I lost all my passwords
I am using Windows 10 on a desktop computer with all current updates, including all drivers using Driver Booster 9. It occasionally crashes - usually blue screen error video TDR failure, ndlddmkm.sys.
After one crash yesterday, no saved login information came up on Firefox - no user ID or password.
In C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\z9j81sb8.default there were seven corrupt logins files, logins.json.corrupt and logins.json-1.corrupt to logins.json-6.corrupt, the last of these with a date modified showing the day of that crash, i.e. yesterday's date. Renaming this to the logins.json didn't restore any logins when Firefox restarted. I tried a couple of others too, and the logins.json from my laptop. None gave me my logins back.
There is no folder on my Desktop.
This has been VERY inconvenient. I have been relying on Firefox, and know only a some passwords. Thank goodness I always ignored Firefox's offer to generate a password for me.
All Replies (3)
Firefox 80+ has a logins-backup.json file in the profile folder that can be used in case of issues with logins.json or to undo an accidental delete of a login, so you can check if you can find this file in the profile folder or in a backup and replace the current logins.json. Make sure to keep a backup copy of all involved files (logins.json and key4.db and logins-backup.json)
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.
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
If you use a Primary Password then you can prevent losing passwords by canceling the PP prompt. You need to logout beforehand by canceling a PP prompt, e.g. by clicking the eye icon in Lockwise (about:logins).
Also see; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update
In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.
Thanks, FredMcD. That might have been helpful once, but the present logins-backup.json has a date modified after the issue.
I did have a file with password information stored, but someone else removed my access to it in a way I hadn't anticipated.
Firefox offering to save login information without reliable automatic backup and without warning the user feels like a treacherous act, like someone offering to carry your baggage for you and then running off with it.
Don't feel too bad. Firefox has removed all my passwords three times, the most recent about a month ago. Fortunately I have a 27 page Word document with all my credentials, since I administer a lot of stuff. But it is tedious to have to login again to over 200 sites I frequent on a monthly basis. I feel for people that don't keep actual backups of their credentials, in their desk or elsewhere locked up.