Hi dravafox:

1. Did you happen to take a screenshot of the "red message"? Would be helpful to see that.

2. Do use anti-virus or 3rd party software? Or add-ons? If you can recall what you have installed that would be great too. And pasting the output of about:support would be great

3. The following suggestion from ace volunteer jscher2000 might help too:

Finding/Using Shadow Copies

You can use a utility program to search inside restore points to try to locate an old file that's usable. (Please do NOT try to use the built-in Windows System Restore for this because you probably would lose data.) Here are the steps:

(1) Set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

(2) Download and run one of these two programs:

• ShadowExplorer: http://www.shadowexplorer.com/
• System Restore Explorer: http://nicbedford.co.uk/software/systemrestoreexplorer/

Within the most recent restore point shown in the program, you can explore along this path to see whether you can find a shadow copy of your profile:

\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

(3) Check in the bookmarkbackups folder of each profile for older backups. You can export interesting files to a convenient location such as your currently live desktop.

If you find a promising candidate, check out this article: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer -- you'll use the Choose File option at the bottom of the Restore menu to grab the file you exported.

Any luck?

Hi Roland and THANKS

No, I WISH I had the message saved, but its one of the few times I didn't take a screenshot of the (unique) error message that occurred at Firefox Startup.

I use Kaspersky, BleachBit (was used just before Firefox launch, also with error messages) I've attached screenshot of my extensions from about:support, however the data is WAY too much to include in these comments (only 10000 characters allowed, mine was over)

I have logged-in version of firefox on my phone, any way to synch from there??

I will try #3 suggestion next if you feel that none of this is enough info.

about:support

{
  "application": {
    "name": "Firefox",
    "osVersion": "Windows_NT 10.0",
    "version": "78.0.2",
    "buildID": "20200708170202",
    "distributionID": "",
    "userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:78.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/78.0",
    "safeMode": false,
    "updateChannel": "release",
    "supportURL": "https://support.mozilla.org/1/firefox/78.0.2/WINNT/en-US/",
    "numTotalWindows": 1,
    "numRemoteWindows": 1,
    "launcherProcessState": 0,
    "remoteAutoStart": true,
    "autoStartStatus": 1,
    "policiesStatus": 0,
    "keyLocationServiceGoogleFound": true,
    "keySafebrowsingGoogleFound": true,
    "keyMozillaFound": true
  },
  "securitySoftware": {
    "registeredAntiVirus": "",
    "registeredAntiSpyware": "",
    "registeredFirewall": ""
  },
  "processes": {
    "remoteTypes": {
      "privilegedabout": 1,
      "extension": 1,
      "web": 6,
      "gpu": 1
    },
    "maxWebContentProcesses": 8
  },
  "modifiedPreferences": {
    "accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar": 0,
    "browser.cache.disk.amount_written": 571438,
    "browser.cache.disk.capacity": 1048576,
    "browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported": 1,
    "browser.contentblocking.category": "standard",
    "browser.search.region": "CA",
    "browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID": "20200708170202",
    "browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID": "20200708170202",
    "browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone": "78.0.2",
    "browser.tabs.warnOnClose": false,
    "browser.urlbar.tipShownCount.searchTip_onboard": 4,
    "dom.push.userAgentID": "2fb314cd4d5c4a3e9c0c72c73b0308cc",
    "extensions.lastAppVersion": "78.0.2",
    "gfx.crash-guard.status.wmfvpxvideo": 2,
    "gfx.crash-guard.wmfvpxvideo.appVersion": "78.0.2",
    "gfx.crash-guard.wmfvpxvideo.deviceID": "0x104a",
    "gfx.crash-guard.wmfvpxvideo.driverVersion": "23.21.13.8813",
    "idle.lastDailyNotification": 1594859565,
    "layers.mlgpu.sanity-test-failed": true,
    "media.gmp-gmpopenh264.abi": "x86_64-msvc-x64",
    "media.gmp-gmpopenh264.lastUpdate": 1594644313,
    "media.gmp-gmpopenh264.version": "1.8.1.1",
    "media.gmp-manager.buildID": "20200708170202",
    "media.gmp-manager.lastCheck": 1594859072,
    "media.gmp-widevinecdm.abi": "x86_64-msvc-x64",
    "media.gmp-widevinecdm.lastUpdate": 1594644315,
    "media.gmp-widevinecdm.version": "4.10.1582.2",
    "media.gmp.storage.version.observed": 1,
    "media.hardware-video-decoding.failed": false,
    "network.dns.disablePrefetch": true,
    "network.http.speculative-parallel-limit": 0,
    "network.predictor.enabled": false,
    "network.prefetch-next": false,
    "places.database.lastMaintenance": 1594649546,
    "places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages": 112348,
    "privacy.sanitize.pending": "[{\"id\":\"newtab-container\",\"itemsToClear\":[],\"options\":{}}]",
    "privacy.purge_trackers.date_in_cookie_database": "0",
    "privacy.userContext.enabled": true,
    "privacy.userContext.extension": "@contain-facebook",
    "privacy.userContext.ui.enabled": true,
    "security.remote_settings.crlite_filters.checked": 1594859474,
    "security.remote_settings.intermediates.checked": 1594859474,
    "security.sandbox.content.tempDirSuffix": "{eaeb2c42-ca88-455b-b99e-0ee7743a24f6}",
    "security.sandbox.plugin.tempDirSuffix": "{b41e1a93-254b-4e6e-9fe7-75f9e18c96cf}",
    "services.sync.declinedEngines": "",
    "services.sync.engine.extension-storage": true,
    "services.sync.engine.forms": true,
    "signon.importedFromSqlite": true,
    "storage.vacuum.last.index": 1,
    "storage.vacuum.last.places.sqlite": 1594649546,
    "ui.osk.debug.keyboardDisplayReason": "IKPOS: Touch screen not found."
  },
  "lockedPreferences": {
    "dom.ipc.processCount.webIsolated": 1,
    "fission.autostart": false,
    "security.enterprise_roots.enabled": true
  },
  "media": {
    "currentAudioBackend": "wasapi",
    "currentMaxAudioChannels": 2,
    "currentPreferredSampleRate": 48000,
    "audioOutputDevices": [
      {
        "name": "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438445&REV_1003\\4&2ab41b84&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 2,
        "preferred": 7,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 2,
        "defaultRate": 48000,
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        "minRate": 48000,
        "maxLatency": 480,
        "minLatency": 128
      },
      {
        "name": "",
        "groupId": "",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 0,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 2,
        "defaultRate": 44100,
        "maxRate": 44100,
        "minRate": 44100,
        "maxLatency": 0,
        "minLatency": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Internal AUX Jack (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438445&REV_1003\\4&2ab41b84&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 0,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 0,
        "defaultRate": 0,
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        "maxLatency": 0,
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      },
      {
        "name": "",
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        "maxChannels": 2,
        "defaultRate": 44100,
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        "maxLatency": 0,
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      },
      {
        "name": "Internal AUX Jack (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438445&REV_1003\\4&2ab41b84&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 0,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 0,
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        "minLatency": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438445&REV_1003\\4&2ab41b84&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
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      {
        "name": "Headphones (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0887&SUBSYS_10438445&REV_1003\\4&2ab41b84&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
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      },
      {
        "name": "NVIDIA Output (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_38422619&REV_1001\\5&162c6161&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
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        "minLatency": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Headset Earphone (JBL Charge 3 Hands-Free)",
        "groupId": "",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 0,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 1,
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        "maxRate": 8000,
        "minRate": 8000,
        "maxLatency": 0,
        "minLatency": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Hanns.G HH241-0 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_38422619&REV_1001\\5&162c6161&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 2,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 2,
        "defaultRate": 48000,
        "maxRate": 48000,
        "minRate": 48000,
        "maxLatency": 480,
        "minLatency": 144
      },
      {
        "name": "NVIDIA Output (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_38422619&REV_1001\\5&162c6161&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 1,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 0,
        "defaultRate": 0,
        "maxRate": 0,
        "minRate": 0,
        "maxLatency": 0,
        "minLatency": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "STD HDMI TV-4 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)",
        "groupId": "HDAUDIO\\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_38422619&REV_1001\\5&162c6161&0&0001",
        "vendor": "",
        "type": 2,
        "state": 0,
        "preferred": 0,
        "supportedFormat": 4112,
        "defaultFormat": 4096,
        "maxChannels": 2,
        "defaultRate": 48000,
        "maxRate": 48000,
        "minRate": 48000,
        "maxLatency": 0,
        "minLatency": 0
      }
    ],

I'm logged in, but not CURRENTLY syncing... will syncing push bookmarks from phone device to browser version of firefox?? captures of desktop and android logins ...

Hello, its been 2 weeks, can anyone give me an update with answers I've provided? Please?

btw, ShadowExplorer didn't work at all, it was a dud for me:

second link was dead, I got redirected to a blank screen with the URL .................

Hi... Anyone....? Hello...........? Synopsis, tried the two restore links, they didnt work I still have my book marks in my Android Firefox browser, its only my PC that is blank, even though I'm logged in (attaching screen shot) ... PLEASE and thank you, someone at Mozilla/FIrefox please throw me an update?

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 and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. 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:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional

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.

• Help -> 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

Hello @cor-el

Thanks for your help, but unfortunately, none of your steps, nor any of the other steps in the other tutorials have worked. I honestly have tried them all it seems...

I removed all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. the files were restored and nothing happened I then tried restoring from backups manually and found that I had no backups in my folder prior to a few days ago.... I started this post in early July!

Is there no way I can retrieve the Bookmarks in my phone's Android Firefox browser (they are all there, luckily I am not Syncing my devices right now, otherwise.....) which has ALL my Bookmarks in place and working, but are not reflected

What do you think is the culprit of my issue? My BleachBit PC cleaner app perhaps? When I do a clean, its clearing out all of my bookmarks history and everything else??

Thanks again everyone!!

Hello everyone

So with none of the suggested solutions (thank you everyone, btw, sincerely, I appreciate the time and effort to respond) working for me, is there no other way to retrieve my old bookmarks on my desktop Firefox?

I keep harping that I still have my bookmarks on my Firefox mobile, just want to know if there is a possible way to pull them from mobile to desktop? that would do it, I just don't know how, or if its even possible...

Please and thank you

dravafox

Hi again Please, please, can someone just let me know if I can somehow use my Firefox mobile bookmarks to populate my Firefox desktop bookmarks, or am I SOL? Please, Its been over 7 weeks now and I have been patient and expressive, and thankful. I have been a supporter of Mozilla (have 2 tshirts, almost got a job under and have hung around Mark Surman here in Toronto) so I'm not just an ungrateful pest, I believe I am part of the community and in such, just ask for this little bit of assistance this one time... Thank you As I stated, I think my desktop app BleachBit deleted bookmarks and all the backups (have changed the settings now), so please can someone help me? Thanks again dravafox

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 and retry. If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. 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:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional

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.

• Help -> 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

Hi @cor-el Please see my subsequent replies to your emails of the past weeks ... So, I guess because I cannot export my Bookmarks from mobile, no one has responded, and because I deleted backups accidentally, I'm SOL? Thanks for all your help!

In Firefox for mobile you do not have access to about:config (only Nightly on mobile has) and you also do not have direct access to files in the profile folder. That would leave Sync as a possible way to transfer or inspect the mobile bookmarks. You can possibly backup Firefox data on mobile to be sure you do not lose the bookmarks.

Best is to use a separate Firefox profile on desktop and connect with this profile to the same Sync account as you use on mobile.

You can install the About Sync extension in Firefox 72 and newer on desktop to check what data is stored on the Sync server via the about:sync page provided by this extension.

• About Sync https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/about-sync/

Close and restart Firefox to access the about:sync page added by this extension (see the about:about page for possible about pages).

An other option is to open bookmarks on mobile in a tab and send these tabs to another device that is connected to a Sync account.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles

In Firefox for mobile you do not have access to about:config (only Nightly on mobile has) and you also do not have direct access to files in the profile folder. That would leave Sync as a possible way to transfer or inspect the mobile bookmarks. You can possibly backup Firefox data on mobile to be sure you do not lose the bookmarks. Best is to use a separate Firefox profile on desktop and connect with this profile to the same Sync account as you use on mobile. You can install the About Sync extension in Firefox 72 and newer on desktop to check what data is stored on the Sync server via the about:sync page provided by this extension.

• About Sync https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/about-sync/

Close and restart Firefox to access the about:sync page added by this extension (see the about:about page for possible about pages). An other option is to open bookmarks on mobile in a tab and send these tabs to another device that is connected to a Sync account.

---

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles

Hello cor-el

I'm only responding now because something came up When going into Kasperky's 'protected browser' mode, I noticed that all the bookmarks came back into Firefox, same version, 81 However, they still aren't there in regular mode... any idea how/why Kaspersky can retrieve/find my bookmarks when it launches into its protected browser mode? can that be utilized somehow? the bookmarks must be saved somewhere then...

thank you!