This folder just appeared in my Brave folder, does anyone know what it is?
Along with it came this event in the event log
The following, is information, intended to help you get oriented where Brave Browser is, on your Windows OS PC.
Please determine which installation that you have:
The following info is about, Where the Brave Browser installation usually is - the system level install - 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\
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.
Windows OS System Restore Points:
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.)
Be Prepared
I would routinely back up the “BraveSoftware” folder; but you might routinely back up the “Brave-Browser” folder or the “User Data” folder
Windows OS:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
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:
I was more so confused about the folder that is named like an IP address, not sure what that one is but it contains Chrome stuff.
The 135.1.77.95 folder
That is probably for Brave Browser journaling; IIRC, it is referred to as a Snapshot folder. Possibly related to the Restore button in a prompt that may occur, after some glitch or irregular close/exit/quit of Brave Browser.
Location:
C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Snapshots
By the way, please edit your Original Post (“OP”) above, in order to include:
- Brave Browser version numbers
- Operating System version numbers