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Lost Bookmarks

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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My PC (running Windows 10) crashed and when I restarted I'd lost all of my bookmarks plus I was prompted to create a new user profile. I'm running Firefox 89.0.1 I've tried following the information to find and restore my bookmarks but when I try this all Firefox prompts me is to import from another browser platform (which I don't use). Any ideas?

My PC (running Windows 10) crashed and when I restarted I'd lost all of my bookmarks plus I was prompted to create a new user profile. I'm running Firefox 89.0.1 I've tried following the information to find and restore my bookmarks but when I try this all Firefox prompts me is to import from another browser platform (which I don't use). Any ideas?

All Replies (9)

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Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox? Look inside. Look for the folder with the latest creation date.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible


https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles


Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar. How many profiles are listed? How many should be there? Also, open the profile folder in your file explorer.


https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

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Thanks for replying Fred, there are two profiles : 1 is Default and 2 is Graeme. I created the 2nd today but the Default was also created today and I can't find any previous data. I also checked the Folder o my desktop "Old Firefox Data" and there is one file, also created today, called "n6zeq11z.Graeme" which I suspect created when I created the Graeme profile but again, when I look in that I find no Bookmarks

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It is possible that there was a problem with profiles.ini and that a new default profile has been created.

You can check if there are other profiles present that aren't listed in the Profile Manager (profiles.ini). You can go to the current profile folder and go up one level to see whether more profiles are present.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

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The places.sqlite file stores History and Bookmarks.

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Hi Fred, thanks for sending this and I do I see the file places.sqlite in Old Firefox Data but I can't work out how to "point" my profile to this or import it. I'm sorry but I'm not the best at working this stuff out. I was hoping that one of the above links would give me an idiot's, step-by-step guide but if there is one I can't see it

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You did not check the links I posted.


When you are ready, we can start moving parts of your old data and Copy it to the new profile.


First; open your file browser to the New profile;

Type about:support<enter> in the address bar.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder

Linux: Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Directory. To its right press the button Open Directory.


Second, open another file browser to the Old Firefox folder on your desktop. Then open the folder with the latest date, or whatever one you want to use.


Warning ! ! Only Copy the files you are told. We will avoid anything that might cause problems. Here is the list of files;

cookies: cookies.sqlite Do not bother. Cookies will be created when you return to the website. However, you will have to log in everywhere. And you may lose any settings that websites store on your computer.

extensions(add-ons, themes): it would be better to download them fresh. If you need to remember what add-ons you had, open the extensions sub-folder and look at the .xpi files


logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files. Copy Both !

persdict.dat : custom dictionary - words you added to the dictionary

mimeTypes.rdf [v55+]handlers.json : What to do with what type of file.

places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks.

prefs.js : Your settings. Note: If you were having problems, this could be contaminated.

cert8.db [v58+]cert9.db and possibly cert_override.txt : Stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox. If removed, the cert8.db, cert9.db file will be replaced.

search.json.mozlz4 : file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox v47+

search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar before Firefox v47


Copy these files from the old to the new. You may get a message that the files already exist. Choose to over-write for each file.

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Fred, I did check but I'm sorry, nothing worked. Very kindly you gave me the step guide which I've followed and created the new folder and copied the files you listed (not all be cuase some I do not use) but now still do not know how to move into the new profile.

In frustration I tried to follow this: "My bookmarks have disappeared

Firefox automatically backs up your bookmarks and saves up to 15 backups in the profile bookmarkbackups folder. To recover bookmarks that were previously saved in the Bookmarks menu or on the Bookmarks toolbar but are now missing, you can restore them from one of these backups:

   Click on the menu button Fx89menuButton to open the menu panel. Click Bookmarks and then click the Manage Bookmarks bar at the bottom.
   In the Library window, click the Import and Backup button and then select Restore.
   Select the backup you want to restore from the list of dated automatic backups.
       You can also select Choose File… to restore bookmarks from a manual backup, if you created one. 
   After confirming your choice, the bookmarks from the backup you selected will be restored. "

But I have nothing - it only recognised JSON files and when I try to use places.sqlite it doesn't recognise it. The bookmarks json file was created 22-6-2021 so contains nothing. Places.sqlite is a much larger folder but I can't inport from that.

You've probably deduced by now I'm not that Tech savvy and I'm really struggling. I'm getting to the point of just deleting Firefox and starting again with another browser and that's a shame because I've used FF for years now but this is just incredibly frustrating. That's no refelction on you: I really appreciate that you're trying to help me.

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I called for more help.