LibreWolf for Windows
Private, telemetry‑free browser — unofficial installer

Profile & Location

Quick answer: Installed LibreWolf stores profiles in %APPDATA%\LibreWolf by default. Portable builds keep the profile inside the portable directory so you can run LibreWolf without touching the host system. Read below for exact paths, how to locate your active profile, and safe backup/migration steps.

Default profile locations (Windows)

Depending on build type, LibreWolf stores user data in different locations. Use the correct path for backups or migration.

Installed build (recommended location)

%APPDATA%\LibreWolf\Profiles\

Example full path: C:\Users\Alice\AppData\Roaming\LibreWolf\Profiles\abcdefgh.default

Portable build

\Path\To\LibreWolf-Portable\Profile\ or \Path\To\LibreWolf-Portable\Data\

Portable packages place the profile inside the distribution folder; some portable bundles use a "Data" folder. Check the README provided with the portable build.

How to find the active profile

  1. Open LibreWolf and in the address bar type about:profiles.
  2. Inspect the "Root Directory" for the profile marked as "Default" — this is the active folder.
  3. From there, you can open the folder or copy its path for backup.

Backing up a profile (safe method)

  1. Close LibreWolf completely (check Task Manager for background processes).
  2. Copy the entire profile folder (the parent of places.sqlite, extensions, etc.) to a safe location or external drive.
  3. If restoring later, copy the folder back to the appropriate path and ensure correct permissions.

Migrating portable → installed (step-by-step)

  1. Close all LibreWolf instances.
  2. Copy the portable profile folder to %APPDATA%\LibreWolf\Profiles\ (create the directory if it doesn’t exist).
  3. Start LibreWolf with the Profile Manager: librewolf.exe -ProfileManager and create/select the migrated profile or edit profiles.ini to point to the folder.
  4. Verify bookmarks, extensions and settings. Some extensions may need re-authentication.

Permissions and antivirus considerations

When moving profiles or running portable builds from removable media, ensure the OS and antivirus allow LibreWolf to read/write profile files. Some AV products may quarantine portable executables or block profile writes — whitelist the folder if needed.

Enterprise & centralized profile management

For enterprise deployments, prefer the installer and use Windows group policies or management tools. You can pre-populate profiles, lock certain preferences, and distribute extensions centrally. See Install guide for automation tips (winget, silent installs).

Troubleshooting profile issues

  • If LibreWolf fails to start, try launching with a new profile to confirm corruption: librewolf.exe -ProfileManager.
  • If bookmarks or history are missing, check whether you're using a different profile or backup the original before overwriting.
  • Permissions errors: ensure the user account owns files and folders (adjust ACLs or run as administrator briefly for migration tasks).

Quick links