# Can I save to file FireFox's remembered passwords?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 16, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256 "2009-04-16T01:56:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/1 "2009-04-16T01:56:19Z")

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[**Rhythmdvl** ’s recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=514244) asking about the safety of Firefox’s remembered passwords reminded me of a question I’ve been meaning to ask.

I rely on my computer to remember my passwords and user names for many many websites. There are too many sites I need to register for, all with different usernames and different password rules, to be able to remember them all. To the point where I’m really beholden to Firefox to access the sites.

If my (several year old) PC dies, it will take me a lot of effort to reacquire my usernames and reset my passwords. Can I have the browser save this information to a file, that I can reimport into Firefox on another computer? Failing that, is there one file somewhere in the Firefox settings where this is stored that I could save, and use to overwrite a fresh Firefox install?

I’m on XP, but it’s possible the destination PC would be Vista. Or possibly Linux.

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**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/2 "2009-04-16T02:24:01Z")

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You can do better then just your passwords. You can save all your settings [too](http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing+up+your+information).

My firefox profile has survived several transfers, being used on alternate operating systems, and all sorts of good stuff.

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**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/3 "2009-04-16T03:01:53Z")

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[Password exporter add-in here.](http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/internet/firefox/backup-and-restore-firefox-passwords-list/)

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**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/4 "2009-04-16T04:11:37Z")

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Not sure which version you’re using but in FF3, go to preferences \> security and there is an import/export passwords button.

ETA: Nevermind, that is from the password exporter extension which I must have installed ages ago.

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**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/5 "2009-04-16T08:03:36Z")

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There are two tools that can help you here.

[MozBackup](http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/), which is free, and [Roboform](http://www.roboform.com/), which isn’t, but is a very comprehensive program. They both can password protect your data - which means having to remember only one password.

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**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-to-file-firefoxs-remembered-passwords/493256/6 "2009-04-17T01:08:27Z")

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Thanks everyone. I downloaded password explorer, and that’s what I was looking for. I’m going to try out the MozBackup also, though. Might be even better.