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Manually copy container tabs to a new Firefox profile

  • 11 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by js873983

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I have about 30 container tabs (Multi-Account Containers https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/) defined in a Firefox profile. I need to copy those to a new profile. Which files on the filesystem would contain what I need to copy to the new profile?

I have about 30 container tabs (Multi-Account Containers https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/) defined in a Firefox profile. I need to copy those to a new profile. Which files on the filesystem would contain what I need to copy to the new profile?

Chosen solution

The files needed are:

  • cookies.sqlite
  • containers.json

Copy those files to the new profile and all the containers will be present in the new profile.

EDIT: As cor-el pointed out, don't copy the file cookies.sqlite-wal (if present).

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (11)

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This data is stored in IndexdDB in the profile folder (/storage/default) under a special GUID. The GUID of all extensions are listed on the about:debugging page that you can open via the location bar. I don't know whether it is safe to transfer the content of a specific folder to another profile, so use this at your own risk. Each profile uses its own GUID for an extension, so you need the folder content and you need to check the name of the current SQLite database.

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

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cor-el said

This data is stored in IndexdDB in the profile folder (/storage/default) under a special GUID. The GUID of all extensions are listed on the about:debugging page that you can open via the location bar.

That's not correct. Containers are built into Firefox, not implemented entirely as an extension. Extensions can work with containers, but that's all.

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Chosen Solution

The files needed are:

  • cookies.sqlite
  • containers.json

Copy those files to the new profile and all the containers will be present in the new profile.

EDIT: As cor-el pointed out, don't copy the file cookies.sqlite-wal (if present).

Modified by js873983

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I assumed you used the Firefox Multi-Account Containers extension. There is the containers.json file in the main profile folder that stores some container related data. I'm not using containers, so I don't know whether it stores all container data (I only see the userContextId and some other data).

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(I had missed your above reply)

SQLite temp files (-shm and -wal) like cookies.sqlite-wal are best avoided to copy to another profile and they should only be there when Firefox is running.

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cor-el said

(I had missed your above reply) SQLite temp files (-shm and -wal) like cookies.sqlite-wal are best avoided to copy to another profile and they should only be there when Firefox is running.

Thank you

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cor-el said

I assumed you used the Firefox Multi-Account Containers extension. There is the containers.json file in the main profile folder that stores some container related data. I'm not using containers, so I don't know whether it stores all container data (I only see the userContextId and some other data).

Yes, I do use that extension. I think it is just for managing containers.

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If you use the extension then it is likely that it stores its data in indexedDB like I posted above. You would have to check the SQLite database with a suitable SQLite browser utility to see what data is stored if this is readable data.

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cor-el said

If you use the extension then it is likely that it stores its data in indexedDB like I posted above. You would have to check the SQLite database with a suitable SQLite browser utility to see what data is stored if this is readable data.

I already tested my solution and it works. Moving all container tabs(with all associated properties such as icon and color) requires only the files I mentioned.

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Does this include what website are running in what container ?

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cor-el said

Does this include what website are running in what container ?

No