?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

dave5000
dave5000
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My work laptop crashed.

I wasn't able to export my bookmarks before the crash

I was able to access my work folder over the server and get my mozilla/firefox profile.

I copy this and pasted over the new profile in a hope that my bookmarks would come back.. but they don't appear to have.

Is there anyway to get my bookmarks back ? I can't do an export on the old account.. but I can access some old folders.

My work laptop crashed. I wasn't able to export my bookmarks before the crash I was able to access my work folder over the server and get my mozilla/firefox profile. I copy this and pasted over the new profile in a hope that my bookmarks would come back.. but they don't appear to have. Is there anyway to get my bookmarks back ? I can't do an export on the old account.. but I can access some old folders.

All Replies (2)

John99
John99
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Hi Dave5000, Sorry you are having problems. The good news is it should be no problem getting the bookmarks etc. back if you have a good copy of the profile somewhere safe.

Try to make a full copy of the profile including its sub files keep it safe somewhere outside Firefox profile or program paths, your Desktop or My Documents will be fine.

What are you trying to do have you new copy of Firefox installed with no bookmarks or anything on it ?

For the paste over a profile to work one method (too late now) is to paste it over BUT keep the new profile name. The leading characters will have changed. This causes a mismatch between the folder name and the name Firefox looks for. (The quickest fix is to edit the profiles.ini file but that may not be straightforward to explain correctly)

Probably the easiest method now is to create a new profile using the profile manager. Name it something like oldlaptop, then open Firefox with the profile manager. Use the troubleshooting info page to find the profile. It will be named something like xxxxxxoldlptop. Copy the folder/directory name carefully.

Now close Firefox. Overwrite the newly created & discovered profile with the profile from the laptop. Change the profile name to what is recognised xxxxoldlaptop or whatever. Now start Firefox with profile manager using the choice oldlptop.

Post back to say if it works or if you have problems or questions.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
  • logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for Permissions and Site Preferences
  • sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder: