How to Migrate Browser Profiles to a New Mac

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Close all active browser instances

   Exit Google Chrome or Firefox completely on both your old and new Mac. Press Command + Q to ensure the process is fully terminated; failing to do so may result in file locks or corrupted database migration.

   Note: Command + Q
2. 1 min

   Identify the profile directory on your source Mac

   Open Finder, select Go in the menu bar, and press the Option key to reveal the Library folder. Navigate to Application Support, then locate the folder named Google/Chrome or Firefox/Profiles.

   Note: The Library folder is hidden by default; the Option key is required to view it in the Go menu.
3. 2 min

   Copy the profile folder to external storage

   Copy the entire 'Default' or 'Profiles' folder to an external drive or transfer via AirDrop. Ensure the entire directory structure is preserved, as these folders contain the SQLite databases required for your browser state.

   Note: Verify the file size matches the source to ensure no data loss during the transfer process.
4. 1 min

   Locate the destination path on the new Mac

   Open the browser once on your new Mac to generate the initial file structure, then quit immediately. Navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/ on the new device to prepare the directory.

   Note: Launching the browser once creates the necessary subdirectories for you to replace.
5. 1 min

   Overwrite existing profile data

   Paste your copied folder into the destination directory on the new Mac. When Finder prompts you to replace files, confirm the action to overwrite the empty default profile with your migrated data.

   Note: If prompted for authentication, enter your Mac user password to grant folder permissions.