Windows OS > Brave Browser users > User Data tips re backup, permissions, recovering or restoring some of the data:
Windows OS users. Brave Browser data is within the folder and sub-folders of the User Data folder; location:
C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
Also written as:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
Let us say that you have backed up the User Data folder to a safe location - away from the BB installation paths, such as: on an external USB drive.
Next, because of some issue with BB, you decide to set aside the User Data folder - ie remove it from location:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
for the moment, placing that User Data folder on your Windows Desktop; and then Restart the computer; and then Start up Brave Browser . . . BB will create an entirely new User Data folder that will include a fresh, new Default folder:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\
Let us say, that you previously had 2 additional BB user profiles. And, you want to try and restore what you can, from them ← therefore, create 2 new additional BB user profiles ← their respective new folders (Profile 1 folder and Profile 2 folder) will be created at:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1\
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\
From the backup of the User Data folder that you created (and may also located on the external USB drive ← smart move!) -OR- from the User Data folder that you placed on your Windows Desktop . . . and while BB is NOT RUNNING after a Restart of the computer, there are some items that can by drag-copied (I am not a fan of Copy-and-Paste method) from the old (backed up) data location to the new.
SOMETIMES, you might succeed by “simply” replacing the new Default folder with the old ← BUT THAT MAY NOT PRODUCE THE RESULTS THAT YOU WISH.
Of BB PROFILE data, within a BB user’s profile folder, the following list of items, are known for being replaceable - BUT AGAIN, NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS:
BB PROFILE data, within a BB user’s profile folder (Default example):
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default
The following list of items, are known for being replaceable - BUT AGAIN, NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS:
- Bookmarks [JSON file]
- History [SQLite file]
- Login Data [passwords, SQLite file]
- Preferences [majority of browser settings, JSON file]
- Sessions [folder ← do not copy]
- [but you can copy the Sessions and Tabs files:]
- Session file example: “Session_13387619522050810” [SNSS file]
- Tabs file example: “Tabs_13396004968468207” [SNSS file]
- Tops Sites [saved tiles on new tab page, SQLite file]
- Visited Links [binary file]
- Web Data [autofill data, SQLite file]
NOTICE: Re Session_13387619522050810 ← the long string of numbers are a date-and-time stamp. On a MacOS computer, the following command (date -r 13387619522050810) will reveal: Thu Apr 6 12:40:10 EST 424238744
NOTICE: A Profile 1 folder, for example, cannot be replaced by a profile folder of another name (such as Profile 2). Same for the other BB user profile folders. DO NOT CHANGE the BB user’s profile folders names.
NOTICE: The most durable files, are Bookmarks, Bookmarks.bak. They can be copied between the BB user profile folders.
SOMETIMES: A BB user has recovered passwords by using the backed up Login Data file; and sometimes by doing that PLUS using the backed up Local State file; and sometimes by a combination of: Resetting the Brave Browser Settings, using the backed up Login Data file, plus, using the backed up Local State file.
FILE AND FOLDER PERMISSIONS: See https://community.brave.app/t/browser-wont-launch-after-install/606342/18 and https://community.brave.app/t/brave-doesnt-start-when-i-run-it-as-administrator-and-brave-shield-doesnt-work/628494/41