Backup of data that is used frequently is even more necessary. For Internet Surfers, it is essential to keep manage their web browser profile that holds bookmarks, passwords, and history. It may save a lot of time in many scenarios like switching workstations, reinstalling browser or operating system. A possible solution is to use a portable version of the browser which doesn’t require any installation and the user profiles can be carried in a portable device along with browser.
As Chorme is fresh web browser, there is no official portable version available. Even if a portable version is available, the users tend to perform a fresh installation of the application. In order to backup the user profile, bookmarks, passwords, and extensions of Google Chrome browser, following solutions can be used.
The easiest solution to backup everything related to your Chrome profile is to just copy and save your default user data directory. The directory location depends upon your operating system. The locations of default directory can be found here. I backed up the user directory and performed a complete erase of Chrome. After reinstalling, I just over wrote the new user data directory and got back my bookmarks, history, extensions, passwords, theme, and visited links.
Favbackup by FavBrowser is a nice solution to backup the whole user profile of Chrome at once. Alternatively, you can choose the specific user data of Chrome to backup exclusively like bookmarks, cookies, sessions, tabs, extensions, preferences, history, thumbnails and many more. There is also a full backup option which provides a comprehensive Chrome backup. The software is portable and works on Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000. It can be downloaded from developer’s website.
Google Chrome Backup from Parhelia Tools is a free utility to back the user data of Chrome. The backup wizard is pretty simple and guides you to the backup process. The whole user profile can be backed up only although it is possible to save multiple browsing profiles and they can be launched from the process. It also offers the functionality to backup Chromium as well. A single file with .gcb extension is generated and can be restored with ease. The utility is available here.
There are two built-in options in Chrome to hold your Bookmarks solely. The user can synchronize bookmarks with Google Bookmarks account and they can be later retrieved in Chrome. The alternative way is to export bookmarks in an html file using Bookmark Manager. This html file can be used to import bookmarks in Chrome.
Lastpass is an important extension for Chrome which can backup user’s passwords more securely and they can be restored in Chrome or any other supported browser.
ChromePasswordDecryptor is a tool which can be used to recover and backup passwords saved by Chrome password manager. This file can not be restored in Chrome.
There are many solutions to perform Chrome backup but I would vote in the favor of 1st method which copies and replaces the user data directory of Chrome and restores everything. Tell us your experience.
