Here are the steps I suggest:

(A) Make a manual bookmark backup (B) Test whether it can be restored

Here's how to do that:

(A) Backup

Use the "manual backup" steps in the following article to save a bookmark backup file in a convenient location: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.

(B) Test Restore in a new profile

Inside Firefox, type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

Take a quick glance at the page and make a mental note of which Profile has this notation: This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted. That is your current default profile.

Click the "Create a New Profile" button, then click Next. Assign a name like Test2023, ignore the option to relocate the profile folder, and click the Finish button.

Firefox will switch your default profile to the new one, so click the Set as Default Profile button for your regular one to avoid an unwanted surprise at your next startup.

Scroll down to Test2023 and click its Launch profile in new browser button.

Firefox should open a new window that looks like a brand new, uncustomized installation. (Your existing Firefox window(s) should not be affected.) Please ignore any tabs enticing you to connect to a Sync account to avoid cross-contamination.

Referring to the earlier article, restore the manual backup:

• Open the Library window (Ctrl+Shift+O)
• Import and Backup > Restore > Choose File
• Point Firefox to your manual backup and let the restore run

If you check in the Firefox window for the new profile, does it have your bookmarks where you expect, such as the Bookmarks Toolbar (Ctrl+Shift+B) and/or Bookmarks Sidebar (Ctrl+B)? If so, I think we can say that the manual backup is good and if needed, you could restore it after an update.

When you are done with the experiment, you can close the extra window without affecting your regular Firefox profile. (Test2023 will remain available for future testing.)

Sorry, but does not work. Library backup only saves the shortcuts from the desktop. I am not the dumbest person around, but clicking on every option possible for backup, it still creates the desktop shortcuts.

I do not want to click on update when I open the program and then find out that I have deleted them all again. I have many folders with many items, as ones listed singly.

Thanks for trying to help.

Shortcuts from the built-in Firefox Home (new tab) page? Those shouldn't be in a bookmark backup. I don't know what is going wrong there.

What about creating an export file (HTML format). This article has the steps: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks. Does that file have your actual bookmarks in it?

That's a good idea. It has been a long, crazy day. Will do tomorrow. I did import from Foxfire to Edge and all (521) are there, so that's a backup for now. I prefer the Mozilla programs and have been using for 15 years or so. Thanks.