Can't add, change or save bookmarks - How to fix

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  • Revision id: 17070
  • Created:
  • Creator: Jason
  • Comment: reorganized to put "read only" solution at top. removed firefox3 instructions, added warning about browsing history.
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  • Ready for localization: No
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If your bookmarks previously saved, but are now missing, see Lost bookmarks.

Unable to add new bookmarks or make other changes

If you are unable to add new bookmarks or if changes you make to the toolbar are not saved when you restart Firefox, see Changes to toolbars and window sizes are not saved.

If you cannot add new bookmarks or make other changes to your bookmarks and you have a Firefox extension related to bookmarks installed (e.g., for synchronizing bookmarks or detecting duplicate bookmarks) follow the instructions in Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems to determine if an extension is causing the problem.

It is recommended that you disable any extensions related to bookmarks as explained here, before proceeding with the rest of the solutions suggested below.


Changes are lost whenever you restart Firefox

If you are able to add, delete, rearrange, and make other changes to your bookmarks but your changes are lost whenever you restart Firefox, try these solutions.

Bookmarks file is write-protected

If your changes to your bookmarks do not appear when you restart Firefox, the issue may be that your bookmarks file is write-protected. A write-protected file cannot be changed, which prevents Firefox from saving any changes you have made.

Allow Firefox to save bookmark changes:

  1. Open your profile folder:

    • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

  2. Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Quit.
  3. Righ​t-clic​k the ​file​ plac​es.sqli​te, and select Properties to open the Properties window.
  4. In the Properties window, select the General tab. Near the bottom of the window, verify that Read-only is NOT selected.

    bookmarksnotsaved-readonly.png

To enable writing of your bookmarks file:

  1. Open your profile folder:

    • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

  2. Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Quit.
  3. Sele​ct the ​file​ plac​es.sqli​te.
  4. From the menu bar select the File menu and select Get Info. The places.sqlite info window will open.
  5. In the places.sqlite info window, remove the check mark from the Locked check box.

Places database file

Bookmarks and browsing history are stored in the Firefox profile folder in the file places.sqlite. If there is a problem with this file, your bookmark changes may be lost whenever you restart Firefox. You can force Firefox to create another places.sqlite file by deleting the existing one.

You might want to print these directions out, or copy them down to reference because you will have to close Firefox to delete the files.

Warning: Once you delete the places.sqlite file, you will loose all of your browsing history!


  1. Open your profile folder:

    • Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Help and select More Troubleshooting Information.From the Help menu, select More Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile FolderDirectory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.
    Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

  2. Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Exit.Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Quit Firefox.Click the Firefox menu Fx89menuButton and select Quit.
  3. In your profile folder, delete the places.sqlite file and, if it exists, places.sqlite-journal.
  4. (Optional) Also delete the file localstore.rdf. This will reset any toolbar customizations you have made.

Firefox will create a new places.sqlite file and automatically import the most recent bookmark backup file. Your bookmarks will be backed up, but you will loose your browsing history.

Note: You may also need to use these to reset the browser.places preferences to the default settings (see above).




Based on information from Bookmarks not saved (mozillaZine KB)