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

Lost Bookmarks after Firefox reset

  • 15 replies
  • 18 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

more options

After reset, which said that I wouldn't loose any bookmarks, all bookmarks folders that I had are gone except for Bookmarks Toolbar and Bookmarks Menu that has just recently bookmarked folders. I had about 50 others that are gone. How do I get them back? Where are they? There is a folder on my desktop that says "old Firefox data" and following the directions I took jplaces.sqlite from that folder and replaced the one in the new in Profiles, but it didn't restore the bookmarks. Help!!

After reset, which said that I wouldn't loose any bookmarks, all bookmarks folders that I had are gone except for Bookmarks Toolbar and Bookmarks Menu that has just recently bookmarked folders. I had about 50 others that are gone. How do I get them back? Where are they? There is a folder on my desktop that says "old Firefox data" and following the directions I took jplaces.sqlite from that folder and replaced the one in the new in Profiles, but it didn't restore the bookmarks. Help!!

All Replies (15)

more options

Try to restore the bookmarks from a JSON backup in thre bookmarkbackups folder in the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop. You may have to try older backup if the most recent backup is already corrupted.

Each JSON backup has the number of bookmarks as xxxx in the bookmarks-####-##-##_xxxx.json file name.

more options

I'm an old lady who knows very little about computers and how they work so I need a little more help in how to restore from these Json files. Thanks in advance for your help.

more options

Did you find the JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder in the "Old Firefox Data" folder folder on the desktop?

You can restore such a JSON backup in the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

  • Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks

You can click the third button (Import and Backup) on the toolbar in the Library and open the Restore menu .

more options

When I reset Firefox I lost most of my Bookmark folders, (even though it said that I wouldn't) except for Bookmarks Toolbar and about 4 folders under Bookmarks Menu - all the rest, about 60 or so folders gone. I have a Mac 1.6.8 with TimeMachine so there is a carbon copy of everything going back to when I had the Bookmarks. The problem is that the information you gave said that the Bookmarks are in places.sqlite, but when I restore it from a previous date it doesn't restore the missing files. Please let me know which exact files or folders I have to get through TimeMachine to be able to get back all my missing Bookmarks. Please give the instructions in plain English - I am not well versed in computer speak. Thank you!

more options

When you have reset Firefox then the profile folder was moved to the desktop and the original name of the folder is lost, so it won't be easy to determine the name of the folder you need from the Time Machine backup.

Did you try to copy the places.sqlite file from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop to the current profile folder (i.e the correct folder and not to a possibly wrong location)?

You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Director: Show Folder (Linux: Open Director; Mac: Show in Finder)

You can look at the file dates in the Time Machine backup to see if you can find the previously used default profile.

  • /Users/<user>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>/

In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the ~/Library folder is a hidden folder.

See also:

more options

I also lost my bookmarks and don't understand some of the directions from above. When I go to show all bookmarks and restore I only see a date for a day ago. I did not do a reset but did do an upgrade of firefox. I can't find old firefox back up folder. It is not on my desktop. I have an imac 10.7.5

more options

FF can do this better.....After a double FF browser crash, impossible to know which sqlite files in profile page and no instructions in how to get missing stuff over. Some bookmarks have web alias designators which are different to locate, which presumably are saved somewhere, but making retracking extremely difficult. What is missing is a bar under bookmarks which can be activated after a double crash to recover lost bookmarks by selecting an previous functional date without resorting to the tiresome methods that FF describes. 150 bookmarks in ajacent folders all gone or have they ? Is more than several evenings work, the current method that FF describes.

more options

Time machine...that's new to me in FF....please elaborate ?

more options

I, too, reset FF to default. An old firefox data folder was created on my desktop. When I click on the restore bookmarks, it does not find the bookmarks in the old firefox data folder. When I click on the latest json file in the old firefox data folder, win XP/sp3 doesn't know what to do with it. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

more options

When Firefox is reset, Bookmarks, History, Password and other data is suppose to be copied to the new profile. The old profile is moved to the desktop to recover anything else the user needs.

Open the Old Firefox folder with a file browser. Is there a folder called bookmarkbackups? Open it. Look for the jsonlz4 file you want to restore (check the time / date / size). Right click on that file and select Copy.

On Firefox, Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox. Rename the file places.sqlite by adding .old to it. Now right click in the folder and select Paste. The file you just pasted here, rename it to places.sqlite. After you are done, restart Firefox.

more options

Don't understand how to do this

more options

Checked but the dates are all last year

more options

Hi annekellar, let's address your specific situation in your new thread: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1023057

more options

I closed the browser and reopened it again everything was back so far touch wood has not crashed

more options

annekellar

Use these add-ons;

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences