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Messed Up. Tried to Create New Profile Without First Backing Up

Chironex
Chironex
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I have severe problems with my bookmark library with thousands of bookmarks. After failing to find any relevant prior questions and answers in Firefox Help, I tried to create a new profile to see if the old default profile was the problem. Unfortunately, not only did I not backup my bookmarks first, but instead of just creating a new profile I seem to have created a new Firefox account. I do not know where my thousands of old bookmarks are or how to find them. They are my main concern.

I realize I'm asking for really basic help but I'm afraid that's what I need at present: I do not know where to go to find my old bookmarks, if they're still around. I would guess that Firefox is reasonably idiot-proof against dumb moves such as mine, and I'd appreciate any pointers on where to go and what to do to find the old bookmarks.

I have severe problems with my bookmark library with thousands of bookmarks. After failing to find any relevant prior questions and answers in Firefox Help, I tried to create a new profile to see if the old default profile was the problem. Unfortunately, not only did I not backup my bookmarks first, but instead of just creating a new profile I seem to have created a new Firefox account. I do not know where my thousands of old bookmarks are or how to find them. They are my main concern. I realize I'm asking for really basic help but I'm afraid that's what I need at present: I do not know where to go to find my old bookmarks, if they're still around. I would guess that Firefox is reasonably idiot-proof against dumb moves such as mine, and I'd appreciate any pointers on where to go and what to do to find the old bookmarks.

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Hi Chironex, creating a new Firefox profile is nondestructive. You still should have access to your old profile.

Could you type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

This should display a page listing the profiles currently know to Firefox (it does not include profiles moved to your desktop by the Refresh feature). Does any of these look likely to be the one that has your bookmarks? You can easily switch among the profiles as follows:

  • scroll down to a profile and click the Set as default profile button below that profile (if that button isn't listed, you are using that profile right now)
  • scroll back up and click the Restart normally button

There are some other buttons, but I think those are still "under construction" so please ignore them.

Firefox should exit and then start up using the other profile. Does that work?

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I guess I should add something about Firefox Accounts. Each profile can be associated with zero or one Firefox Accounts. They are optional. Their main use is for Sync. I recommend not creating a new Firefox Account when you are just creating a test profile, unless you are specifically testing Sync or another service that requires a Firefox Account. Just close that tab.