How to set up and manage an automated backup for your browser profiles and extensions

Backup & Storage KB-651

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to set up and manage an automated backup for your browser profiles and extensions. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Quick Tip: Need immediate assistance? 💻 Open a Ticket

Common Causes

Your web browser stores more than just your history; it holds critical business data including saved passwords, complex extension configurations, and autofill forms. By enabling automated syncing, you ensure that your digital workspace remains consistent across multiple devices and is protected against hardware failure or accidental deletion.

Quick Fix Steps

For most users, the fastest way to secure your browser data is to sign in with a cloud account:

Google Chrome: Sign in with your Google Account and enable Sync.
Microsoft Edge: Sign in with your Microsoft/Office 365 account and turn on Sync.
Mozilla Firefox: Create or sign in to a Firefox Account.

Detailed Instructions

Google Chrome

Open Chrome and click the Profile icon in the top right corner.
Select Turn on sync....
Sign in with your Google account credentials.
When prompted, click Yes, I'm in to begin syncing data.
To manage what is backed up, go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services > Manage what you sync.
Select Sync everything or choose specific items like Bookmarks, Extensions, and Settings.

Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the Profile icon in the top left or right corner.
Select Sign in to sync data.
Enter your Microsoft account details.
Navigate to Settings > Profiles > Sync.
Toggle the switches for the data you wish to automate, including Open tabs, Extensions, and Passwords.

Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right.
Select Sign In to Firefox.
Once signed in, click the Menu button again and select Settings.
Navigate to the Sync panel.
Check the boxes for the data you want to backup, such as Add-ons, Bookmarks, and Settings.

Pro Tip: If you use a password manager (like Bitwarden or LastPass), we recommend disabling the browser's native password sync to centralise your security in one encrypted vault.

Manual Backup of Profile Folders

If you prefer not to use cloud syncing, you can manually backup your profile directory to an external drive or network share. This is a useful supplement to your general data backup strategy, similar to how to backup photos to external drive.

Locating Profile Paths

Chrome: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
Edge: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default
Firefox: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles/

Close your browser completely.
Press Win + R, paste the path for your browser, and press Enter.
Copy the Default or profile folder to your secure backup location.

Warning: Manual backups of profile folders do not encrypt your passwords. If you copy these folders to an unencrypted drive, anyone with access to those files may be able to access your browser data.

Troubleshooting Sync Issues

Sync is stuck or "Paused"

Check Connection: Ensure your internet connection is stable.
Re-authenticate: Sign out of your browser profile and sign back in to refresh the security token.
Update Browser: Ensure you are on the latest version by going to Help > About.

Extensions not appearing on new devices

Verify that Extensions is checked in your sync settings.
Note that some extensions require a separate login or a manual license activation even after the extension itself has synced.

If you are unable to resolve a sync conflict or need assistance setting up a company-wide browser policy, please Open a Ticket.

Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

💻 Open a Ticket