[Feature] Backup/Restore local folder from Chrome/Brave

[LF76]

Playing around with Metamask, it seems this method would work to backup or export the account & settings to another computer. I tested with mine, but can't guarantee it would work in other systems. I'm using the Brave Browser on Win7-32 bits, I think it would work on Chrome too.

If it would work as expected, could Metamask add an option to export/import this zipped folder? It would be very convenient, at least to save all the time, to import all tokens and settings again.

Also, with the due security measures, it could be sent to a cloud. Maybe encrypted inside Metamask before sending it.

Anyway, here it goes, all the process:

---

1-Click on Metamask and on the popup window, click on the 3 dots and 'Expand View'. It will open a new tab with this page (possibly, the url may change eventually):
chrome-extension://nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn/home.html

2- Now open a file manager or Window Explorer and go to c:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings

In that folder, copy the folder nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn. It's the same name as in the URL we saw in the previous step. Backup this folder and copy it into a flashdrive.

3- In your other PC, install the same browser and Metamask. Close the browser and look for the same folder as in the step 2, the nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn. Now plug in your flashdrive and overwrite the folder in this PC with the content from the flashdrive.

4- Open the browser again, and check Metamask. It should ask for the same password from the older PC, and it will open with all accounts and tokens from the backup.

Hope it works. I hope also it can work with other browsers mixed (Chrome/Brave) and diff. systems (Linux/Mac/Win)

[bdresser]

Relates to #1459

[LF76]

Just to complement the idea, the strategy works if you move the folder from Windows to Linux (tested with Ubuntu 18).

In Ubuntu the folder is located at ~/.config/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default/Local Extension Settings/nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn. I think it would be similar form Chrome as well.

[leafcutterant]

This would be sorely needed, would be helpful in situations like this.

Since you closed the other relevant issue (#2340) without explanation, could you at least tell where Metamask stores its data within the Firefox profile folder? @bdresser please?

[rekmarks]

For the benefit of anyone looking at this issue:

We have not recently discussed backup and restore for local user data, but you can extract your persisted user data following the instructions in this support article: https://metamask.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015289832-How-to-Download-State-Logs-

Once you've downloaded your state logs, you can explore them using this completely client-side web app: https://metamask.github.io/state-log-explorer/

[leafcutterant]

@rekmarks Are you sure that is the article you wanted to link? It describes state logs.

[rekmarks]

@leafcutterant, yeah, that was my intention. If there's any data you want to extract from your MetaMask instance, for any reason, you can grab the state logs. Although it's not a substitute for a backup/restore feature, it may be helpful to someone reading this issue until we are able to ship that feature.

[leafcutterant]

@rekmarks okay, I see now. Though why can't the user copy a set of folders and files, and paste it in the right location to restore a Metamask vault?

[rekmarks]

I've never tried it, but that could very well work!

[leafcutterant]

Well I tried it a few times and it didn't work, but it could be because I copied the wrong files and folders. Thus my question above. I hoped that Bobby, you or someone on the team knows where the data is actually located. It shouldn't be hard, but so far I failed to pinpoint it.

[tmashuang]

You can push feature requests over to our ZenDesk so the team can keep closer eyes on all suggestions / requests.

[leafcutterant]

@tmashuang if you close it, at least push it over yourself. Metamask maintainers rarely ever solve anything users bring up, they just ignore or close the issue. Last time issues were closed because they were too old. Now it's because you jump platforms.

[rekmarks]

@leafcutterant, I truly, truly wish we could be more responsive and implement more features requested by our users, but constraints on our time and resources prevent us from doing so.

I'll make sure that this feature request is documented internally. Thank you for speaking up.