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How to back up Firefox url suggestion info

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I'm not exactly sure what this is called. Maybe it's in the cache, but I don't know. One of the fastest timesavers I have is that I use the Firefox url feature that makes suggestions as soon as I start typing a url. I pull up dozens, possibly hundreds of articles that I refer to frequently this way, so that I don't have to bother bookmarking them. I don't clear the cache, to keep these references from disappearing. I have to move computers now. My longtime mac is not working well anymore. Is there any way to bring these url suggestions with me when I migrate? Thank you.

I'm not exactly sure what this is called. Maybe it's in the cache, but I don't know. One of the fastest timesavers I have is that I use the Firefox url feature that makes suggestions as soon as I start typing a url. I pull up dozens, possibly hundreds of articles that I refer to frequently this way, so that I don't have to bother bookmarking them. I don't clear the cache, to keep these references from disappearing. I have to move computers now. My longtime mac is not working well anymore. Is there any way to bring these url suggestions with me when I migrate? Thank you.

Chosen solution

places.sqlite stores all history and bookmarks data and transferring this file if the only way to transfer/backup all history easily. Sync only syncs history limited (thirty days for the first sync and keeps history for ninety days).

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You can possibly transfer places.sqlite from your current old device to the profile folder on the new device.


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)
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Thank you. Do you think that will transfer this type of browsing history? Is there some way to test run this?

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Chosen Solution

places.sqlite stores all history and bookmarks data and transferring this file if the only way to transfer/backup all history easily. Sync only syncs history limited (thirty days for the first sync and keeps history for ninety days).