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Simple way to get bookmarks and history from a dead firefox?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Simple way to get bookmarks and history from a dead firefox? Dead firefox = old version on a broken installation. I know Places, is there anything more simple?

Simple way to get bookmarks and history from a dead firefox? Dead firefox = old version on a broken installation. I know Places, is there anything more simple?

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What can be simpler than copying a file from one folder to your current profile ? There are compressed jsonlz4 backups is the bookmarkbackups folder.


You can copy certain files with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to transfer/recover/backup your personal data. Note that best is to avoid copying a full profile folder.

Note that the Snap version keeps its profile in a different location (~/snap)


  • 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) and key4.db (decryption key and primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for 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)