Mozilla Firefox - profile backup (settings, bookmarks, passwords...). Firefox backup

As you know, a person in the process of using a browser changes it in his own image and likeness - installs various extensions, changes appearance programs using skins, keeps an extensive history of visiting resources (just in case), and of course, creates hundreds of bookmarks on frequently visited or simply interesting sites.

But then trouble happened - the C: drive was destroyed along with all its contents (and this is where user profiles are stored by default Firefox browser and rarely does any user place them in another place). What to do in such a situation? If someone has used Acronis True Image (or software similar in functionality) and has a backup copy of the C: drive, then honor and praise to such a person - he will not lose so much if the drive image is fresh. But what if it is not fresh (say, six months ago) and the bookmarks are hopelessly outdated? This is where it will help most useful program MozBackup, which allows you to create copies of user profiles in Firefox and Thunderbird (Mozilla products), and, if necessary, restore them.

MozBackup does not require installation, the program is portable and comes in an archive. After extracting files to any directory, you must turn off Firefox (otherwise creating profile copies will be impossible) and run the file MozBackup.exe, after which the utility’s welcome window will appear:

This is the so-called setup wizard, click Next.

Here we are asked to select the type of operation - create a backup copy of the profile ( Backup a profile) or restore the profile from a previously created copy ( Restore a profile). First, which is logical, I will talk about how to create a copy of a profile. To do this, select the browser at the bottom of the window (in my case it’s Mozilla Firefox 15, however the utility will work with both older and newer versions of this browser, as well as others built on the same core).

We are asked whether it is worth setting a password for the file in which the saved profile will be stored:

I usually answer that a password is not needed (click “No”).

We are then given a choice of which parts of the profile need to be copied to the archive:

I usually mark everything except the cache (it is useless to archive it, it takes up a lot of space and significantly increases the time it takes for MozBackup to create an archive with a profile).

Unknown files Unknown files I also don't ignore:

After clicking Next The process of calculating the storage space required to create a backup copy of the profile begins:

After this, the process of creating a copy of the profile begins.

MozBackup shutdown window, profile created successfully:

Since we must learn and restore the profile, we check the box New backup or restore and press Next.

In the window already familiar to us, we need to select Restore profile(Restore profile):

Of course, we again note desired browser from the list and click Next.

Next, we are asked to select the profile that needs to be restored. My profile is called SM-5, it is highlighted by default, because no other profiles were created. Someone may have several profiles, and in this case you need to be careful and choose exactly the one you need, otherwise someone else’s profile will be overwritten (for example, when several people use the same PC with the same browser and everyone has their own profiles).

In the same window you need to click Browse, the Open dialog box appears:

In it we select the previously created file, which is a copy of the Firefox user profile. PCV file in practice RAR archive, so you can open it with an archiver if you want to look at what is inside the copy file.

This is a very important functionality of MozBackup, dear readers. It makes it possible to selectively restore either settings, bookmarks, or something else. What is it for? Well, for example, to make a copy of your browser to a friend, but so that he does not have access to saved logins/passwords or bookmarks/history, but simply uses an already configured browser with necessary extensions. I've often used these features of MozBackup and I'm very glad that they are there, because the benefits from them are enormous.

Click “Yes”, after which the saved profile begins unzipping into the folder with the current profile:

Based on numerous OKs, we can conclude that the profile restoration was successful.

Next, I would like to talk about an important feature in Firefox (and other browsers based on this engine, for example Comodo IceDragon or ByFox, Waterfox, etc.) - creating multiple profiles. We will need this function in order to transfer our profile from the system drive (in the case of Windows 7 x64, the path to the profile looks like this: C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles where "User" is the name account Windows user) to where we need it.

To display the list of profiles you need to run Firefox.exe with the parameter command line -p :

Above is an example to make it clearer. Here's the same thing in text form: "K:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox 5\firefox.exe" -p

After the browser is launched in this mode, the following window will appear, which is a profile manager:

As you can see, in my case there is only one profile - SM-5, however, I will create another profile to show how everything works.

To do this, I click “Create” and the Profile Creation Wizard appears:

We read what they want to convey to us and click on “Next”.

We are asked to enter a profile name (any name, but I advise something simpler, without special characters - just letters and numbers).

C:\profile- this is the path where it will be stored new profile(the folder must be created in advance). Of course, you are free to specify any path, as long as it is not on the system drive.

By clicking “Finish” in the window above, we are again transferred to the profile selection menu. As you can see, a new one has appeared - www.site:

After that we press " Launching Firefox" and we get a bare browser without any add-ons and the like. Why do we need this? Only for one purpose - to make this new profile the main one and unpack our old profile into its folder (using MozBackup in the manner described above). Now we have There is new folder with our old one Firefox profile, which will not go anywhere if the system disk crashes (which means no data will be lost), you can even carry it with you (preferably in the form of an archive) and extremely quickly “roll out” your profile wherever you please, according to the scheme described above.

Congratulations, now your “Ognelis” is protected from all kinds of troubles - forget about missing bookmarks, crooked extensions and other nasty things, all this is in the past!

p.s. I beg you - don’t call Firefox “badass”, don’t be like the gray masses!

Backup copy Firefox may be needed in many cases. For example, when reinstalling operating system, to transfer bookmarks, passwords and browser settings to another computer, as well as to correct errors and crashes in Firefox.

Backup Firefox by copying browser profile files

If you need to create a one-time backup copy of the Firefox browser to restore it on a new computer or after reinstalling the OS, then you can simply save the profile files of this browser in a convenient place, for example, on a memory card or disk. By default, these files are located at: c:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data (or AppData)\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\********.default\

To find and copy these files, File Explorer should display hidden files and folders.

After Firefox installations on a new computer or after Windows reinstallation the contents of the new profile folder must be replaced with the contents of this folder. After this, if necessary, you will need to enable some installed extensions.

To back up only the saved passwords, you need to find and save only two files from this folder: key3.db and signons2.txt.

Backup Firefox using the FEBE extension

The previous method is very simple and takes a little time, but often users remember about a backup copy when it’s too late. Therefore, it is better to take care of creating backups automatically and in advance. The FEBE extension is great for this. It can make backups like individual elements(for example, bookmarks, passwords, etc.) and the entire profile. You can also schedule these copies to be created daily, weekly, monthly, or when you start or close your browser.

To install the FEBE add-on, go to the extension page. Click the “Proceed to Installation” button. And on the next page - “Add to Firefox”.

After installation, restart the browser. If necessary, add the FEBE extension icon to the browser toolbar (right-click on the panel > Configure).

After this, you need to configure the extension. To do this, launch the FEBE settings window.

In the tab What to backup select the objects that need to be saved.

It is also possible to produce additional settings extension, connect it to cloud storage and view information about FEBE.

To restore the necessary data in a new browser, just install FEBE and select the necessary objects to restore in the extension menu. Or restore your profile completely.

After installing this extension in your browser, you don't have to worry about losing important bookmarks or saved passwords. You will also save a lot of time after reinstalling Windows or when transferring browser settings to a new computer.

Or wondered how to quickly transfer all this to another computer. Today I will tell you exactly how to save everything you need from this wonderful browser.

A browser profile is a file in which all your Internet browser settings are recorded (saved)! passwords, saved pages, sessions, search history, ... in short - everything that you have changed for yourself since initial installation Mozilla Firefox!
Unforeseen situations happen in life all the time and blue screen system collapse can come to you suddenly, unexpectedly, out of the blue: o)! And even with a simple reinstallation of the system, it will be more convenient to restore the browser settings in a minute, rather than re-registering them within an hour!

A small program by Czech author Pavel Cvrcek will help in this matter. MozBackup (Mozilla Backup) is a utility for creating a backup copy of profiles for programs such as:

• MozSuite/SeaMonkey,
• Mozilla Firefox,
• Mozilla Thunderbird,
• Netscape, Flock,
• Sunbird, Spicebird,
• PostBox and Wyzo.

It will help you save mail, bookmarks, address books, passwords, etc. Works under Windows 95 and higher. The program is absolutely free.

You can download this happiness at the office. website MozBackup(or in Russian mozutil.mozilla-russia.org) or by typing its name in any search engine. It is absolutely free, it is easy to find in Russian, but in English everything is extremely simple and clear, and therefore I will provide you with instructions and English version, and to Russian:o)

1. So, we downloaded the program MozBackup. Click on the installation file

2. The installation of the program begins, there is nothing complicated

3. Just click on the buttons "Further"(Next in English versions)


4.Choose the path and


5. folder to save the program MozBackup

6. Create an icon on the desktop for convenience (or don’t create it - as desired: o)

7. And press the button "Install"

8. In just a few minutes the program will be installed on your computer

Amazing! Now close the browser and run MozBackup…

In the English version, the program's welcome window looks something like this:

Next, we need to select, in fact, the program whose settings\extensions\bookmarks and other joys we want to save and put a circle Save or Restore.
As you can see, the program itself determined which version of the browser we are using! Without interfering with her work, we move on without changing anything!

In the English version: put a circle Backup a profile or Restore a profile(the first means to save everything, the second to restore if you have already saved in a similar way). Choose “Backup a profile” and press “Next>”.

Here you need to specify the location to save the backup copy of your profile!
It is advisable to save it system disk, and where your data is stored! Create special folder, for example on drive D: and specify it here by clicking “Browse”...

English version: select from the list which profile (if there are several) we want to save (by default this is defaut)

and where the file with the saved data will be located (to select the location you need to click on the button Browse):

Pressing again Next we answer the question affirmatively or negatively (and they ask us whether we want to protect the file with settings\extensions\other goodies with a password)

and in the newly appeared window we select what exactly we want to save - save by checking the boxes! I left it as default...

Just in case, translation:

• General settings- settings,
• Bookmarks- bookmarks,
• History- story,
• Extensions- extensions\plugins,
• Saved Passwords- passwords,
• Cookies- this is a cookie,
• Saved Form Details - saved form data,
• Downloaded file list- list of downloaded files,
• Certificates- certificates.
• Button Unknown files opens a list of files that are usually auxiliary for plugins, i.e. if you checked the box Extensions, then it is better to select all files in this list.

By ticking everything you need, clicking Next and perhaps by poking Yes to some question like: “ Are you sure, la la la“, You just have to wait for the saving to finish and then click on the Next button.

During saving, the program may freeze (most often this happens if you chose to save plugins, i.e. checked the box extensions), and therefore do not kill her, but simply endure, because having saved everything, she will hang her jaw and cheerfully report to you that the task has been completed.

That's all! We perform the recovery in the same way, only instead of “Backup a profile”, select “Restore a profile”

Now IMPORTANT NUANCE!
You need to restore your profile to the same version of the browser with which you made the backup! Let me explain! Install, for example, Mozilla Firefox 6, restore the profile by putting in initial window MozBackup Instead of “Save”, dot opposite “Restore” and only then update the browser to the next, seventh version!

Based on materials from optimakomp.ru, sonikelf.ru

That's probably all.
A similar procedure should be done at least sometimes, because no one knows what can happen to the computer or where your bookmarks may be useful.
Moreover, backup Mozilla profile should be done not when you have already noticed problems and glitches in the browser, but obviously when everything is fine ! Clean it of unnecessary bookmarks and additions! Leave only really necessary settings! And make a backup!

For Firefox backup (backup)– this is the ability to save the current set of bookmarks, settings, downloaded pages, etc., in order to restore them later. Handy Backup uses for backup Firefox standard“Computer” plugin.

Benefits of backing up Firefox with Handy Backup

Scheduling and automation of tasks

As a backup tool, Firefox Handy Backup allows you to fully automate the backup process. You can configure the Firefox backup task to certain time(with the possibility of periodic, from minutes to months, repetition), or for a system event.

Compared to earlier backup utilities copy Firefox For example, with Mozbackup, Handy Backup provides a wide range of backup creation and recovery methods, such as full, incremental, differential and mixed copying Mozilla, encryption, etc.

Storage options

Having created a backup for Mozilla Firefox, you can save it either on local or USB disk, and online (on a NAS device, on an FTP/SFTP/FTPS server, in cloud storage, for example, creating backup to Yandex Disk, Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Drive etc.

Additional Firefox backup options

Download

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Version 8 dated March 4, 2019. 104 MB
Backup program Handy Backup. 1200 RUB for a license

Handy Backup Standard Solution contains everything necessary tools and plugins for creating a backup copy of Mozilla Firefox on local machine or online. Free, fully functional trial - 30 days!

How to Backup Firefox Using Handy Backup

For Firefox, a backup copy of all settings and options is removed from local folder. Handy Backup uses the standard “Computer” plugin, available in all solutions, to obtain a Mozilla Firefox backup.

1. Launch Handy Backup and create new task using a button or menu.
2. Select backup task in Step 1 and go to Step 2.
3. Select plugin" Computer" from the "Local or Network Drives" group in the left pane.

On a note: You can also use the "Network" plugin, or select a machine from the drop-down list on the left top corner windows (only for network solutions) to remove from Firefox network backup.

1. Double click on the plugin name, or click the “>>” button.
2. In the window that appears, find and tick the Firefox settings folder.

Advice: under Linux look for this folder at ~/.firefox.

1. Click OK to return to Step 2 and continue creating the task as described in the User Guide. All other steps do not have any special features. Give the task a memorable name – for example, “Mozilla Firefox backup”.

Comparison of Handy Backup with other Firefox Backup programs and utilities

The outdated Mozbackup utility does not have work settings scheduled backups; The same problem is typical for various Firefox backup plugins. In addition, there are practically no solutions that offer Firefox backup to network storage “out of the box”, backup encryption and so on.!

Try Handy Backup as your working tool for Mozilla Firefox backup!
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