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Bookmarks toolbar keeps disappearing

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  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ GodLovesU

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N.B.
Previously Avast and Norton related software; presumably bundled with the main AV software; has been known to cause this. See this post downthread ~J99


When I open Firefox, I often (but not always) find that my bookmarks toolbar has disappeared. Looking in the 'Options' menu, I can see that the 'Bookmarks Toolbar' option is still selected.

By selecting the 'Menu Bar' option (which I don't normally have selected), the bookmarks toolbar reappears. Then I can switch off the Menu Bar and the bookmarks toolbar remains. However, this is not a permanent fix - it keeps on disappearing after closing Firefox and reopening it.

N.B. <br />Previously Avast and Norton related software; presumably bundled with the main AV software; has been known to cause this. See this [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/979656?page=2#answer-536741 post] downthread ~J99 ------- When I open Firefox, I often (but not always) find that my bookmarks toolbar has disappeared. Looking in the 'Options' menu, I can see that the 'Bookmarks Toolbar' option is still selected. By selecting the 'Menu Bar' option (which I don't normally have selected), the bookmarks toolbar reappears. Then I can switch off the Menu Bar and the bookmarks toolbar remains. However, this is not a permanent fix - it keeps on disappearing after closing Firefox and reopening it.

John99 trɔe

All Replies (20)

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Hello Shetlaenderin,

try to activate the bookmarks by clicking with right click at the top of the Firefox browser and select "boomarks". Tick the box and look if it appears.

Do not hesitate to contact us further.

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Make sure that toolbars like the "Navigation Toolbar" and the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible.

  • Firefox menu button > Options
  • View > Toolbars (press F10 to display the menu bar)
  • Right-click empty toolbar area

Use Toolbar Layout (Customize) to open the Customize window and set which toolbar items to display.

  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the toolbar palette into the Customize window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the toolbar palette then drag them back from the Customize window on the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the toolbar palette then click the "Restore Default Set" button to restore the default toolbar setup

You can check for problems caused by a corrupted localstore.rdf file.

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Now I know that the problem is only there when I open Firefox for the first time after restarting my computer. When I check in 'Options', the 'Bookmarks Toolbar' option is already ticked. But unticking it then ticking it again makes the bookmark toolbar reappear. (And, as I mentioned above, selecting 'Menu bar' also makes it reappear.)

I don't dare delete the localstore.rdf file - I just don't feel like I know enough of what I am doing!

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You can try to rename the localstore.rdf file temporarily (localstore.rdf.sav) to see if that has effect.

You can also try to save a backup copy of the localstore.rdf file and check if the file got changed after the reboot and possibly restore the backup copy.

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I renamed the localstore.rdf file to localstore.rdf.sav. Now I see that there is a new localstore.rdf file as well as the localstore.rdf.sav file - should I now delete the localstore.rdf.sav file?

Hopefully this fixes the problem - I'll report back when I have tried opening Firefox a few times!

Thank you.

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Does that new version of localstore.rdf that Firefox created work better or do you still have problems?

If the newly created localstore.rdf works then you can remove the localstore.rdf.sav file as there is no need to keep this corrupted file. Renaming makes it possible to undo this modification and restore your old toolbar setup.

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Unfortunately the problem is still there...

In light of this, what should I do with the localstore.rdf files now? Keep the new one and delete the localstore.rdf.sav? Or should I keep the old one, rename it back to localstore.rdf, and delete the new one?

Thanks.

user349373 trɔe

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You can keep the new version of the localstore.rdf file and remove the older versions.

Does this only happen after you have rebooted the computer or also when you close and restart Firefox during the day?

Try to use "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit) to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar.

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I think it only happens after I have started up my computer and opened Firefox for the first time. Could it be do do with my antivirus software?

Thanks.

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Hi. I have same exact problem, the bookmarks disappears from Bookmarks Toolbar when turning on PC and launching Firefox. But by ticking off and ticking on the Bookmark Toolbar bookmarks reappear.

I am on Windows 8.

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I tried resetting Firefox which seems to have made the problem occur less often, but it still happens. I do hope there is some proper fix for this problem!

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Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?

Problems like this with the localstore.rdf file should happen. If they do then you may have security software software that is somehow corrupting or otherwise changing this file.

Do you keep other toolbar customizations?

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I use Avast antivirus, but people on their forum thought the problem would be with Firefox! I'm not sure what you mean by toolbar customisations - I use a theme and have Adblock Plus and Selective Cookie Delete icons showing in the Add-on Bar.

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Try:
Avast -> Additional Protection -> Browser Protection -> under Mozilla Firefox, uncheck the "Run this browser sandboxed" checkbox

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Strange, I use free version of latest Avast too, but there is no such thing as Additional Protection or Browser Protection.

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I think this sandbox thing is only in the paid for version of Avast. I have the free version too. I tried unticking 'Browser Protection', 'Grime Fighter' and 'Browser Cleanup' using the set up controls accessible via Windows 'Programmes and Features' on the Control Panel, but this had no effect.

user349373 trɔe

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I had this problem and I discovered that there was a bookmarks icon on the Navigation toolbar - though it did not show until I right clicked on the Navigation toolbar, clicked on 'Customize' and it was there. Just grab it (left click and hold down) (if you haven't got icons and text displayed its the grey square with a star in it) and drag it back to the Customize Toolbar box. Since then, my Bookmarks Toolbar has loaded every time (must have Bookmarks Toolbar ticked - right click in toolbar area to display options).

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After a week of thinking I had solved the problem, it has come back - my bookmarks toolbar doesn't always load (occasionally does). I can always get it to load when it hasn't done by using 'Customize' and unticking Bookmarks Toolbar and then re-ticking it. Most annoying.

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@davidabrux - yes, I thought your solution was very promising and at first I thought it had solved the problem too. Then it came back again - most annoying indeed!

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Still working on it (with no luck). It would be helpful if someone from Mozilla would have a look at this - probably too much to ask !!

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