Backing up Firefox isn’t just “save bookmarks.” If you ever lose a profile, reinstall macOS, or Firefox resets itself, you’ll want a backup plan for bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs.
Below is a mobile-first approach (quick protection even if you’re away from your Mac), then the more complete Mac steps.
Before you start: if you suspect your account was compromised, change your Firefox Account password first—then back up.
1. Mobile-first: turn on Firefox Sync (fastest safety net)
If you already use Firefox on iPhone/iPad, Sync is the quickest “backup” you can enable from anywhere.
- On iPhone/iPad: open Firefox → Settings → Sign in to Sync (or your account name).
- Turn on syncing for what you care about: Bookmarks, Passwords, Open Tabs, History.
- Give it a minute on Wi‑Fi, then check that your devices show up under your Sync settings.
This doesn’t replace a local backup (especially if you want a point-in-time snapshot), but it prevents most “I lost everything” moments.
2. Mobile-first: save critical logins outside the browser (optional, but smart)
If passwords are the biggest risk for you, consider having a second copy in a dedicated password manager.
- If you use iCloud Keychain or a password manager app, confirm it’s enabled and syncing.
- If you rely on Firefox’s built-in passwords, make sure Sync includes Passwords.
Think of this as redundancy. Two independent systems is usually safer than one.
Now for the Mac steps (this is where you get a true, restorable backup).
3. Mac: export bookmarks to an HTML file (quick, portable)
This is the easiest “offline” backup and works even if you switch browsers later.
- In Firefox on your Mac, open the Library: Bookmarks → Manage Bookmarks (or press Option+Command+B).
- Choose Import and Backup → Export Bookmarks to HTML…
- Save it somewhere you’ll remember (and ideally also to iCloud Drive/Dropbox).
Tip: name it with a date, like firefox-bookmarks-2026-01-22.html.
4. Mac: export passwords (only if you can store the file safely)
Password exports are useful—but the exported file can expose your logins if it’s mishandled.
- In Firefox, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Passwords → Saved Passwords.
- Use the menu (three dots) to Export Logins (wording can vary by version).
- Store the export in an encrypted place (for example, an encrypted disk image), and delete any loose copies (including your Downloads folder).
If you already use a password manager, importing there is usually safer than keeping a CSV around.
5. Mac: back up your entire Firefox profile (the most complete option)
If you want a real restore point (extensions, settings, containers, site data), back up the profile folder.
- In Firefox, type about:support in the address bar.
- Find Profile Folder and click Show in Finder.
- Quit Firefox completely (Firefox menu → Quit Firefox).
- In Finder, copy the entire profile folder to an external drive or a secure cloud folder.
If you want extra safety, compress the folder first (right-click → Compress) so it’s a single archive you can date and store.
6. Mac: use Time Machine for automatic, versioned backups
If you have Time Machine set up, it’s an excellent “set it and forget it” way to keep historical copies.
- Open System Settings → General → Time Machine (path may vary by macOS version).
- Add a backup disk and let it run.
- After your first backup, your Firefox profile gets captured as part of normal system backups.
If you ever need to restore, you can bring back the profile folder from a specific date.
Final thoughts
For most people, the best combo is: Sync on mobile for day-to-day safety, plus a profile-folder copy or Time Machine on Mac for a true restore point.
If you do just one thing today, turn on Sync—then schedule the full profile backup when you’re back at your Mac.