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The safest way to move a Microsoft Edge profile to another computer is to use Edge Sync. It transfers the data types you select through the same Microsoft account or work/school account, without relying on encrypted files that may only work on the original Windows, macOS, or Linux user account.
Use manual export when you only need favorites or when an organization blocks sync. Copying the entire Edge profile folder is a last-resort recovery technique, not the preferred migration method.
Choose the migration method
| Method | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Edge Sync | Most users and complete migrations | Transfers the selected supported data types after you sign in with the same account. |
| Favorites HTML export | Moving bookmarks only or working without sync | Does not include passwords, history, extensions, cookies, settings, or profile identity. |
| Password CSV export/import | Moving passwords when password sync is unavailable | The CSV is plaintext. Delete it securely after importing. |
| Profile-folder copy | Advanced recovery or a controlled one-off transfer | Some encrypted data may not work on the new computer, and the procedure can overwrite destination data. |
| On-premises sync | Managed Active Directory environments | This is a separate enterprise feature based on profile.pb; it is not ordinary Microsoft-account sync. |
Before you migrate
- Update Edge on both computers if possible. Open Settings and more (…), choose Help and feedback, then About Microsoft Edge. Let Edge check for updates and restart it.
- Identify the profile you actually want to move. In the old Edge window, select the profile icon in the upper-right corner and confirm the profile name and account. Different Edge profiles have separate favorites, history, passwords, autofill data, and extensions.
- Do not delete anything from the old computer yet. If the profile is syncing, deleting synced items on the old computer can delete them from the other synced devices too.
- For a business or school account, check whether your administrator permits synchronization. Policies such as
SyncDisabled,SyncTypesListDisabled,SavingBrowserHistoryDisabled, andForceSynccan change what is available.
Method 1: Migrate the profile with Edge Sync
Cloud sync is the supported consumer migration path. Each category can be enabled separately, so review the settings rather than assuming that every item will transfer.
Turn on sync on the old computer
- Open Edge and switch to the profile you want to migrate.
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Settings, then select Profiles and Sync.
- Turn on the required categories. Current Edge sync categories include favorites, passwords, addresses and more, collections, settings, extensions, open tabs, and history.
- Leave Edge open and connected to the internet long enough for the data to upload. For a large history, favorites collection, or many passwords, allow additional time before moving to the new computer.
Open tabs and history require Edge version 88 or later. Feature usage data requires version 133 or later. Guest and InPrivate browsing data does not sync, although favorites created during InPrivate sessions can sync.
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Sign in and download the data on the new computer
- Install and open Microsoft Edge.
- Select the profile icon in the upper-right corner.
- Choose the same Microsoft account or work/school account used on the old computer. If it is not listed, select Add new account.
- Select Sign in to sync data.
- Open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Profiles > Sync and confirm the required toggles are enabled.
An already signed-in profile shows Manage profile settings instead of the initial sign-in option. If you have multiple Edge profiles, select the correct profile before checking the imported data. You can use edge://settings/profiles to review the profiles installed in Edge.
Check the result
- Open the Favorites menu and Favorites bar.
- Visit
edge://wallet/passwordsor the password settings page and confirm that saved logins are present. Edge may expose the password controls atedge://settings/passwordsin some versions or configurations. - Check Settings > Profiles > Sync rather than assuming a missing item is a synchronization failure. Its category may simply be disabled or restricted by policy.
- Check extensions on
edge://extensions. An extension may reinstall but still require permission approval, repair, or a separate sign-in.
Method 2: Export and import favorites
This method is useful when you only need bookmarks or when cloud sync is unavailable.
Export favorites from the old computer
- Open Edge on the profile containing the favorites.
- Select Settings and more (…) > Favorites > More options (…).
- Choose Export favorites.
- Save the HTML file to a temporary, protected location. Copy it to the new computer using a USB drive or another transfer method.
Import favorites on the new computer
- Open the target Edge profile.
- Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Profiles > Import browser data.
- Under Other import locations, select Import beside Import browser data now.
- In Import from, select Favorites or bookmarks HTML file.
- Select Choose file, select the HTML file, and choose Open.
- Select Done when the import finishes.
Edge normally places imported favorites in a folder on the Favorites bar. The folder may be called Imported. Move or rename the items after checking that the links are present.
Do not import the HTML file and then enable favorites sync unless you intend to reconcile duplicates. Both operations add favorites and can create duplicate folders or bookmarks.
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Method 3: Export and import passwords
Password sync is preferable because synced passwords receive additional device-side encryption before upload. If sync is blocked, Edge can use a password CSV file.
Export passwords from the old computer
- Open the old Edge profile.
- Open the password manager. Depending on the Edge version, use
edge://wallet/passwordsoredge://settings/passwords, or navigate through Settings > Profiles > Passwords. - Use the page’s menu to choose the export option and confirm with your operating-system sign-in if prompted.
- Save the CSV temporarily in a protected location, then transfer it to the new computer.
Edge may require your Windows, macOS, or Linux account authentication before exporting. If the export option is hidden, an Edge version or organization policy may control its availability.
Import the password CSV
- Open the destination Edge profile.
- Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Profiles > Import browser data.
- Under Other import locations, select Import beside Import passwords now.
- In Import from, select Passwords CSV file.
- Select Choose file, select the CSV file, and choose Open.
- Select Done, then check several imported entries.
A password CSV is plaintext: anyone who obtains it can read every username and password. Do not leave it in Downloads, email it to yourself, or store it in an unprotected shared folder. After verifying the import, delete the CSV from both computers and empty the recycle bin or trash. If the file was exposed, change the affected passwords.
Method 4: Copy the Edge profile folder
Copying Edge’s files can preserve more local state than an HTML export, but it is not a dependable way to transfer protected credentials or active website sessions. Use it only when sync and individual exports are unsuitable, and make a backup before replacing anything.
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Find the exact profile folder
- In the old Edge profile, open
edge://version. - Find the displayed Profile path. Use that path to identify the profile instead of guessing from names such as
DefaultorProfile 1.
Typical user-data locations are:
| Operating system | Typical location |
|---|---|
| Windows | %LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftEdgeUser Data |
| macOS | /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Microsoft Edge |
| Linux | /home/<username>/.config/microsoft-edge |
On Windows, the first profile is usually Default and later ones are usually Profile 1, Profile 2, and so on. Those names are not a reliable substitute for checking edge://version.
Windows replacement procedure
- Close every Edge window on both computers.
- On Windows, open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc. End remaining
msedge.exeprocesses if Edge files are still locked. Startup boost and background extensions can leave Edge processes running. - On the new computer, open
%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftEdge. - Rename the existing
User Datafolder to something such asUser Data - backup. Do not delete it until the new profile works. - Copy the old computer’s complete
User Datafolder into%LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftEdge. - Start Edge and verify each profile, favorites, history, extensions, and settings.
- If Edge behaves incorrectly, close it and restore the backed-up destination folder.
Copying the complete User Data directory also copies the Local State file, which contains profile metadata such as profile names and related settings. Copying only one profile directory can lose that profile-picker metadata and may make the result confusing.
Profile-folder copying commonly preserves favorites and history and may preserve extensions, extension data, preferences, and profile structure. Cookies, site sessions, payment data, saved passwords, and sign-in tokens may fail because they are protected by the original operating-system user context or keychain. Windows commonly uses DPAPI; macOS may use Keychain; Linux may use the system keyring. For that reason, use Edge Sync or password CSV import for credentials rather than relying on copied files.
Active Directory on-premises sync
Managed organizations may use Edge’s separate on-premises sync feature for profiles associated with an Active Directory account. It stores supported profile data in profile.pb, normally under:
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%APPDATA%MicrosoftEdgeThe RoamingProfileSupportEnabled policy enables this feature, and RoamingProfileLocation can change the file’s location. Microsoft supports roaming only the profile.pb file for this scenario. Roaming other files or folders, including %LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftEdge, is unsupported and can cause unexpected behavior.
This mechanism is not the normal consumer Microsoft-account migration method. It also is not designed for simultaneous use on multiple computers. Edge locks profile.pb; sharing the same file can allow only one Edge instance at a time, and changes from one computer can overwrite changes from another.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing appears after signing in | Wrong account or wrong Edge profile | Check the avatar, account type, edge://settings/profiles, and the Sync page. |
| Favorites appear twice | Favorites were imported and then synced | Keep one set, remove duplicates, and avoid running both migration methods unnecessarily. |
| Passwords did not survive a folder copy | Encryption is tied to the old operating-system account or keychain | Use password sync or export/import a password CSV. |
| Some categories are missing | The category toggle is off or an administrator blocked it | Review Profiles > Sync and contact the organization administrator if the control is unavailable. |
| Extensions are present but do not work | Permissions, sign-in, repair, or device-specific extension data is required | Open edge://extensions, approve permissions, repair the extension, and sign in again where necessary. |
| Files cannot be copied | Edge or a background process is still running | Close Edge and end remaining msedge.exe processes in Task Manager before copying. |
What not to do
- Do not assume that copying the
Defaultfolder moves the profile you want. Confirm the path throughedge://version. - Do not describe a copied
User Datadirectory as a fully supported roaming method for Active Directory on-premises sync. Microsoft limits that supported scenario toprofile.pb. - Do not expect Guest or InPrivate history, cookies, or sessions to migrate through sync.
- Do not remove the old profile immediately after seeing a few synced items. Verify favorites, passwords, addresses, extensions, history, collections, and open tabs first.
- Do not keep an exported password CSV after migration.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to move an Edge profile to another computer?
Use Edge Sync. On the old computer, open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Profiles > Sync and enable the required categories. On the new computer, sign in to Edge using the same Microsoft account or work/school account and select Sign in to sync data.
Does Edge Sync transfer passwords?
Yes, if Passwords is enabled and synchronization is allowed for the profile. Password sync is safer than copying profile files because synced passwords receive additional device-side encryption.
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Can I copy the Edge Default folder to move my profile?
You can copy Edge profile data as an advanced, unsupported workaround, but Default may not be the profile you want. Use edge://version to find the exact Profile path. Also expect protected passwords, cookies, and website sessions to fail on another computer.
Does exporting Edge favorites also export passwords and history?
No. The favorites HTML export contains favorites or bookmarks only. Passwords, history, cookies, extensions, settings, and profile identity require another migration method.
Where does Edge put imported favorites?
Edge normally places them in a folder on the Favorites bar. The folder may be named Imported.
Why are some Edge sync options missing?
The category may be disabled in the profile, unsupported by an older Edge version, or restricted by an organization policy. Work and school administrators can restrict synchronization and individual sync types.
Will Edge Sync move InPrivate or Guest browsing data?
No. Guest and InPrivate browsing data does not sync. Favorites created during InPrivate sessions are an exception and can sync across signed-in Edge versions.
Can two computers use the same on-premises Edge roaming file at once?
No. Microsoft’s on-premises sync mechanism locks profile.pb and does not support safe simultaneous editing from multiple computers. One computer’s changes can overwrite another’s.
The Bottom Line
For a normal migration, enable the required categories under Settings and more (…) > Settings > Profiles > Sync, then sign in to the same account on the new computer. Use HTML export for favorites and CSV import for passwords only when sync is unavailable. Treat full profile-folder copying as a backup or recovery technique, and never assume that encrypted credentials and website sessions will work after the copy.
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