update readme

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Tomas Mirchev 2025-10-19 01:03:00 +02:00
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README.md
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@ -3,41 +3,46 @@
## Quick: Manual intervention
When opening the browser using the backup, these are the only need actions:
- brave://settings/getStarted
- Get started > On startup > Open the New Tab Page
- Get started > On startup > Open the New Tab Page
- brave://settings/search
- Set Search engine
- Set Search engine
## Explanation
Goal: Backup Brave Settings while disabling unnecessary features.
Resources at:
- Brave: https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/360039248271-Group-Policy
- Google: https://chromeenterprise.google/intl/en_us/policies/
### Using Group-Based Policies (GBP)
There are two groups:
- Mandatory (system-wide) <- use this one
- Stored at `/Library/Managed Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist`
- It is an editable file. This tool can be used too `PlistBuddy`
- Commands:
```
sudo mkdir -p "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chown root:wheel "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chmod 755 "/Library/Managed Preferences"
# Run this see the effect
sudo killall cfprefsd
```
- Recommended (user-level)
- Stored at: `~/Library/Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist`
- It is a binary and can be used via:
- `defaults read com.brave.Browser`
- `defaults delete com.brave.Browser`
- `defaults write com.brave.Browser DefaultSearchProviderEnabled -bool true`
- `defaults import com.brave.Browser ./com.brave.Browser.plist`
- Mandatory (system-wide) <- use this one
- Stored at `/Library/Managed Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist`
- It is an editable file. This tool can be used too `PlistBuddy`
- Commands:
```
sudo mkdir -p "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chown root:wheel "/Library/Managed Preferences"
sudo chmod 755 "/Library/Managed Preferences"
# Run this see the effect
sudo killall cfprefsd
```
- Recommended (user-level)
- Stored at: `~/Library/Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist`
- It is a binary and can be used via:
- `defaults read com.brave.Browser`
- `defaults delete com.brave.Browser`
- `defaults write com.brave.Browser DefaultSearchProviderEnabled -bool true`
- `defaults import com.brave.Browser ./com.brave.Browser.plist`
Some policies only work if the instance is managed via MDM.
Because of that, we have to rely on preferences too.
@ -47,11 +52,13 @@ Because of that, we have to rely on preferences too.
This method is not recommened neither is documented; however, there is no other alternative.
Whenever the browser is opened for the first time, this dir is created and populated:
- `~/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser`
Note: For testing purposes, after everything is backed up, feel free to completely delete it.
Inside, there are four main files:
- `Brave-Browser/First Run` (empty file used as flag to skip "Welcome page")
- `Brave-Browser/Local State`
- `Brave-Browser/<Default_or_Profile>/Preferences`
@ -65,6 +72,7 @@ These hashes change based on the machine, so be aware.
## How does the backup work?
There are a few files:
```
.
├── _assets All settings.
@ -88,6 +96,7 @@ There are a few files:
```
First, make sure to delete these files:
```
rm -rf ./assets
rm -rf '~/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser'
@ -119,82 +128,93 @@ following the structure `./brave_debug.sh <command> <checkpoint_name>`.
## All preferences files
- "Brave-Browser/Local State"
- Create empty file "Brave-Browser/First Run"
- Check asset file
- Create empty file "Brave-Browser/First Run"
- Check asset file
- "Brave-Browser/Default/Preferences"
- Check asset file
- Check asset file
- "Brave-Browser/Default/Secure Preferences"
- Search engine is set in "Default/Preferences" but unless
it is hashed in "Default/Secure Preferences", browser does not set it.
- `restore_on_startup: 5` sets "On startup: Open the New Tab Page". It needs to be hashed too.
```
{
"session": {
"restore_on_startup": 5
}
- Search engine is set in "Default/Preferences" but unless
it is hashed in "Default/Secure Preferences", browser does not set it.
- `restore_on_startup: 5` sets "On startup: Open the New Tab Page". It needs to be hashed too.
```
{
"session": {
"restore_on_startup": 5
}
```
}
```
## All settings mapped
---
Brave 1.83.118 (Official Build) (arm64)
Chromium: 141.0.7390.108
---
### Get started
- On startup >> "Open the New Tag page"
- [Secure Preferences]:session.restore_on_startup
- (Secure Preferences): session.restore_on_startup
- New tab page shows >> "Blank page"
- brave.new_tab_page.shows_options
- brave.new_tab_page.shows_options
### Appearance
- Show tab groups in bookmarks >> OFF
- bookmark_bar.show_tab_groups
- bookmark_bar.show_tab_groups
- Automatically pin new tab groups created on any device to the bookmarks >> OFF
- auto_pin_new_tab_groups
- auto_pin_new_tab_groups
### Shields
- Show the number of blocked items on the Shields icon >> OFF
- brave.shields.stats_badge_visible
- brave.shields.stats_badge_visible
- Store contact information for future broken site reports >> OFF
- brave.webcompat.report.contact_info: "" (empty string)
- brave.webcompat.report.enable_save_contact_info: false
- brave.webcompat.report.contact_info: "" (empty string)
- brave.webcompat.report.enable_save_contact_info: false
### Privacy and security
- Only resolve .onion addresses in Tor windows >> OFF
- tor.onion_only_in_tor_windows
- tor.onion_only_in_tor_windows
- Allow privacy-preserving product analytics (P3A) >> OFF
- [Local State]:brave.p3a.enabled
- (Local State): brave.p3a.enabled
- Automatically send diagnostic reports >> OFF
- [Local State]:brave.user_experience_metrics.reporting_enabled
- (Local State): brave.user_experience_metrics.reporting_enabled
### Search engine
- Improve search suggestions >> OFF
- search.suggest_enabled
- search.suggest_enabled
### Extensions
- Media Router >> OFF
- media_router.enable_media_router
- media_router.enable_media_router
- Widevine >> ON
- brave.widevine_opted_in
- brave.widevine_opted_in
### Autofill and passwords
- (Passwords.Settings) Sign in automatically >> OFF
- credentials_enable_autosignin
- credentials_enable_autosignin
- Allow auto-fill in private windows >> OFF
- brave.autofill_private_windows
- brave.autofill_private_windows
### Languages
- Websites in your languages >> "en"
- intl.accept_languages
- intl.selected_languages
- intl.accept_languages
- intl.selected_languages
### System
- Memory Saver >> ON
- [Local State]:performance_tuning.high_efficiency_mode
- Energy Saver >> OFF
- [Local State]:performance_tuning.battery_saver_mode
- Memory Saver >> ON
- (Local State): performance_tuning.high_efficiency_mode
- Energy Saver >> OFF
- (Local State): performance_tuning.battery_saver_mode