Managing profiles in Firefox
Whatever passwords, user preferences and bookmarks that are created in Firefox are stored in files commonly referred as a profile. This set of files are not stored in Firefox program files folder. They are stored in a different location. You are authorized to create multiple Firefox profiles, each profile having different user information. With the help of profile manager, you can create profiles, delete profiles as well as rename existing profiles. However even if you are allowed to create multiple profiles, at a time only one profile can remain active.
Creating and using multiple profiles are basically advanced features and are mainly used by developers. If you are a beginner or an intermediate user, you should even think of using these advanced features. Developers generally use multiple profiles to troubleshoot a problem
Starting Profile Manager: If your pc has Ubuntu operating system then do the following to create a new profile:
1] Exit Firefox. In order to close Firefox, you have to select File menu that is located at the top of Firefox window and then select the Quit menu option.
2] Now open Applications menu and choose Accessories. Now you have to select the terminal option. Clicking on the terminal button opens a terminal button.
3] In terminal window, you need to type the following: firefox-Profile Manager and then press enter.
Creating a new profile: Do the following to create new profile:
1] To start create profile wizard, you have to click on “create profile button” in profile manager
2] Click on the next button and enter profile name. You should be very careful in giving a profile name. Make sure that the profile name is descriptive. You can give your personal name as it isn't exposed on the Web.
3] You are also allowed to select a specific location for storing the profile. This facility is indeed useful if you decide to export your data to another computer. For selecting the storage location, all you have to do is “choose folder” option.
So if you select a custom location for your profile, you must store your profile in a clean or new folder. Now if you want to remove your profile and click on the delete option, all contents that are stored in the folder are deleted.
4] To create new profile, you need to click on Finish button.
5] The new profile will be displayed in profile manager.
How to remove or delete a profile:
1] Go to profile manager, you have to select the profile that you want to remove and then click on “Delete profile option”.
2] A confirmation dialog box asking “Are you sure you want to delete the profile” will appear.
If you select the “don't delete files” option, it will remove the profile from profile manager but will retain your profile data file on your pc in storage folder, hence your information isn't lost.
When you have created a new profile, you should copy all the files inside profile's folder to new profile folder and all your profile information can be restored in new profile. “Delete Files” option completely removes the profile including settings, profile bookmarks and passwords. If you are using the “delete files” option, the profile folder as well as the files will be removed. This action simply cannot be done. To stop the deletion process, you should select the cancel option.
3] Once you delete the profile, you won't be able to see it in profile manager
How to rename a profile:For renaming a profile perform the following steps:
1] In profile manager, choose the profile that you want to rename, then click on “rename profile” button.
2] Give a new name to the profile. Type new profile name and then click on OK button. Note that the profile that contains the files is not renamed.
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