Did you open the file in a Firefox tab ?

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/import-bookmarks-html-file
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

Thanks. I used both the export and commands shown in the links you just provided. I have the html file but can't import the book marks.

If you use Sync, best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

• use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

• keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
• you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

• Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-add-change-or-save-bookmarks

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).

• Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
  Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data

I don't use Sync.

I am trying to restore the bookmarks to a new computer, so I can't use the bookmark manager. I exported the bookmarks to the HTML file and tried to restore from my backup. Although all my files were transferred from my old hard drive, I had to reinstall Firefox.

Does this mean that I have to restore each bookmark separately?

You can use the Bookmarks Manager (Library) provided that you have JSON or HTML backup.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/import-bookmarks-html-file

Otherwise the only way is to use a full/partial profile backup or Sync, but Sync is not meant to be used as a backup.

Even though the message was that the HTML was empty, I have all my bookmarks. Thanks.