Session Management

Sessions persist across browser restarts. Your cookies, local storage, and browsing data stay intact. Here's how to manage it properly.

How Profile Data Persists

Each profile stores data in its own isolated directory. No cross-contamination between profiles.

Stored data includes:

• Cookies: Authentication tokens, preferences, tracking cookies
• Local Storage: Key-value data stored by websites
• Session Storage: Temporary data cleared on browser close
• IndexedDB: Large structured data (databases)
• Cache: Images, scripts, stylesheets for faster loading
• Service Workers: Background scripts for offline functionality
• Extensions: Installed extensions and their data
• Bookmarks & History: Your browsing records

Default storage location per OS:

Cookie Management

Cookies are the most important session data. They store login tokens, preferences, and tracking info.

Viewing Cookies: Right-click in your profile browser → Inspect → Application tab → Cookies. You'll see all cookies for the current site.

Exporting Cookies: Profile Settings → Data Management → Export Cookies. Saves as JSON. Useful for backing up logged-in sessions.

Importing Cookies: Profile Settings → Data Management → Import Cookies. Load saved cookies to restore sessions without re-logging in.

Cookie types:

• Session Cookies: Expire when you close the browser. Temporary.
• Persistent Cookies: Have expiration dates (days, months, years). Stay after browser closes.
• HttpOnly Cookies: Not accessible via JavaScript. Used for authentication to prevent XSS.
• Secure Cookies: Only sent over HTTPS. Can't be intercepted on HTTP.

Sites use cookies to track device persistence. If you clear cookies between sessions, sites see you as a new device. That triggers account verification or flags.

Local Storage and IndexedDB

Local Storage is key-value storage. Sites use it for preferences, cached data, and sometimes tracking.

View it: Inspect → Application tab → Local Storage. You'll see data organized by domain.

IndexedDB is more powerful. It's a full database in your browser. Sites use it for offline functionality, large datasets, and complex state.

Both persist between sessions automatically. You don't need to manage them manually unless:

• A site breaks due to corrupted data (clear and reload)
• You're testing from a fresh state (clear to simulate new user)
• You're migrating profiles between machines (export and import)

Cache Management

The cache stores images, scripts, and styles. It makes sites load faster on repeat visits.

Cache size grows over time. A heavily-used profile can accumulate 200-500MB of cached data.

Manual Cache Clear: Profile Settings → Data Management → Clear Cache. Frees up disk space. Doesn't affect cookies or login sessions.

Automatic Cache Management: Enable "Auto-clear cache on exit" in profile settings. Keeps disk usage low. Slightly slower initial page loads.

Don't clear cache too aggressively. Sites track cache patterns. If you always load fresh images (no cache hits), you look like a bot.

Cloud Sync for Team Profiles

Team and Enterprise plans include cloud sync. Your profile data syncs across machines.

How it works:

1. You make changes in a profile (login, save bookmarks, install extension)
2. Data syncs to cloud on browser close (encrypted)
3. Other team members get updates next time they launch the profile
4. Conflicts are resolved automatically (last-write-wins)

What syncs:

• Cookies and local storage
• Bookmarks and history
• Installed extensions
• Form autofill data
• Open tabs (if enabled)

What doesn't sync:

• Cache (too large, always fresh)
• Downloads folder
• Temporary files

Sync happens automatically. You can force sync: Profile Settings → Cloud Sync → Sync Now. Takes 2-10 seconds depending on data size.

Profile Data Backup

Back up critical profiles. Hardware fails. Accounts get lost.

Full Profile Backup: Profile Settings → Backup → Export Full Profile. Creates a .zip with all data. Usually 100-500MB per profile.

Store backups securely. They contain:

• Login cookies (anyone with the backup can access your accounts)
• Saved passwords (if browser password manager is used)
• Payment autofill data
• Browsing history

Encrypt backups with 7-Zip or VeraCrypt. Use strong passwords. Don't store backups in Dropbox or Google Drive unencrypted.

Session Cleanup Strategies

Clean sessions periodically to prevent data bloat and reduce fingerprinting surface.

Conservative (Recommended):

• Keep cookies forever
• Clear cache monthly
• Keep history for 30 days
• Backup profiles monthly

Aggressive (Privacy-Focused):

• Clear cache on exit
• Keep cookies for critical sites only
• Clear history weekly
• Rotate profiles quarterly

Paranoid (Maximum Security):

• Clear everything on exit
• Don't persist any data
• Re-login every session
• Delete profiles after use

Pick based on your risk tolerance. E-commerce sellers should use Conservative. Privacy researchers should use Aggressive.

Troubleshooting Session Issues

Logged out after profile restart: Cookies were cleared. Check profile settings → Data Management → "Clear cookies on exit" is disabled.

Site says "Please enable cookies": Cookie blocking is too aggressive. Disable third-party cookie blocking for that site.

Profile data not syncing: Check cloud sync status in profile settings. Verify your subscription includes sync. Force sync manually.

Profile growing too large: Clear cache and old history. Export and re-import to compact database.