This page was created for the Firefox 4 beta series.

Synchronizing two profiles

TODO: Find and update or synchronize existing notes on this topic. Also search for existing instructions out on the net.

Imagining that Profile A is regularly used and has all the correct add-ons and preferences. Profile B is rarely used and needs to be updated without destroying its bookmarks, saved passwords and other such things.

TODO

Flash cookies/data?
Proper links in this list
- Proper official links too

Planning

Identify any extra addons in B. Install them in A.
- Don't forget to check your Greasemonkey scripts or Stylish styles, if you use those add-ons.
Identify any themes in B. Install them in A.

Prepare _A_

TODO: Check (on disk) and reinstall all Add-Ons which are unpacked. Firefox 4.0 keeps add-on data in its original packed .xpi format.

Prepare _B_

Backup bookmarks.
- Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Export HTML
  - TODO: How does the existing backup stuff work now? It was mangled from its original pure HTML form. I want to automatically save revisions of HTML backups.
- Backup externalized add-on data.
  - For example, ScrapBook and Zotero have folders containing all their saved materials.
- TODO: Backup saved passwords.

Action

Copy A into B.
Purge and import from backups
- e.g. delete bookmarks and restore from backups

Cleanup

Double-check symlinks if you manually symlinked externalized add-on data. (ScrapBook and Zotero)

Teardown

If you installed any new addons and themes in A, check the list and decide if you want to disable any of them. Don't uninstall them, just disable them.
Check the addons and themes lists in B. Were any new addons from A introduced which should be disabled? Don't uninstall them, just disable them.

Unfortunately themes cannot be disabled, only removed. =(

User Preferences (prefs.js)

unchecked

The preferences within the regular preferences dialogues is located in prefs.js.

about:config customization is located in prefs.js.

How to migrate your passwords between installations

This may be very old, v2 or even v1.5!

In the profile directory, it is these files:

signons*.txt
key3.db