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How to import all my settings, plugins, bookmarks including container settings to a new profile?

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

Hi, After updating my machine to latest Ubuntu LTS, I am experiencing strange behavior from Firefox. Even before and after the upgrade, I am using the same version ( 67 ). Firefox is asking me to create a new profile to continue browsing. (https://i.imgur.com/rL6tdDA.png) I have Firefox sync enabled. even after completing the sync, I am unable to retrieve and use all my extension settings including containers. I tried copy-pasting files from old to new profile as described in http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox . How to resolve this issue? Thanks in advance.

Hi, After updating my machine to latest Ubuntu LTS, I am experiencing strange behavior from Firefox. Even before and after the upgrade, I am using the same version ( 67 ). Firefox is asking me to create a new profile to continue browsing. (https://i.imgur.com/rL6tdDA.png) I have Firefox sync enabled. even after completing the sync, I am unable to retrieve and use all my extension settings including containers. I tried copy-pasting files from old to new profile as described in http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox . How to resolve this issue? Thanks in advance.

Chosen solution

You can delete the compatibility.ini file in the profile folder if you copied/restored this file from the other computer.


Bookmarks shouldn't be that difficult because Firefox keeps backups of the bookmarks in the backups in the bookmarkbackups folder. Restoring extension data might be more difficult because this data in stored in indexedDB (local storage) using a special UUID that is stored in prefs.js (extensions.webextensions.uuids).

  • bookmarks and history: places.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 (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
    if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
  • cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
    if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling 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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All Replies (3)

Chosen Solution

You can delete the compatibility.ini file in the profile folder if you copied/restored this file from the other computer.


Bookmarks shouldn't be that difficult because Firefox keeps backups of the bookmarks in the backups in the bookmarkbackups folder. Restoring extension data might be more difficult because this data in stored in indexedDB (local storage) using a special UUID that is stored in prefs.js (extensions.webextensions.uuids).

  • bookmarks and history: places.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 (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
    if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
  • cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
    if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling 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)

cor-el said

delete the compatibility.ini file in the profile folder

That really worked. Thank you. You've saved my day!

You're welcome.