Firefox Community Forum

Hi everyone.

Basically when the browser is (I think) idle while watching YouTube, FF is constantly backing up (the timestamp in the backup file name keeps getting updated). From the settings page I thought it once every 24 hours. I noticed from higher than normal CPU usage impacting FF and the Windows search indexer. Which reverted to normal once I disabled the backup.

I checked the about config:

• browser.backup.scheduled.minimum-time-between-backups-seconds

Is set to 24 hours (86400 seconds)

But I also noticed:

• browser.backup.scheduled.idle-threshold-seconds

Is set to 15 seconds(!). Is that what I think it is? Back up whenever there's a 15 sec idle window, regardless of the minimum? Can I safely make that 86400 seconds too, or does it do something else entirely?

Many thanks in advance.

I'm changing computers. I want to upload my browser's bookmarks to a file. Then I can clear it for the next person to start from scratch. So far, I can't find a tab to make it happen. Please help. Thanks.

I love my current Firefox settings, bookmarks, folders and color, background image, dark mode. All I want to do is to create a Firefox browser backup file. I don't want to restore or sync anything. I just want a backup file in case of computer failure to restore to my next computer if ever necessary. I'm using Windows 10. I think they used to be "json" files? The only "Backup" link in the menu only addresses Restoring from a file. I just want to create a backup file for this current browser just the way it is. Is there a simple solution? Thank you SO much!!

Hi,

On the "Your Firefox has updated" page, I recently found out that in addition to Firefox Sync, you can also create a backup in the form of a local file. When I try to follow the instructions on the support page for the function (here I get stuck. For some reason I am only allowed to choose a file to restore my data, but I am not allowed to create a new backup. I have tried refreshing Firefox and even creating a new profile, but both have the same issue. I am not seeing a "manage backup" button either (see screenshot).

It's not the end of the world thanks to Firefox Sync, but I would like to get it working as a nice backup :)

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me!

Hi I just saw the new info on backing up my Firefox data. It sounded good, so I tried it. However I do not see 'Manage Backup'. Instead it asks 'Choose backup file'. I have never knowingly backed up Firefox, so I do not know where this backupfile is located... How can I find it? How do I create a new backup file? Many thanks An

I went to [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-backup] and under "Create a Firefox backup file" at step 3 it says, "Scroll down to Backup, and click Manage backup" but when I went there no such "Manage backup" option exists as you can see in the attached screen capture. So what gives? How can I "Create a Firefox backup file"? I am using Firefox v147.0 (64-bit) on Windows 11 Please instruct. Thanks RJB

I am unable to follow instructions for activating Backup in Firefox. I don't even have a Manage Backup button. What I have in its place is:

Backup

Restore your data Use a Firefox backup file from another device to restore your data.

Choose backup file...

I am trying to create a backup of FireFox for moving from a Windows 10 machine to a new Windows 11 machine. The instructions for creating a backup don't make any sense.

--- Click the main menu, and go to Settings. Select Sync. Scroll down to Backup, and click Manage backup. Choose the location to save the backup file. ---

When I click the Main Menu, go to Settings, Select Sync, there is no Backup listed. If I search for the term "Backup", this is the result: "Sorry! There are no results in Settings for “backup”. Need help? Visit Firefox Support".

Syncing is on, so I am assuming that FireFox is being backup?? Or am I missing something somewhere?

Firefox update today 1-14-26 says Restore FF with a backup file" Instructions say go to Settings/Sync/Backup/Manage Backup. My Sync has no Backup option, only shows: Sync Manage account Device Name Syncing: ON You are syncing these items across all your connected devices: Bookmarks Open tabs Add-ons Settings Connect another device . How to proceed?

(I don't recall setting Syncing to "On" before; it also showed me as automatically logged in to my account.) Assistance appreciated! Thanks!

How do I copy files such as the 'bookmarkbackups' files from the Profiles folder?

As seen in the prtscr I get an error message when I try to copy any file from Profiles folder. Firefox is closed and I am admin and trying to copy the file as an adminstrator.

I read article at: [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/.../firefox-backup?as=u&utm_source=inproduct#w_create-a-firefox-backup-file]

But in my up-to-date (or updated) FireFox, the restore backup by file option is appearing BUT enable backup or backup to file option is NOT appearing (screenshot attached).

If I go to the profile folder, exit firefox then copy and paste the folder to a backup location. The attempted backup fails. Something about permissions as I recall. I have tried many things unsuccessfully. Something has changed that does not allow for the backup of profile folders. Adding a backup option to the profile manager would be nice. I noticed some people have found work-arounds but I need a straight-forward procedure for backing up my folders. No work-arounds please, just a simple procedure. May I ask for help with this issue?

My Profile Folders can't be backed up. Messages I receive while attempting a backup state that permissions are required to backup certain files. I'm working in an administrator account so that shouldn't be an issue and I use to backup my Profile Folders without an issue.

Is there anyplace that shows how to use what the new release says on the 146.0. I got the message below when viewing new options in 146.0, but going to settings, sync just wants me to sign in and do a cloud backup.

Doesn't sound like what is in message below that I got after updating to 146.0. From what I found looking around, you are suppose to go to setting, sync, click on backup and choose location. There is no option backup, just an option to sign on. Below is message I got when checking what is in update 146.0:

Windows 10 users can now automatically protect their passwords, bookmarks, and more by turning on backup in Firefox. Your browsing data is saved daily on your device and can be encrypted with a password When you set up a fresh install of Firefox on any operating system for a new device or your current one, you can restore from this backup and pick up right where you left off. This feature is currently available on Windows devices and will be coming to other operating systems soon.

Roughly every 2 weeks I backup important files to a external hard drive.

One of the things I always backup is my Firefox profile. I have been doing this for years without any problems.

I 7zip my profile and copy it to the hard drive.

I tried to do this yesterday (July 25 2025), and was getting access denied messages for files in the profile. So I tried to simply copy the profile. Same thing access denied.

I cleared the history, used wise disk cleaner, rebooted my machine and tried again. Same thing access denied when trying to backup or copy the profile.

I am assuming that this is happening since 141 because I updated Firefox since the last time I backed up my profile, and never had a problem previously.

Could anyone have an idea what the problem is? Thank you for your time.

I have a problem in that bookmarks seem to have completely stopped working for me. I am not an expert in today's IT though a very long time ago I was. I am 81 and have incurable cancer and am confined to my home in a chair. I use FF many hours a day and I have a very structured set of tens of thousands of bookmarks. I use FF on a Windows 7 laptop. I am a contributor to Mozilla. A couple of days ago I noticed that I could not save new bookmarks. I then checked and found that I could not backup my bookmarks as either json or html. I reinstalled FF but these problems are still there. Today I have tried looking at your support information. I looked at your troubleshooting information. I copied raw data to the clipboard and out it into a MS Word file. I put FF into troubleshoot mode. I cleared the startup cache, after which I could add new bookmarks but not save any backups. I then refreshed FF and of course I then lost the first draft of this message . The refresh took quite a long time to complete, but it did. Afterwards I can still not use bookmarks. If I add a subfolder into them, I complete the process, the subfolder is added, but if I then sort the fold so that the subfolder is in place, nothing happens. If I go through the motions of backing them up, nothing happens. I see the following options open to me: 1 Buy a Windows 11 laptop, which I’m not keen on, and run FF on that. I have a windows 10 desktop available in another room, but I have no wish to be on the slippery downslope to eternally paying Microsoft for my computing. 2 Try and revert to an earlier version of Firefox. 3 Move to another browser, though for this and option 1, how to migrate my current set of bookmarks is an outstanding issue. I would greatly appreciate advice on how to get a functioning Firefox version back on my laptop. Yours, Jon