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Firefox Profile Compatibility

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 137 views
  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė user2451484

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I am setting up a new desktop and want to copy my Firefox profile from one Linux desktop to another. In the past I have just used sync and then had to go thru the process of making all the config adjustments and tweaking other settings that are not part of sync. I just copied over my Thunderbird profile and it was a perfect copy and paste. Unfortunately I have tried twice with FF and its not working. Keep getting the message that the profile being copied in is from an older version. That's not true however the one being copied in is from 77.0.1 and the new desktop being pasted into is 71.0. Any idea what I am doing wrong that's an easy fix? Thanks.

I am setting up a new desktop and want to copy my Firefox profile from one Linux desktop to another. In the past I have just used sync and then had to go thru the process of making all the config adjustments and tweaking other settings that are not part of sync. I just copied over my Thunderbird profile and it was a perfect copy and paste. Unfortunately I have tried twice with FF and its not working. Keep getting the message that the profile being copied in is from an older version. That's not true however the one being copied in is from 77.0.1 and the new desktop being pasted into is 71.0. Any idea what I am doing wrong that's an easy fix? Thanks.

Chosen solution

Some files in the profile folder contain absolute paths and thus copying a full profile folder may not be a good idea.
I normally recommend not to copy a full profile folder, but only copy/restore specific database files that you need.
You can probably workaround your issue by deleting compatibility.ini.

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EDIT: The new desktop just did a software update and pulled down FF V-77.0.1 to match the incoming program though I am not really interested in trying it again before I get some input here perhaps there is an easier answer. Not sure why it would have given me an error message telling me the income was an older profile. Though Linux tends to think backwards on some things so maybe what it meant was it was not forward compatible now that I think of it.

Modified by user2451484

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Chosen Solution

Some files in the profile folder contain absolute paths and thus copying a full profile folder may not be a good idea.
I normally recommend not to copy a full profile folder, but only copy/restore specific database files that you need.
You can probably workaround your issue by deleting compatibility.ini.

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Thank u I will try this. Just to clarify I am not concerned about the syncable items bookmarks etc. Just the non sync. Not sure add-ons sync I think they do. Customizing the layout menus buttons etc takes a minute so just the config and add-ons that I really need so if their are specific files for those I can move even better.

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This was awesome - worked near perfect. The only hiccup was that the add-ons and the installed color theme did not turn on. They were all "enabled" but none were working. I just went thru and disabled the button / waited for them to drop down to the bottom of the list and then hit enable and when they came back up they all reappeared on the browser bar exactly where they were originally. Also in the add-ons the button to - enable in private mode - did not turn on I went thru and enabled those manually as well even though i never use private any more. I am not sure if there was another file somewhere telling them their placement on the browser or maybe its because when I copied the profile files in the sync was immediate (auto logged me in) so maybe they knew where to appear based on the sync process not sure. The theme I was using was also turned on but I needed to disable then re-enable to get it to work. I went thru the preferences / permissions and the config setting and did a few spot-checks all were exactly where they needed to be.

Thanks you again cor-el great work.

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Hi just a follow up question on here - is there a preferred method for copying over profiles during the updates that get pushed down? I have mine set to notify and prompt. I am not sure if the updates keep the config adjustments I dont remember if they do. Should I just copy the entire profile as i did above w/o the .ini file or will that not work when upgrading to newer version? Looking for the right and wrong way and keep as many of my settings as possible.