Please determine which Brave Browser (Windows OS) installation that you have, system level or user level:
The following section of info is about, Where the Brave Browser installation usually is - the system level install:
Brave Browser installation location on Windows OS
Application “brave.exe”
64 architecture
C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe
The initial Brave Browser Profile is, by default, named “Profile 1” (unless you change that name → brave://settings/getStarted).
The folder that contains the initial Brave Browser Profile, is the Default folder (a name that you must not change):
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\
That path may also be written:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\
If you create 1 additional Profile (aka “Profile 2”), it will be stored in folder Profile 1:
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1\
If you create a 2nd additional Profile (aka “Profile 3”), it will be stored in folder Profile 2:
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\
IMPORTANT - Replacing Profile folders
When replacing Brave Browser Profile folders:
Folder named Default (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Default.
Folder named Profile 1 (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Profile 1.
Folder named Profile 2 (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Profile 2.
IMPORTANT - Brave Browser Preferences
Some Brave Browser Preferences are stored in the Preferences file:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Preferences
The contents of that Preferences file, are not exactly the contents of, brave://prefs-internals/.
Some Brave Browser Preferences are stored in the Local State file:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Local State
Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak files:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks.bak
Cache (folder):
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Cache\
Cookies (file):
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Cookies
History (file - usually lots of data):
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\History
Crash Reports:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\CrashReports\
But . . . be aware of a custom installation - the user level install:
June 2023, anon57438784 wrote:
Brave uses the OMAHA updater . . .
Brave uses the OMAHA updater, which is open source alternative to what Chrome uses, and probably what Edge uses as well.
OMAHA update can only update in two locations,
Program fileswhen you install with admin rights and%localuserdata%when you install without admin rights, but theUser Datanever changes, it always goes to where it goes.Brave by not having a custom installer, they have the way to use Policies and all that which is good for enterprise, unlike other Browsers.
So, in that case, what you have to move is the
User Data.Brave in their Github page already offers a zipped version of the Browser which doesn’t have the updater, which means you can place it anywhere you want, and then you can create a BAT file [batch file?] or
Shortcutand use whatever directory you want for theUser Data.You can use
--user-data-dir="User Data"and the folder will be placed wherever theBrave.exeyou are starting is.If you want to keep the ‘updater’ but move the files, then you should use
JunctionsorSymbolic Links, which is exactly what Windows users all over Windows, so using them will not cause issues.The best way to use it is by installing Brave without admin rights, so everything
Application,UpdaterandUser Datawill be placed in the same folder, in%localappdata%\BraveSoftwareThen you use move it somewhere else and create the junction or symbolic link to it in the same place so
Updaterand everything works as expected.It is the way Chromium works, this has to be something Chromium offers easier without using the
--user-data-dir=.
Please backup your Brave Browser data.
In the following Windows OS path (Brave Browser system level installation):
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
. . . are the senior containers for contained files and folders (Brave Browser data). Backup of the more senior containers tends to help preserve what is contained.
I backup the BraveSoftware folder. Other Brave Browser (Windows OS) users, recommend/suggest backup of either the Brave-Browser folder or the User Data folder.
Pick any of those three senior containers for backup.
Maintain routine, daily (at a minimum) data backups of the folder you chose. Be sure to run that routine daily backup of data, BEFORE running Brave Browser.
Also be sure, every day, BEFORE running Brave Browser, to create a Windows OS System Restore Point:
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/create-system-restore-point-script-windows-10-8-7-vista-xp/
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/create-system-restore-point-in-windows-11.3602/
(Please bookmark those sites.)
Be Prepared
Some of the reason why I prefer to backup a senior container, has to do with trying to maintain file and folder access permissions; and in general, the integrity of what is contained.
Be sure to study that last link:
Therein, are the following steps for ensuring the file and folder permissions for the Brave Browser (Windows OS) installation.
Backup the Brave Browser data that you have.
Backup that data to a safe location that is NOT within the Brave Browser installation path(s).
Go thru the file and folder permissions - settings - routines.
Exit / Quit everything and restart the computer.
When you run Brave Browser, document everything that you discover - all of your Brave Browser findings:
- take screenshots of ALL settings
- create and ALWAYS maintain in written form (a text file will do), ALL settings
Maintain all of that information in a folder that you also, routinely backup.
Be prepared.