Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

firefox 82.0.2 I cannot export bookmarks

  • 14 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

more options

Hi all

I am running firefox 82.0.2 and I cannot export my bookmarks to html

When I take the jon file and check it on another browser many bookmarks are missing like a lot

Is there a tool I can use that will export my bookmark -- so the job gets done and I will remove my current version of firefox

Thank you all

Hi all I am running firefox 82.0.2 and I cannot export my bookmarks to html When I take the jon file and check it on another browser many bookmarks are missing like a lot Is there a tool I can use that will export my bookmark -- so the job gets done and I will remove my current version of firefox Thank you all

All Replies (14)

more options

Did you do it this way?

Open the Bookmarks Manager; Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the toolbar, and select Bookmarks. Hot key is <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> B.

Once the window is open, at the top of the page, press the button labeled Import and Backup. Select Export Bookmarks To HTML, and follow the prompts and save it to a HTML file. Copy the file to another computer/profile. Repeat the instructions above, BUT select Import Bookmarks From HTML.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-lost-or-missing-bookmarks

Mozilla search: Import {web link}

more options

Hi

Thanks for your answer. Im not sure what I failed to explain but I cannot cannot cannot export my bookmarks

this is why I asked if there is a tool to do this

I am soooo sick of firefox

more options

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This can be caused by a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite databases in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

  • keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created

See also:

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

more options

Hi

Apologies for my late reply to your solution.

I have made copies of these files -- places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite


I have many months of bookmarks not saved and the Json file for some reason is NOT up to date'


I must be 100% sure I do not loose my bookmarks ---- I have a huge amount of work put in


'Before I remove / rename the files and restart firefox '


Is there a tool I can use to export my bookmarks as HTML before I do this  ?


Im very stressed about this --- I must be 100% sure before I try this method

Can you please confirm for me exactly how this will work

Thank you

more options

Do not remove/rename places.sqlite yet because that is where your currently live bookmarks are stored.

It's confusing because you mention both export and JSON. To review:

(1) Export creates a .html file: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks.

Do you get an error message when you use this function? Or no results? If you have many thousands of bookmarks, it could take some time.

(2) Backup creates a .json file: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.

Do you get an error message when you use this function? Or no results? If you have many thousands of bookmarks, it could take some time.

Note: I have a tool to convert the .json backup to the .html export format if needed to import to a different browser: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html

more options

Hi all


Thanks to jscher2000 for the tool reminder link. I did this and imported all into a clean safari app.

My Json file does not update for the last 7 months. So all my bookmarks for the last 7 months are not backed up.


I will repeat again and again it is NOT possible to backup or export my bookmarks

I have asked firefox team how is it possible to backup my bookmarks online without syncing all my bookmarks to my phone as do NOT way this .... as a work around to this problem.

I am close to giving up totally with firefox and this issue as I have asked many times


I will do it all by hand if really necessary --- I have thousands of bookmarks

How can I trust any comments to get this right  ?

more options

What happens when you try to backup or export your bookmarks. Do you get an error message? Does Firefox freeze up? You don't get a dialog to name the file? Or afterwards no file is created?

more options

Hi I tried this persons method on a different account --- and it did not work I would have lost 7 months work if I had of trusted this method --- Thanks


cor-el Top 10 Contributor Moderator

1/4/21, 5:36 PM

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This can be caused by a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite databases in the Firefox profile folder.


Hi jscher2000

When I try to export or backup --- the process appears to be correct and I save The problem is no file ever appears anywhere on the computer


It has caused me so much stress at this point --- I have decided to save 1,000s of links and tags by hand.

Looks like i cant trust any method.


I have used firefox since its inception --- I will remove firefox permanently once this is completed and I am sad to say I will use chrome as default instead along with safari

more options

Jesus said

When I try to export or backup --- the process appears to be correct and I save The problem is no file ever appears anywhere on the computer It has caused me so much stress at this point --- I have decided to save 1,000s of links and tags by hand. Looks like i cant trust any method.

Thank you for the explanation, and I understand that it is stressful.

If you would still be interested in a programmed approach instead of a manual approach, let us know and we can provide some suggestions.

I have used firefox since its inception --- I will remove firefox permanently once this is completed and I am sad to say I will use chrome as default instead along with safari

Have you already tried installing Chrome and directing it to import your bookmarks directly from Firefox? It would be interesting to see whether it can access the entire current list. Might save you some time.

more options

Hi jscher2000

I have started to do this by hand. Its very hard going I must say. Yes of course I would like to do it automatically just as long as I protect my current bookmarks.

I just tried to import directly with Chrome from firefox - but the json file is not recognized The Json file is dated from last may --- it does not contain my bookmarks for the last 7 months. So this is not of any interest as I have many backups over the last number of years.

Its the last 7 months bookmarks that are super important

more options

Right, no other program reads Firefox's .json or .jsonlz4 files.

I meant this way:

To import bookmarks from most browsers, like Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari:
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click More More.
  3. Select Bookmarks and then Import Bookmarks and Settings.
  4. Select the program that contains the bookmarks you'd like to import.
  5. Click Import.
  6. Click Done.

See: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/96816

more options

Hi jscher2000

Thanks soo much for all your help to solve this.

The import worked good just needs some sorting out. Im very happy I got this backed up was a huge amount of work.

To set firefox back up -- do you recommend a new download and then important the bookmarks direct from chrome or from a HTML file  ?

Thank you  :-))

more options

You could create a new profile and see whether you can import from Chrome there. If it works, that would allow making clean exports/backups.

New Profile Test

This takes about 3 minutes, plus the time to test the import.

Inside Firefox, type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

Take a quick glance at the page and make a mental note of which Profile has this notation: This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted. That is your current default profile.

Click the "Create a New Profile" button, then click Next. Assign a name like Feb2021, ignore the option to relocate the profile folder, and click the Finish button.

Firefox will switch your default profile to the new one, so click the Set as Default Profile button for your regular one to avoid an unwanted surprise at your next startup.

Scroll down to Feb2021 and click its Launch profile in new browser button.

Firefox should open a new window that looks like a brand new, uncustomized installation. (Your existing Firefox window(s) should not be affected.) Please ignore any tabs enticing you to connect to a Sync account or to activate extensions found on your system to get a clean test.

Try: Import bookmarks and other data from Google Chrome

Any luck?

When you are done with the experiment, you can close the extra window without affecting your regular Firefox profile. (Feb2021 will remain available for future testing.)

more options

Before doing anything:

85.0.1 Firefox Release

February 5, 2021 Version 85.0.1, first offered to Release channel users on February 5, 2021


Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Note: Firefox comes in three or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And two folders in the profile of each user on the computer for each Firefox profile for that user.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user profiles would not be affected.


Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Firefox ESR; Extended Support Release {web link}

Beta, Developer, Nightly versions https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/desktop/

Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link}


Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Note: Check Both Folders

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

How to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; {web link} Free Online Encyclopedia