Import passwords from an old version of Firefox
I need to import passwords from an old version of Firefox (3..0.5) into version 28.0. I have read the other threads, but they refer to signons.sqlite which I do not have, instead there is a signons3.txt (which does appear to contain valid details but with encrypted names/passwords. I do have a key3.db however. What would be the best way to import them, preferably without uninstalling V28, installing 3.0.5, porting the necessary files, then upgrading repeatedly until the signons.sqlite is created?
Réiteach roghnaithe
hello Screwball, the change from signons3.txt to the .sqlite database has first taken place between versions 3.0.x and 3.5.x.
try to download a portable firefox version of 3.5 at http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20P.E.%20Legacy/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Edition%203.5.8/ and then extract its contents into a folder. when you look into the folder there should be a subfolder named "data" - in there manually create another folder named "profile" and put the old signons3.txt and key3.db into that profile-folder. then launch the old portable app once and see if this will convert the signons3.txt file into the sqlite format that you can import (together with key3.db) into your current profile of the installed firefox ...
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Réiteach Roghnaithe
hello Screwball, the change from signons3.txt to the .sqlite database has first taken place between versions 3.0.x and 3.5.x.
try to download a portable firefox version of 3.5 at http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20P.E.%20Legacy/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Edition%203.5.8/ and then extract its contents into a folder. when you look into the folder there should be a subfolder named "data" - in there manually create another folder named "profile" and put the old signons3.txt and key3.db into that profile-folder. then launch the old portable app once and see if this will convert the signons3.txt file into the sqlite format that you can import (together with key3.db) into your current profile of the installed firefox ...
Thank you for the suggestion, I will try that and let you know how I get on.
Just install new version of the firefox the import process of bookmarks + passwords will be carried automatically.
@philipp. Worked perfectly. Thanks for the tip :)
you're very welcome :))
Note that you should still be able to do this by placing the two files signons.sqlite and key3.db in the profile folder in the current Firefox 24.4.0 ESR release as that still has the signons prefs (the current release doesn't have them anymore).
- http://mxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-esr24/search?string=signons3&find=&findi=&filter=^[^\0]*%24&hitlimit=&tree=mozilla-esr24
- signon.SignonFileName
- signon.SignonFileName2
- signon.SignonFileName3
Firefox 24.4.0 ESR:
I have Portable Firefox v. 30 but I still have key3.db instead of key4.db and cert8.db instead of cert9.db. They weren't converted automatically and I can't find a way (or that certutil) to convert them myself. I really can't compile it as suggested in https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/687296?fpa=1.
Current Firefox versions still use signons.sqlite and key3.db to store the names and passwords and cert8.db for the certificates. Firefox 32 and later will use logins.json instead of signons.sqlite. Firefox desktop version have never used key4.db andcert9.db (maybe used by mobile devices).