Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Saving/moving current firefox data - cookies, passwords, bookmarks etc. 2 new computer

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

fulcrcl73-01
fulcrcl73-01
more options

I am lost. The articles in Mozilla Support explaining how to backup and migrate my current account , after reading them, just gave me a headache. Can someone explain (in plain english) please, how I can save my passwords, bookmarks and cookies that Firefox has associated with my 8 year old Win 10 Pro desktop so I can transfer that data to a new Win 11 Pro desktop. Any and all suggestions will greatly be appreciated. Firefox and I have been running together since 2004! Thank you, The Old Guy

I am lost. The articles in Mozilla Support explaining how to backup and migrate my current account , after reading them, just gave me a headache. Can someone explain (in plain english) please, how I can save my passwords, bookmarks and cookies that Firefox has associated with my 8 year old Win 10 Pro desktop so I can transfer that data to a new Win 11 Pro desktop. Any and all suggestions will greatly be appreciated. Firefox and I have been running together since 2004! Thank you, The Old Guy

All Replies (2)

jonzn4SUSE
jonzn4SUSE
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Sync. see screenshots https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-sync-my-computer https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-choose-what-information-sync-firefox

If one browser goes bad and I can't access my data, I can access it from another version of Firefox or Waterfox on the same computer or another device.

Modified by jonzn4SUSE

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You can copy certain files with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to transfer/recover/backup your 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) and key4.db (decryption key and primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for 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)