Solved I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer?

Zoloft · Jul 14, 2026

I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer? It's not an online program, so security updates are a worry, is there any real benefit of a different app?

Josey Wales · Jul 14, 2026

I still use it and it still works great.

Josey Wales · Jul 14, 2026

Zoloft said:
I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer? It's not an online program, so security updates are a worry, is there any real benefit of a different app?

No as posted this app is good and it works with any issues, even with Thunderbird, When NOVA comes out????

giftwrapped · Jul 14, 2026

Which version are you using?

MozBackup 1.5.1 (latest stable version, released March 29th, 2011)
MozBackup 1.6 Beta 2 (released January 27th, 2026)

Josey Wales · Jul 14, 2026

Version 1.51e

giftwrapped said:
Which version are you using?

MozBackup 1.5.1 (latest stable version, released March 29th, 2011)

MozBackup 1.6 Beta 2 (released January 27th, 2026)

Version 1.51en

Techie007 · Jul 14, 2026

Zoloft said:
I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer? It's not an online program, so security updates are a worry, is there any real benefit of a different app?

Personally, I just copy the profile folder to make a backup or transfer to a new installation/machine.

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 14, 2026

I simply exit Thunderbird to insure all the files are closed and available and then copy the profile folder. I move my TB profile to my laptop for trips, then back to my desktop when I return using the same technique, it works flawlessly. For a complete backup, I don't see any reason for a "special" backup application for the profiles.

Marie SWE · Jul 14, 2026

Thumb-rule... If it ain't broke.... Don't fix it.

Ghot · Jul 14, 2026

When I make a Win 11 backup... it backs up my Mozilla profile too.
I'm lazy like that.

thecaretaker · Jul 14, 2026

I use a simple .bat file to copy my profile in both Firefox and Thunderbird. Saved to a Backup folder which is also backed up onto 2 other drives. Likewise, if I want to restore I use another .bat file.

Backup

Code:

echo DELETE OLD BACKUP AND COPY NEW PROFILE FOLDER

@RD /S /Q "C:\Users\username\Documents\Backups\Thunderbird_Backup\xxxxx.default-release"

robocopy C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxx.default-release C:\Users\username\Documents\Backups\Thunderbird_Backup\xxxxx.default-release /E

Restore

Code:

Echo DELETE EXISTING PROFILE AND COPY BACKUP TO THUNDERBIRD - PLEASE WAIT

@RD /S /Q "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxx.default-release"

robocopy C:\Users\username\Documents\Backups\Thunderbird_Backup\xxxxx.default-release C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxx.default-release /E

starchase · Jul 14, 2026

@Zoloft You could also use the Hasleo Backup software (free) to back up the profile folder, making an image file of that folder and all sub-folders and files, which I find a much faster way to obtain your objective. And you just restore the image to get back to that point in time.

glasskuter · Jul 14, 2026

No reason to use third party software at all.

Thunderbird
Use Thunderbird's own export tool. In Thunderbird, select the menu button (three horizontal lines \(\equiv \)) > Tools > Export
OR
Locate the Thunderbird user profile folder. Copy this folder to a USB drive or external storage.
To restore it on a new computer, install Thunderbird, close it once it opens, and paste this Thunderbird folder into the same %appdata% directory

Firefox
Sync your settings. Firefox sync is built into FF. Firefox Sync (to a FF account) synchronizes your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, open tabs, and preferences across all your devices. If you uninstall and reinstall FF, sign into FF, then your FF data is automatically there.
OR
close Firefox if it is open and then copy the profile folder to another location. Copy it back in once FF is re-installed

Locate your profile folder, as explained above.
Close Firefox (if open): Click the Firefox menu

and select Exit.
Go to one level above your profile's folder (in other words, to %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\).
Right-click on your profile folder (for example, on the xxxxxxxx.default folder) and select Copy. If you see a file locked or in use, make sure Firefox is completely closed (check Task Manager on Windows, Force Quit on macOS). If you get an error that indicates the path file is too long, copy the contents in smaller batches or use Windows’ long-path support.
Right-click the backup location (such as a USB-stick

Josey Wales · Jul 14, 2026

Zoloft said:
I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer? It's not an online program, so security updates are a worry, is there any real benefit of a different app?

Just keep using it if that is what you want to do.

Zoloft · Jul 14, 2026

Thank you all for the additional options and votes of confidence. If for some reason MozBackup no longer suits my needs, I now have some additional options to move on to, but I am a big fan of my habits, and MozBackup has been a habit for decades, and for now, I'm in no rush to break it!

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 15, 2026

Marie SWE said:
Thumb-rule... If it ain't broke.... Don't fix it.

Well, we haven't heard if he's actually tried to restore using MozBackup successfully!

Using my simple copy technique, I've restored my backup many times successfully, every time I take my laptop on a trip it gets exercised successfully.

Marie SWE · Jul 15, 2026

gunrunnerjohn said:
Well, we haven't heard if he's actually tried to restore using MozBackup successfully! Using my simple copy technique, I've restored my backup many times successfully, every time I take my laptop on a trip it gets exercised successfully.

True.. but if it had worked before, it will probibly work now too

that is what is good with old software.. its often stable and reliable.

Josey Wales · Jul 15, 2026

gunrunnerjohn said:
Well, we haven't heard if he's actually tried to restore using MozBackup successfully! Using my simple copy technique, I've restored my backup many times successfully, every time I take my laptop on a trip it gets exercised successfully.

I have probably over 50 times since ~ 2004!

gunrunnerjohn · Jul 15, 2026

Josey Wales said:
I have probably over 50 times since ~ 2004!

You must have a lot of trouble with Thunderbird!

antspants · Jul 15, 2026

Since June, you don't need a 3rd party. Firefox has its own backup (Not Sync).

While Firefox Sync is an easy and reliable way to keep your data backed up across all your devices, if you prefer not to use Sync you can create an automatic backup file for extra options. Sync automatically updates Firefox profile data such as bookmarks, history, passwords and settings whenever you sign in with your Mozilla account. However, the automatic backup feature allows you to store a copy of your Firefox data on your computer or in the cloud for safekeeping.

The backup file contains profile data such as bookmarks, settings and passwords, to help you easily move your data to a new computer or any time you need to reinstall a fresh copy of Firefox. When enabled, Firefox automatically creates a backup file, which you can store locally or in the cloud. The backup file is refreshed every day with your latest browsing data.

Mozilla's Firefox Backup

Josey Wales · Jul 15, 2026

gunrunnerjohn said:
You must have a lot of trouble with Thunderbird!

No not Thunderbird, Firefox is where I used it mainly.

Solved I've been using MozBackup for literally decades to back up my firefox profile. Is there any real reason that I should be using something newer?

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

I almost never bite.......

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

aka Mama Glass

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

I almost never bite.......

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers