On a chance that you may not be able to sync between 2 or more Brave Browser installations on the same machine . . .
Where stuff is, on your Windows OS PC
The important folder for backup, is named “BraveSoftware” - it is the parent for:
- Brave Browser components that are updated
- your Profile and other settings
When you first install Brave Browser (Windows OS), your initial Profile (aka Profile 1) is contained within the “Default” folder:
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\
Sometimes, you may see the following method of writing a Windows OS path:
NOTE: %LOCALAPPDATA% is a substitute for the beginning portion:
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local
Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak files location:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks.bak
If you create 1 additional Profile (aka Profile 2), it will be stored in (carefully notice the folder name is different):
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
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\
Repeating:
Initial Profile (aka “Default” or “Profile 1”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default
1st Additional Profile (aka “Profile 2”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1
2nd Additional Profile (aka “Profile 3”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\
If you create a Guest Profile (or there already is a Guest Profile), it will be stored in:
C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Guest Profile\
While Brave Browser is NOT running, you may copy the “Bookmarks” and “Bookmarks.bak” files from one user to another user.
Sharing (syncing) passwords
Consider using one of:
- 1Password
- Dashlane
- LastPass
If you search for those online, you will find plenty of webpages offering what we used to call, “password wallets.”
Housekeeping - routines
As a matter of routine, back up your Windows Registry - BEFORE creating a System Restore Point. How to:
"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows-855140ad-e318-2a13-2829-d428a2ab0692
Create a System Restore Point And: Edit its name, to include the date at the beginning of the name (Egs. 20241106_Wed_SysRstrPt_etc) . . . so you can find the specific System Restore Point that you later, suddenly need. How to create a System Restore Point:
“https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-restore-windows-10”
You can use an application named “CCleaner” to police the System Restore Points, deleting old ones.
How to manually back up your Bookmarks as an HTML file:
Two ways to get to the Bookmarks Manager.
One way:
- Launch Brave and open the Main menu:
- Select
Bookmarks --> Bookmarks Manage
- Open the More options menu at the top right
- Select
Export
and choose where you want to store the exported file.
Another way:
- In a new Brave Browser window, go to:
brave://bookmarks
- Locate the “Organize” (vertically-arrayed 3-dot) menu button in the upper-right area of the window; click on that
- You should get a pop-up menu, in which you click on the “Export bookmarks” selection and choose where you want to store the exported file.
The exported file name: “bookmarks.html”
Be sure to store a copy on an external drive.
Back up Passwords that are stored by Brave Browser
Scrolling down the webpage at:
“https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018185951-How-do-I-use-the-built-in-password-manager”
A note states:
" Export Passwords - Selecting Download file will export all credentials you’ve saved in your browser as a .CSV
file onto your system. Note that anyone who has access to your system will be able to open and view this file, so it is recommended that you delete this file once you’ve used the file for its intended purpose."
In order to encrypt that .CSV file:
“https://www.crucial.com/articles/pc-users/how-to-password-protect-a-folder”
“https://nordvpn.com/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-zip-file/”
“https://www.winzip.com/en/features/security/password-protection/”
And be sure to copy that compressed and encrypted file, to an external drive that you safely store.