Can't restore bookmarks from html file
Last week, I exported my bookmarks to an HTML file (as I do every month). Today, I had to uninstall and reinstall Firefox. I was able to restore my profile, but I can't get FFX to restore my bookmarks from last week's backup. I bring up the bookmark manger, click on "Restore from HTML", and point to the backup file. I click "Open", but nothing happens. I've done this in the past with no problems, but I can't seem to do it this time. What's wrong, and what do I have to do to fix it?
Modified by cor-el
All Replies (1)
If you restore the profile, did you also restore places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite as that should have restore bookmarks and history ? Are there compressed .jsonlz4 backups available in the bookmarkbackups folder ?
What reason did you have to reinstall Firefox as there might have been more going on and the profile you restored might have been corrupted ?
If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.
This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.
- use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More 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 the most 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
- you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created
You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).
- Bookmarks -> Show All Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them
See also:
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-add-change-or-save-bookmarks
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 (Root directory).
- Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data