Changes in Firefox from Version 86 to 90, 92
Apologies for asking this here, but I've done the Google and can't find an answer.
Background: I keep 2-3 Firefox versions and profiles on my computer. The software is in, for example, directories FFox82, FFox84, FFox86 The profiles are in, for example, directories Firefox82, Firefox84, Firefox86 (The software and profiles are on different drives.)
When I do an upgrade, I copy the newest software to a new directory and rename it (e.g., FFox92 - so now there are 4 sw directories) Then I copy the newest profile directory and give it a corresponding name (e.g., Firefox92 - so now there are 4 profile directories). I install the new version to its directory and thenlaunch with a -p option. Then I create a new profile and point it to the corresponding folder. Then I launch the new version with the -p option pointing to the new profile directory.
This has worked for decades.
But I just tried it with Firefox 90 and Firefox 92 and NO GO. It acts as if I've never used Firefox before. No apps, no toolbars, no bookmarks, nothing.
What is going on? Am I stuck on Firefox86 for the rest of the century?
And, please, don't tell me how wonderful these new versions are and I should simply accept the change. I have a virtual lifetime invested in the toolbars, extensions and bookmarks on my computer.
I simply want to know if there is a fix and, if so, what it is.
All Replies (10)
I haven't heard of any particular issues upgrading data from Firefox 86 to later versions. Sometimes with a large version gap there are glitches converting some files, but I wouldn't expect that in this case.
If you open the internal about:profiles page it should show you the same list you see in the external -P profile manager dialog, but with paths and other helpful information and buttons. This page reflects the information in Firefox's indexes of your profile folder names and locations:
- %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\installs.ini
- %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\profile.ini
%APPDATA% is the shortcut for C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming which is a hidden folder. To set Windows to show this folder, see: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hidden-files-0320fe58-0117-fd59-6851-9b7f9840fdb2
Does about:profiles show that the folders you migrated/duplicated do exist?
If so, and you click the pertinent "Launch profile in new browser" button -- do not launch an older folder, or it may become permanently incompatible with that older version -- does it contain the expected data?
I am still using v54 and also have the current browser installed. If you want to share the data, sync would be a good option.
Note: Make sure you have a separate profile for each version because some things, like add-ons and some settings, are not compatible.
You can use sync to share passwords, bookmarks, and history. Anything else may not be compatible.
jscher2000:
OK, when I look at the about:profiles in Firefox90 (I decided to try an earlier "new" version)
it correctly shows my 3 older profiles (in the 80 range) correctly. And all of those have a "launch" option.
However, even though I have a Firefox90 folder (identical to the Firefox86 folder), it has created a new profile with the name: esg3vinn.firefox,90.0.2.
It says this is in use and is the default and there is no "launch" option.
There is an option at the bottom to create a new profile, which I haven't tried.
Do you know what is happening? Is the -P option now working for some reason?
RemySecor said
However, even though I have a Firefox90 folder (identical to the Firefox86 folder), it has created a new profile with the name: esg3vinn.firefox,90.0.2. It says this is in use and is the default and there is no "launch" option.
Questions:
(1) Is your Firefox90 folder listed on about:profiles? I assume not.
(2) Does the currently running profile name includes that entire file name, or is the profile name in large bold letters "firefox,90.0.2" (the part to the right of the dot)?
I suspect something went wrong with your selection of the Firefox90 folder as the new profile location, causing the creation of an extra folder. However, I couldn't tell you what went wrong.
I suggest trying again, but this time use the "Create a new Profile" button at the top of the about:profiles page. Assign the name Firefox90 (i.e., profile name exactly matches non-random part of folder name) and then assign your Firefox90 folder to it.
Any better luck doing it through this page?
Note that best to avoid renaming profile folders on the hard drive because a profile can have files (see pkcs11.txt) that contain absolute file paths that still point to the original profile. For use in the Profile Manager it is sufficient to rename the file in the PM (profiles.ini).
See also:
jscher2000
1. How did you guess? The profile manager shows the directories for the 3 previous profiles but not the directory I created for this version (Firefox90) which seems extremely odd.
2. The profile manager shows the full path for esg. profile it created, no caps.
I'll be trying a couple of things as soon as I've done a full backup. (It's way too easy for me to lose concentration when I'm fooling around with multiple profiles.)
jscher2000: Sort of fixed.
I used Firefox90 to delete the Firefox90 profile. Then I deleted the Firefox90 profile folder, copied the Firefox86 profile to the same directory & renamed it Firefox90. Launched Firefox90 with -P and GOT IT!
But what happened to my tab bar? (I still use the ancient setup with Fiel/Edit/View Search Bar Bookmark toolbar Tabs.
Firefox90 shows no tabs, although it knows how many I have open.
I'll post another question about the tabs if I can't find an answer.
RemySecor said
I still use the ancient setup with Fiel/Edit/View Search Bar Bookmark toolbar Tabs. Firefox90 shows no tabs, although it knows how many I have open.
If you are using old userChrome.css code for your tabs, it causes the tabs to slide to the very bottom of the browser and stack in front of one another. Do you see that effect? Either way, you need updated rules.
See this response for updated CSS code to position the tabs below the Navigation Toolbar:
Rather than copy the profile folder, you should copy files from it. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile