Switch from Google Chrome DEV to Beta Channel

If you are like me, then you’re sick of the Google DEV channel getting screwed up by new bugs. (I thought that was the whole point of the Canary build?)  Recent hair-pulling bugs include: fonts no longer rendering properly, sluggish performance on Twitter, or random crashes that weren’t there a build ago.

Well, fear not.  I just decided to downgrade from Chrome DEV to BETA and I kept ALL my user data.  Here is what you do:

1. Backup your “User Data” folder first.  For windows 7 users: C:\\Users\YOUR-USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\ . You’ll notice that this folder is fairly big, in fact, mine weighed in at around 1 gig. If you are on an earlier version of windows or a different OS, then head here for more paths.
2. Next, close Chrome and go to Add/Remove programs to uninstall.  When asked, Do not remove your user data.
3. Now open up another browser and head over to the beta channel download page.
4. After you install, Chrome will open and you’ll notice that it did not save any of your settings. Don’t panic.
5. Close Chrome and head over to your folder again C:\\Users\YOUR-USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome
6. Rename “User Data” to “User Data OLD” (just incase) and then copy over your backed-up folder.
7. Open Chrome and rejoice, all of your data is exactly how you left it.