My bookmarks and preferences have disappeared
After changing the battery in my Macbook Air all of my bookmarks in Firefox have disappeared (both from the toolbar and the bookmark files) and my preferences have been reset.
I have checked about:profiles and can see only one. I have tried to restore (the only option I was given was yesterday's date - 11 items) but nothing happened.
I have an Old Firefox data folder on my desktop (dated 2020).
I did a time machine backup yesterday if that is of any use.
This problem is limited to Firefox (Safari has not been affected).
Many thanks in advance for your help
الحل المُختار
If you use the Time Machine or other backup then try to restore file(s) from this backup.
Firefox uses two locations for the Firefox profile folder. One location for your personal data (e.g. bookmarks) and another location for temporary files like the disk cache, so make sure to look in the correct location.
Location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data (Root Directory on about:profiles).
- ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>
You can copy certain files with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to transfer or recover personal data.
- bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
- favicons: favicons.sqlite
- bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
- cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
- formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
- logins.json (encrypted logins;32+) and key4.db (decryption key;58+) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
key3.db support ended in 73+; to use key3.db in 58-72, make sure to remove key4.db - cert9.db (58+) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
- persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
- permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
- sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)
All Replies (4)
Sometimes when the browser thinks there is a problem with the profile, it will create a new one.
christianbunyan said
I have an Old Firefox data folder on my desktop (dated 2020).
If the next instruction does not help, you can Copy from the Old Firefox folder to get back some of your data.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.
How many profiles are listed?
How many should be there?
Also, open the profile folder in your file explorer.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update
Thanks. I had already checked to see if there were additional profiles listed and there are none. Just the one in my user folder.
Strangely when I click on "show in finder" it comes up, but when I try to find it through the finder Firefox does not appear under Application Support in my Library.
Is my only option then to copy data from the Old Firefox data which is 18 months old?
Thanks,
Christian
الحل المُختار
If you use the Time Machine or other backup then try to restore file(s) from this backup.
Firefox uses two locations for the Firefox profile folder. One location for your personal data (e.g. bookmarks) and another location for temporary files like the disk cache, so make sure to look in the correct location.
Location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data (Root Directory on about:profiles).
- ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>
You can copy certain files with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to transfer or recover personal data.
- bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
- favicons: favicons.sqlite
- bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
- cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
- formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
- logins.json (encrypted logins;32+) and key4.db (decryption key;58+) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
key3.db support ended in 73+; to use key3.db in 58-72, make sure to remove key4.db - cert9.db (58+) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
- persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
- permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
- sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)
Thank you. I was able to import from the TM back-up (using the TM app) into the profile folder and then restore from Manage bookmarks. The reason I couldn't see the folder in Finder was because Library was hidden. Once I moved it to Favourites, I was able to find the appropriate folder/file on my HD and backup disk.
Thanks again for your help.