Always Be Prepared
Backup the User Data folder, or the Brave-Browser folder, or the BraveSoftware folder. In other words, backup the parent, or grandparents - the senior container.
Some of the reason why, has to do with trying to maintain file and folder access permissions; and in general, the integrity of what is contained.
To be safe, establish a routine for creating Windows OS System Restore Points.
Create a new System Restore Point before each experiment. Document each - maintain a handwritten log ← you will be glad you did.
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/
Bookmark those sites.
The following info is about, Where the Brave Browser installation is, on a Windows OS PC:
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\
Be aware of a custom installation:
June 2023, anon57438784 wrote:
“Custom installation folder - #4 by anon57438784”
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 files when you install with admin rights and %localuserdata% when you install without admin rights, but the User Data never 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 Shortcut and use whatever directory you want for the User Data.
You can use --user-data-dir="User Data" and the folder will be placed wherever the Brave.exe you are starting is.
If you want to keep the ‘updater’ but move the files, then you should use Junctions or Symbolic 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, Updater and User Data will be placed in the same folder, in %localappdata%\BraveSoftware
Then you use move it somewhere else and create the junction or symbolic link to it in the same place so Updater and everything works as expected.
It is the way Chromium works, this has to be something Chromium offers easier without using the --user-data-dir=.