can no longer add, edit, tag, or remove bookmarks - when I click on the icon, no dropdown appears
I can't figure out which topic to use for this but I can't submit it without one.
When I click on the star icon in the address bar the star icon is filled in, and existing bookmarks do show with the filled-in star icon and they work. But I no longer get a dropdown where I can assign a folder, edit, tag, or delete an existing bookmark, and the pages I've tried to bookmark don't show up in Recently Bookmarked so they haven't been added. I don't know if it has something to do with the toolbar?
Nothing I can find online helps. The places.sqlite file in my profile is not read-only, and I refreshed Firefox (stupidly, before I took a screenshot of the pinned shortcuts on my New Tabs page) and that made no difference. The only extension I use is UBlock Origin. Changing profiles did not help. This is on my personal laptop and no organization controls my settings.
I stay up to date on Windows 11 and Firefox updates. I do use a VPN but it never interfered with bookmarking functionality before. (I see Firefox offers a free one now but I've got a couple of years left on my paid subscription).
I asked the community but got no replies. (I did "reply" to add more information which no longer applies, and I can't seem to delete the "reply".)
Thanks in advance for any help!
Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia
doodlerzq, did you try either Troubleshoot Mode, or creating a temporary 2nd test profile just for checking if you could bookmark normally there? (note, I know that you have refreshed, but that is not the same as creating a new blank profile)
Also, can you manually create bookmarks? As in, go to the Bookmarks library, select Add Bookmark from the Organise menu, then filling in the fields?
Some other possibilities to consider.
The bookmarks system is saved in two files, places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite. I know that you have checked a few things with places.sqlite, but if you haven't already you could try the same checks with favicons.sqlite. (such as checking if it is read-only, or moving it out of the profile folder to force a recreation of it)
It might be a question of file permissions, as in for some reason there is no longer sufficient permission for Firefox to work with these two files. (note, I know that you have checked the read-only status of at least places.sqlite, but I am talking about the file ownership / control kinds of permissions)
Or it might be that anti-virus software or other 3rd-party applications are interfering. You could try running Windows in safe mode then testing.
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doodlerzq, I am not sure which site you are referring to specifically. Thanks for the consideration however I do not think that there is a need to name anyone. Ultimately all I did was suggest remedies that may have helped users in the past. But again, thanks for the thought!
TechHorse, I meant https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-add-change-or-save-bookmarks. The information about favicons.sqlite might help others - but I won't quote you on that. :)
Thank you very much for the help!
I'm having the same problems. I'm not as savvy as you folks are. Can someone tell me more about favicons.sqlite, such as where to find it and what steps to take? Thanks in advance.
@benb28 -
There are instructions for opening your profile folder at Can't add, change or save bookmarks - How to fix under the 'Fix the bookmarks file' subheading. You can find both the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in your profile folder.
There are also instructions under that subheading for checking the read-only properties of the files.
If that doesn't work (I think it didn't for me), proceed to the 'Create a new bookmarks file' subheading and try that. You may have to do it for both files.
Good luck!
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