Restoring lost profile
I replaced the HDD in my iMac, and in the process of copying data and applications back to the new HDD from various backups, my olngtime Firefox profile got lost. I have now retrieved it from what I think is the last computer backup. I can't quite achieve getting my new version of FF (78.0.2) on the new HDD to recognize and use the longtime profile. I really miss my bookmarks and logins/passwords. (No, I didn't have Firefox Sync set before this.) Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Wes
Chosen solution
Hi Wes, I'm a Windows person, so apologies in advance for things that might not translate.
You probably have seen the internal about:profiles page -- if not, you can open that by typing or pasting about:profiles in the address bar and pressing Enter/Return to load it. This page has useful tools to get Firefox re-acquainted with your migrated profile folder.
If you check the currently active profile -- the one that has
This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.
It will show a path to its "Root Directory" under the hidden Application Support folder. That will follow a pattern similar to the following (the italic parts are unique to your system; I have no idea):
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/abcd1234.currentprofilename
(Examples in this screenshot: https://user-media-prod-cdn.itsre-sumo.mozilla.net/uploads/gallery/images/2018-10-07-13-36-23-103333.png )
First step:
Copy/paste/restore your old profile folder into that same Profiles folder so it will eventually appear here:
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/wxyz7890.oldprofilename
Second step:
- Click the "Create a New Profile" button, then click Next.
- Assign the same name (the part after the dot), and Firefox should show a proposed folder name with a new random part.
- Click the "Choose Folder..." button and select the old profile folder you copy/pasted so that Firefox picks up the full old name.
- Back in Firefox, click the Done button.
After creating a new profile, Firefox might immediately make it your default profile. To test, scroll down to it and click the Launch profile in new browser button.
Did it work?
If not, you can close that window without affecting your regular Firefox profile and change back to the profile you started with before this post. Click the Set as Default Profile button below your fresh profile.
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Chosen Solution
Hi Wes, I'm a Windows person, so apologies in advance for things that might not translate.
You probably have seen the internal about:profiles page -- if not, you can open that by typing or pasting about:profiles in the address bar and pressing Enter/Return to load it. This page has useful tools to get Firefox re-acquainted with your migrated profile folder.
If you check the currently active profile -- the one that has
This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.
It will show a path to its "Root Directory" under the hidden Application Support folder. That will follow a pattern similar to the following (the italic parts are unique to your system; I have no idea):
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/abcd1234.currentprofilename
(Examples in this screenshot: https://user-media-prod-cdn.itsre-sumo.mozilla.net/uploads/gallery/images/2018-10-07-13-36-23-103333.png )
First step:
Copy/paste/restore your old profile folder into that same Profiles folder so it will eventually appear here:
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/wxyz7890.oldprofilename
Second step:
- Click the "Create a New Profile" button, then click Next.
- Assign the same name (the part after the dot), and Firefox should show a proposed folder name with a new random part.
- Click the "Choose Folder..." button and select the old profile folder you copy/pasted so that Firefox picks up the full old name.
- Back in Firefox, click the Done button.
After creating a new profile, Firefox might immediately make it your default profile. To test, scroll down to it and click the Launch profile in new browser button.
Did it work?
If not, you can close that window without affecting your regular Firefox profile and change back to the profile you started with before this post. Click the Set as Default Profile button below your fresh profile.
jscher2000,
This was exactly the solution I was looking for. It worked the first time . Given that both Windows and the Mac OS spring from the loins of a Linux kernel, so there were no translation problems. Many, Many thanks.
Wes