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

Sidebar is not persistent

  • 13 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by John99

more options

FF 7.0.1 on Win7-64. I can enable the bookmarks sidebar (via menu or CTRL-B) but after closing and restarting FF it's gone again. I have already tried the suggestions from https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Preferences are not saved (no user.js, deleting prefs.js, fixing localstore.rdf) but nothing helped yet.

FF 7.0.1 on Win7-64. I can enable the bookmarks sidebar (via menu or CTRL-B) but after closing and restarting FF it's gone again. I have already tried the suggestions from https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Preferences are not saved (no user.js, deleting prefs.js, fixing localstore.rdf) but nothing helped yet.

Chosen solution

I think I finally got it to work. I have a second computer (same setup) where it works. So I compared the localstore.rdf files and found the problem.

 <RDF:Description RDF:about="chrome://browser/content/browser.xul#sidebar-box"
                  sidebarcommand="viewBookmarksSidebar"
                  width=""
                  src="chrome://browser/content/bookmarks/bookmarksPanel.xul" />

The sidebar was enabled but the width was empty so in effect disabled. Also closing a browser with the sidebar showing didn't change this value. After manually entering a value I can now open a new browser window with sidebar enabled.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (13)

more options

I am not sure it is intended to be persistent, unless you use restore previous session rather than a home page. Maybe there is some preference that can be set. Make sure you exit from firefox using Firefox button -> exit

more options

It used to be persistent in previous versions (don't know exactly when it changed). Of course I exit normally with [X] or Exit. Restoring a previous session is enabled and seems to work. But a new browser window (when there are already some open) again is without sidebar, even if all the other windows have the sidebar enabled.

more options

Is that a pop-up window that has the sidebar missing?

If it only happens in one window then close that window or tear-off the tabs to a new window to see if that makes the sidebar persist.

more options

It's not a pop-up window, just a normal browser after clicking on the FF-icon on the desktop or starting "firefox.exe" on the command line. No, closing and reopeing it doesn't help.

more options

Can you tell me where this setting should be saved? Then I can check if it is not stored at all or if it is not active while opening an additional browser window.

If I have a browser with bookmarks sidebar and I do a "open link in new window" then the new browser window does have the bookmarks sidebar. It's only a completely new browser that has no sidebar.

more options

Such data is stored in the file localstore.rdf in the profile folder.

more options

OK, but what is the name of the setting? I have already tried the fixing as mentioned in the first post. The xml syntax looks well formed.

more options

-> Tap ALT key or press F10 to temporarily show the Menu bar

  • go to View Menu -> Sidebar -> select Bookmarks

Check and tell if its working.

more options

Yes, this works, as written in my first post. That was never the problem but the persistence across browser windows if I open a new one.

more options

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

more options

Doesn't help, after restarting FF and opening a new browser window the sidebar is gone again (not in the restored windows, only in the new one).

more options

Chosen Solution

I think I finally got it to work. I have a second computer (same setup) where it works. So I compared the localstore.rdf files and found the problem.

 <RDF:Description RDF:about="chrome://browser/content/browser.xul#sidebar-box"
                  sidebarcommand="viewBookmarksSidebar"
                  width=""
                  src="chrome://browser/content/bookmarks/bookmarksPanel.xul" />

The sidebar was enabled but the width was empty so in effect disabled. Also closing a browser with the sidebar showing didn't change this value. After manually entering a value I can now open a new browser window with sidebar enabled.

more options

Glad it works, congratulations on discovering the solution.