Is the order random, or does it return to the same way each time?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.

[v57+] Places Maintenance is built into Firefox.

Type about:support<enter> in the address bar.

You will find Places Database near the bottom. Press the Verify Integrity button.

When done, copy and post the results here.

> Task: checkIntegrity + The places.sqlite database is sane + The favicons.sqlite database is sane > Task: invalidateCaches + The caches have been invalidated > Task: checkCoherence + The database is coherent > Task: expire + Database cleaned up > Task: originFrecencyStats + Recalculated origin frecency stats > Task: vacuum + Initial database size is 15360KiB + The database has been vacuumed + Final database size is 10240KiB > Task: stats + Places.sqlite size is 10240KiB + Favicons.sqlite size is 4480KiB + pragma_user_version is 52 + pragma_page_size is 32768 + pragma_cache_size is -2048 + pragma_journal_mode is wal + pragma_synchronous is 1 + History can store a maximum of 131731 unique pages + Table moz_places has 17697 records + Table moz_historyvisits has 26710 records + Table moz_inputhistory has 3 records + Table moz_hosts has 0 records + Table moz_bookmarks has 321 records + Table moz_bookmarks_deleted has 0 records + Table moz_keywords has 0 records + Table sqlite_sequence has 0 records + Table moz_anno_attributes has 6 records + Table moz_annos has 54 records + Table moz_items_annos has 33 records + Table sqlite_stat1 has 18 records + Table moz_meta has 7 records + Table moz_origins has 1268 records + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_inputhistory_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_hosts_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_bookmarks_deleted_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_keywords_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_anno_attributes_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_origins_1 + Index moz_places_url_hashindex + Index moz_places_hostindex + Index moz_places_visitcount + Index moz_places_frecencyindex + Index moz_places_lastvisitdateindex + Index moz_places_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_historyvisits_placedateindex + Index moz_historyvisits_fromindex + Index moz_historyvisits_dateindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemindex + Index moz_bookmarks_parentindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemlastmodifiedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_dateaddedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_keywords_placepostdata_uniqueindex + Index moz_annos_placeattributeindex + Index moz_items_annos_itemattributeindex + Index moz_places_originidindex > Task: _refreshUI

Places Integrity looks fine.

when I sign out of firefox and return ...

Firefox doesn't need a "sign out" when exiting Firefox. Are you using Sync with a Firefox Account.

If so, it is a good idea to dis-connect from Sync before rearranging a large number of bookmarks, and then re-connect to Sync once you're down rearranging them. And maybe restarting Firefox before you connect back to Sync.

I meant exit , not sign out , I actually disabled sync and the problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm in no hurry to re-enable sync at the moment , but when I do I'll keep my fingers crossed! Thanks !

First, create a backup of your bookmarks just in case: Open the Bookmarks Manager; Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the toolbar, and select Bookmarks. Hot key is <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> B.

Once the window is open, at the top of the page, press the button labeled Import and Backup. Select Export Bookmarks To HTML, and follow the prompts and save it to a HTML file. Copy the file to another computer/profile. Repeat the instructions above, BUT select Import Bookmarks From HTML.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-lost-or-missing-bookmarks

aceleal said

... I actually disabled sync and the problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm in no hurry to re-enable sync at the moment , but when I do I'll keep my fingers crossed!

It is best to have Sync enabled all the time (when Firefox is running) so that Sync updates your data on the Sync server real-time. A problem arises when the user does a massive re-arrangement of their bookmarks and all those changes don't make it to the Sync server; "stuff" seems to get misplaced the next time that Firefox is launched and the device connects back to the Sync server.

In my very non-expert opinion (and my observations as a mere user who has used Sync for over 10 years), when the user rearranges their bookmarks the initial changes are sent immediately to the Sync server for the first 4 or 5 changes. Then internally Firefox (on that device) switches to a "batch mode" rather then sending each change as it is made, and that is in bits and spurts of data, too. I suspect that if the user would happen to close Firefox very soon after the change are made, the latest changes don't get sent to the Sync server and when Firefox is opened the next time the server is confused by the difference in data and "stuff happens".

That is the reason that many of us recommend disconnecting from the Sync server before rearranging more than just a few bookmarks. And when you reconnect to the Sync server don't close Firefox immediately afterwards. Give the server time to absorb all the changes.

IMO, staying disconnected from Sync and only enabling it when you "need it" is like "kicking the problem down the road". And that is liable to make thing worse in the long run.

Plus if a "mobile device" (Firefox for - either Android or iOS) is connected to the Firefox Account the bookmarks data is treated a bit differently in the Sync server.