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I am reinstalling my OS and I would like to keep the list of installed extensions, bookmarks and other customizations in my Google Chrome browser.
How can I re-create the setup on the new system?
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I am reinstalling my OS and I would like to keep the list of installed extensions, bookmarks and other customizations in my Google Chrome browser.
How can I re-create the setup on the new system?
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Bon Gart's answer explains the native way to do it, which only involves signing into your Google account. However, if you don't want to sign up with Google, or store your data with them, you can easily go ahead and archive your profile folder.
It's stored in the following location:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/
~/.config/google-chrome/
All you have to do is:
User Data
folder contents somewhere safeUser Data
folder over the existing one in your new OS installation* I'd advise to install exactly the same version of Chrome though. If you install an older version, your profile will not be readable. Also, when switching OS, this method might not work.
1I did it successfully with the entire User Data folder between two XP systems, but I'm pretty sure I copied extraneous info. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-05T15:07:46.130
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Re-Packaging as .crx: For a more compact version of your extensions (rather than the unpacked, folder version), you can use Chrome to re-package them into .crx files. I use this when I notice I still have an extension that is no longer available on the Chrome Web Store, and therefore will not sync back.
Tools > Extensions
Developer Mode
Pack extension...
Extension Root Directory
User Data
folder you copied (refer to slhck's answer).OK
.
Private File Key
is optional (as it states). Pack Extension
Voilá! Your new .crx file is in the same directory as the folder it was derived from. By the way, ever since a recent Google Chrome update, you have to open Tools > Extensions
and drag your .crx file into the window to install 3rd party extensions (ie. not from Chrome Web Store).
*I just discovered this today and thought it would be helpful.
EDIT: One last piece of information is the means of identifying the extension. Somewhere within the extension folder (likely named something like: apjhdoaiejppfmijnkopdcpjcngdlfvj
) you will find images that will contain the image for the extension's icon. This is the best way I know of to figure out what's what.
Can this still be used to Backup and Restore Extensions given new Chrome 44 locks a lot of things down?
12nd way to identify extension folder is to enable developer mode in chrome extension web-page then you will see the ID of extension, which actually is the name of the extension folder :) – JerryGoyal – 2015-10-30T08:17:44.977
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First, you make sure you are logged in to your Chrome Browser. You know, click the wrench, and look for where it tells you that you are signed in. If you are not, you need to do so.
Chrome will sync and backup a buttload of stuff for you.
chrome://settings/personal
Put that in your browser, or just click the wrench, settings, and Personal Stuff. The first option, Sign in... has an Advanced Button. Click that to see exactly what gets synchronized to Google. Or click that to decide what you want to sync.
So, really... anywhere you install Chrome, if you sign in as you, will give you access to all the goodies you have now.
EDIT
And yes, I tested this myself. Just now. Opened up one of the other computers, installed Chrome on it, signed into it, and watched my extensions get added before my eyes (the ones that show on the start page), and my bookmarks are there, etc.
… which of course only works if you have a Google account &&
want to store your data with them :) – slhck – 2012-05-05T14:20:09.980
@slhck that is a most excellent point. Granted, one could always sign up for a Google account just for this purpose, and ignore all the other services that they offer. But, that would mean just another account to keep track of. Then again, having that extra account could be considered a valid trade off for the benefit of being able to sync your Chrome settings easily across any computer you use Chrome on. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-05T14:32:02.260
Couldn't agree more. I think this is one of the most convenient features they offer! I'm pretty sure though that a simple profile backup would fulfill the same purpose if it's really just about migrating to a new computer. – slhck – 2012-05-05T14:34:28.200
Yes, and they do have the feature to Import bookmarks and some of those settings from another browser, but not to easily Export those settings locally. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-05T14:35:16.077
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it suffice to just archive the Default profile in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data
? – slhck – 2012-05-05T14:36:19.773
.... running out of machines to install Chrome on.... lol... oops, gotta close the current session to be able to copy it... – Bon Gart – 2012-05-05T14:45:04.130
@slhck you are not wrong. Worked like a charm. Different machine, new Chrome install... account by the same name though, although I doubt that would have made a difference. So, you should drop an answer in here with that, since it works, and doesn't require signing up for anything. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-05T14:51:43.607
Well thanks for acting as a human guinea pig! Posted the answer :) – slhck – 2012-05-05T15:02:43.923
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I was able to backup my bookmarks to an .HTML file. It was pretty straight forward and worked well.
Hope this helps.
Bookmarks Export in Google Chrome
(1). Go to your bookmarks manager page.
chrome://bookmarks/
(2). On the right-hand side of the page click on the ellipse button
(...)
, thenExport bookmarks
.(3). Save the .HTML file to a file directory of your choosing. (HINT- I saved in Dropbox so I can easily access it from another PC and can recover the bookmarks.)
(4). Then double-click the file, and all the webpages you have saved to your bookmarks will open in the web browser. You can open the file in any browser (I tested... CHROME | IE), and it is a very nice format that you can see all the favorited website.
The Exported File
My filepath: bookmarks_google-chrome-(20190116).html
C:\Users\[myUserName]\Dropbox\[myRootFolder]\Google Chrome\bookmarks_google-chrome-(20190116).html
My file opened in the IE browser:
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I think reinstallation is required for extensions since Chrome/Chromium/Canary is updated in an orderly manner.
There is an extension to preserve names and links of extensions installed priorly.
Likewise, bookmark export option is present. Just Google it.
What's your OS and do you just want to keep a list or actually copy your settings as they were? – slhck – 2012-05-05T12:28:11.547