Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data

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  • Revision id: 159833
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  • Creator: AliceWyman
  • Comment: {for not winxp} AppData\Roaming\... profile path, link to show hidden files
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  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: AliceWyman
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  • Readied for localization by: AliceWyman
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All of the changes you make in Firefox, like your home page, what toolbars you use, extensions you have installed, saved passwords and your bookmarks, are all stored in a special folder, called a profile. Your profile folder is stored in a separate place from the Firefox program so that, if something ever goes wrong with Firefox, your information will still be there. It also means you can uninstall Firefox without losing your settings and you don't have to reinstall Firefox to clear your information or troubleshoot a problem.

This information is here for reference. You don't have to follow these steps unless you were directed to do so from another article.

How do I find my profile?

  • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
  • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

Finding your profile without opening Firefox

Firefox stores your profile folder in this location on your computer, by default:
C:\Users\<your Windows login username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Windows hides the AppData folder by default but you can find your profile folder as follows:

  1. Press Windows Key+R on the keyboard. A Run dialog will open.
  2. Type in:
    %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
  3. Click OK. A window will open containing profile folders.
  4. Double-click the profile folder you wish to open. If you only have one profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.
  1. From the Start Screen, click the Desktop tile. The Desktop view will open.
  2. From the Desktop, hover in the lower right-hand corner to access the Charms.
  3. Select the Search charm. The Search sidebar will open.
  4. In the search box, type in:
    %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
    without pressing Enter. A list of profile folders will appear.
  5. Click on the profile folder you wish to open (it will open in a window). If you only have one profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.

  1. Click the Windows Start button. The Start menu will open.
  2. In the Search box at the bottom of the Start menu, type:
    %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
    without pressing Enter. A list of profiles will appear at the top of the Start menu.
  3. Click on the profile folder you wish to open (it will open in a window). If you only have a single profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.

    ab167bec686b081a25849c98d6bf9ea7-1258940859-69-1.png
  • Alternatively, you can find your profile by pressing the Windows Key key and then start typing: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Note: To set Windows to show the AppData folder and other hidden files and folders, see Show hidden files - Windows Help.
  1. Click the Windows Start button, and select Run….

    win-run.png
  2. Type in:
    %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
    then click OK.
    A window will open containing profile folders.
    win-rundialog.png
  3. Double-click the profile folder you wish to open. If you only have one profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.
  1. Click the Finder icon in the dock. On the menu bar, click the Go menu, hold down the option or alt key and select Library. A window will open containing your Library folder.
  2. Open the Application Support folder, then open the Firefox folder, and then the Profiles folder.
  3. Your profile folder is within this folder. If you only have one profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.
  1. (Ubuntu) Click the Places menu on the top right of the screen and select Home Folder. A File Browser window will appear.
  2. Click the View menu and select Show Hidden Files if it isn't already checked.
  3. Double click the folder marked .mozilla.
  4. Double click the folder marked firefox. Your profile folder is within this folder. If you only have one profile, its folder would have "default" in the name.

What information is stored in my profile?

Note: This is not a complete list. Only important information is described.

  • Bookmarks, Downloads and Browsing History: The places.sqlite file contains all your Firefox bookmarks and lists of all the files you've downloaded and websites you’ve visited. The bookmarkbackups folder stores bookmark backup files, which can be used to restore your bookmarks. For more information, see Bookmarks in Firefox and Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.
  • Passwords: Your passwords are stored in the key3.dbkey4.db and logins.json files. For more information, see Password manager - Remember, delete and change saved passwords in Firefox.
  • Site-specific preferences: The permissions.sqlite and content-prefs.sqlite files store many of your Firefox permissions (for instance, which sites are allowed to display popups) or zoom levels that are set on a site-by-site basis (see Font size and zoom - increase the size of web pages).
  • Search engines: The search.json.mozlz4 file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar.
  • Personal dictionary: The persdict.dat file stores any custom words you have added to Firefox's dictionary. For more information, see How do I use the Firefox spell checker?.
  • Autocomplete history: The formhistory.sqlite file remembers what you have searched for in the Firefox search bar and what information you’ve entered into forms on websites. For more information, see Control whether Firefox automatically fills in forms.
  • Cookies: A cookie is a bit of information stored on your computer by a website you’ve visited. Usually this is something like your site preferences or login status. Cookies are all stored in the cookies.sqlite file.
  • DOM storage: DOM Storage is designed to provide a larger, more secure, and easier-to-use alternative to storing information in cookies. Information is stored in the webappsstore.sqlite file for websites and in the chromeappsstore.sqlite for about:* pages.
  • Extensions: The extensions folder, if it exists, stores files for any extensions you have installed. To learn more about Firefox extensions and other add-ons, see Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox.
  • Security certificate settings: The cert8.dbcert9.db file stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox.
  • Security device settings: The secmod.dbpkcs11.txt file stores security module configuration.
  • Download actions: The mimeTypes.rdfhandlers.json file stores your preferences that tell Firefox what to do when it comes across a particular type of file. For example, these are the settings that tell Firefox to open a PDF file with Acrobat Reader when you click on it. For more information, see Manage file types and download actions in Firefox.
  • Plugin MIME type: The pluginreg.dat file stores Internet media types related to your installed plugins. For more information, see Use plugins to play audio, video, games and more.
  • Stored session: The sessionstore.jssessionstore.jsonlz4 file stores the currently open tabs and windows. For more information, see Restore previous session - Configure when Firefox shows your most recent tabs and windows.
  • Toolbar customization: The xulstore.json file stores toolbar and window size/position settings. For more information, see Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars.
  • User preferences: The prefs.js file stores customized user preference settings, such as changes you make in Firefox Settings dialogs. The optional user.js file, if one exists, will override any modified preferences.

Working with profiles