Backing up Firefox’s ‘about:config’ settings

Posted on 5 January, 2008
This item is filed under [Browsers Tricks]

If you have ever used the ‘about:config‘ screen in Firefox, then you would know that it is quite similar to the Windows’ Registry, for, it contains important information and settings. Fiddling with about:config, without knowing what you are doing could adversely affect Firefox. Of course, it may not be as catastrophic as when you mess up with your Windows’ Registry.

Nevertheless, if you have customized your Firefox about:config to suit your needs, then it would be a good idea to back it up regularly, so that the next time you play with it and happen to screw it up, you could easily replace it with the back up copy.
Here is how you can back up the about:config settings.
  • First close down Firefox if it is running.
  • Go to Start>Run and type %appdata%\mozilla\firefox\profiles and hit <Enter>.
  • The resulting explorer window that opens will contain a folder with a peculiar name like ud732v0a.default. The actual folder name that you see will most probably be different, but the name will resemble something like this.
about-config-prefs.jpg
  • Open the above folder and among other files you will find a file called prefs.js. This is the file we are looking for. Just copy it to a safe location. Should you mess up something in ‘about:config’, simply close Firefox and copy the backup of prefs.js back to its original location.
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{ 3 trackbacks }

Links from January 8th 2008 to February 21st 2008 | Chandrasekhar Vallabhaneni
February 22, 2008 at 6:01 am
How to restore Firefox about:config default settings
June 11, 2009 at 3:22 am
How To Backup And Restore Your Firefox about:config Settings | PCMech
August 20, 2009 at 10:42 am

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 cris June 9, 2009 at 7:25 am

hey do you know how to restore the settings in about:config cause i messed up pls email me the answer

Reply

2 suresh June 11, 2009 at 3:27 am

@Cris: I have written a post on how to restore about:config default settings. Let me know if it helps you.
http://www.dq.winsila.com/internet/how-to-restore-firefox-aboutconfig-default-settings.html

Reply

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