Back Up & Recover Firefox Profiles - FEBE Guide
Backing Up Your Firefox Profile for Disaster Recovery
Experiencing a hardware failure on your computer and needing to restore your data can be incredibly stressful, particularly if a robust backup solution isn't already in place.
However, the process can be significantly streamlined by consistently backing up your Firefox profile.
Utilizing FEBE for Firefox Backups
We will employ FEBE, a dedicated Firefox add-on, to facilitate the backup of your Firefox configurations.
This tool provides a comprehensive suite of backup options, allowing for everything from a complete profile backup to a customized selection of components.
Backup Options with FEBE
FEBE offers granular control over what is included in your backups.
- You can choose to back up your entire Firefox profile.
- Alternatively, a selective backup allows you to specify which elements are saved.
- These elements include extensions, bookmarks, cookies, and your browsing history.
Furthermore, FEBE is capable of automating the backup process, enabling periodic backups to ensure your data remains protected.
Backing Up Firefox with FEBE
After the extension is installed, FEBE can be found within the Firefox menu under Tools --> Febe.
The FEBE Options menu allows for customization of the backup configuration.
Information regarding the various options within FEBE is displayed by clicking the i icon.
The 'Schedule' tab enables the configuration of periodic backups of your Firefox settings.
It is recommended to utilize external storage, like an external hard drive or a cloud backup service, for safeguarding your Firefox configuration.
This practice ensures easy recovery of your Firefox profile should your computer experience a hardware failure.
While FEBE defaults to Box.net for online backups, utilizing a service such as Dropbox is generally a more suitable alternative.
Creating a System Backup
A system backup can be initiated through the Tools menu, then selecting FEBE, and finally choosing the "Perform Back Up" option.
The backup process may require a considerable amount of time, depending on the volume of data.
Upon completion, FEBE will generate a report detailing the success or failure of the backup operation.
Backup Procedure Details
The "Perform Back Up" function consolidates all essential system data into a single archive.
This archive serves as a safeguard against data loss due to unforeseen circumstances.
Successful backups are crucial for maintaining operational continuity and minimizing downtime.
Understanding the Backup Report
- The report will indicate whether the backup completed without errors.
- It will also specify the location where the backup archive is stored.
- Reviewing the report confirms the integrity of the backup process.
Should any issues arise during the backup, the report will provide details to assist in troubleshooting.
Firefox Recovery with FEBE
The FEBE tool utilizes .xpi files for extension backups and .fbu files to archive the Firefox user profile. Initiating the restoration process is achieved by navigating to Tools, then selecting FEBE, and finally choosing the Restore option.
Extensions can be recovered by individually selecting one or more .xpi files located within the backup directories.
Alternatively, the complete Firefox profile can be restored by choosing the corresponding .fbu file.
FEBE can be downloaded directly from the Mozilla Add-ons website.
Restoring Extensions
- Select the desired .xpi files from your backup.
- Confirm the restoration process within FEBE.
Restoring Your Firefox Profile
To revert to a previous profile state:
- Locate and select the relevant .fbu file.
- The restoration will then commence, overwriting the current profile.
It is recommended to back up your current profile before restoring from an .fbu file, as this action is irreversible.