When iOS macOS or O/S any reset means any local data is gone and if there is no sync no data will be there to update or find as well. And when password reset if the compute doesn't have the matching data it will be removed as well. Sync isn't a backup it's to sync between devices and only the data that remain is the locally stored data and profile anything else in the sync will be delete when password changes as well. If you can't access the online email account that the login was associated with there's nothing more that can be done.

/edit: corrected OS from iOS to macOS as this is not on a iPhone.

I can access the email account that the login was associated with. I did a PW reset because I forgot it. Is there a next step?

Hi

If you used the lost password option, it will delete data that is in transit between copies of Firefox.

Resetting the password for the Firefox Account because you do not remember the password will remove all data stored on the Sync server because this password is used to encrypt your data before it is uploaded to the Sync server and only this password or a possible recovery key can decrypt this data.

Would it be possible to restore the bookmarks from a time machine backup?

Sure if you have a backup from before that factory reset that includes the Firefox profile folder.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile
• ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/

You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from a profile folder backup to the current profile folder to recover your personal data. Note that best is to avoid restoring a full profile folder and only restore important files that are safe to restore/transfer.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-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) and key4.db (encryption key/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)

This worked, Thanks a ton. You mentioned a recovery key in your previous post. Can I make this to basically back up my bookmarks and load this faster if it ever happens again?

Keep in mind that Sync isn't designed to be used as a backup, but merely is meant to sync

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-your-firefox-account-password-recovery-keys

Best is always to backup your personal data yourself locally instead of relying on Sync.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

Appreciate the assistance