FF backup files are way way way too too large. How to backup without Cache?

Hi, how are you making these backups? Is it a new feature I haven't noticed?

If you are manually configuring external backup software, the most important files are listed in the following article: About your important data and their files.

Aha, I found it: Restore your Firefox browsing data with a backup file. I'll go test it now.

I'm not able to look inside the backup to see exactly what is in there (I would need a tool to extract the zip archive, etc.). However, based on the support article, files from the web content cache are not in the backup. Instead you have:

Basic Data

• bookmarks
• settings
• history (could be voluminous)
• extensions (just names or full programs?)
• other browsing data (not sure what is included)

Sensitive Data (optional)

• passwords
• payment methods

At this time, it doesn't appear that you can limit the amount of history or exclude any of the basic categories. So it's not surprising that the files are large for an active user. Perhaps down the road this feature could have selections similar to Sync, which offers the "Manage Synced Data" button to allow users to choose which kinds of data to sync.*

For now, I guess the question is whether it is worth it to you to have those large files, or whether you would prefer to manually back up selected files using another method.

* You can submit proposed settings changes on Mozilla's product suggestion site at https://connect.mozilla.org/. If you have time, Use the "Ideas" section of the site (at https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/idb-p/ideas) to let others users vote on the idea.