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This article explains what to do if you are not able to add new bookmarks or make other changes to your bookmarks.
- If you have been able to save bookmarks but they are now missing, see Recover lost or missing Bookmarks.
Table of Contents
I can't add or change bookmarks
If you can't add new bookmarks or if changes you make to the toolbar are not saved when you restart Firefox, see Changes to toolbars and window sizes are not saved.
If you can't add new bookmarks or make other changes to your bookmarks and you have a Firefox extension related to bookmarks installed (for example, one that synchronizes bookmarks) follow the instructions in Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems to determine if an extension is causing the problem.
I can add or change bookmarks but they are lost when I restart Firefox
If you are able to add, delete, rearrange, and make other changes to your bookmarks but your changes are lost whenever you restart Firefox, try these solutions.
Fix the bookmarks file
If your changes to your bookmarks do not appear when you restart Firefox, the issue may be that your bookmarks file is write-protected. A write-protected file can't be changed, which prevents Firefox from saving any changes you have made.
Allow Firefox to save bookmark changes:
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button
, click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Close Firefox completely: Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Right-click the file places.sqlite, and select to open the Properties window.
- In the Properties window, select the General tab. Near the bottom of the window, verify that Read-only is NOT selected.
To enable writing of your bookmarks file:
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Close Firefox completely: Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- Select the file places.sqlite.
- From the menu bar select the menu and select . The places.sqlite info window will open.
- In the places.sqlite info window, remove the check mark from the Locked check box.
Create a new bookmarks file
Bookmarks and browsing history are stored in the Firefox profile folder in the file places.sqlite. If there is a problem with this file, your bookmark changes may be lost whenever you restart Firefox. You can force Firefox to create another places.sqlite file by deleting (or renaming) the existing one.
You might want to print these directions out, or copy them down to reference because you will have to close Firefox to delete or rename the files.
Open your profile folder:
- Click the menu button , click and select .From the menu, select . The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
- Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderProfile Directory, click . A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking or if you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.- Click the menu button
- Close Firefox completely: Click the Firefox menu and select .Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select .Click the Firefox menu and select .
- In your profile folder, find the files places.sqlite and places.sqlite-journal (if it exists) and delete them (or rename for example, to places.sqliteOLD, to keep the old file as a backup) .
- (Optional) Also delete the file xulstore.json. This will reset any toolbar customizations you have made.
When you next start Firefox, it will create a new places.sqlite file and automatically import the most recent bookmark backup file. Your bookmarks will be restored from backup but you will lose your browsing history. Note that browsing history is used for the address bar autocomplete feature.
Based on information from Bookmarks not saved (mozillaZine KB)
