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

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  • Revision id: 6037
  • Created:
  • Creator: Michael Verdi
  • Comment: removed {for} around Places database file section
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: zzxc
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: zzxc
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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.

Places preferences

If changes to bookmarks are not being saved after restarting Firefox 3, reset the browser.places preferences to the default settings:

  1. Type about:config in the address bar and press EnterReturn.
    A warning page may appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue to go to the about:config page.

    Fx3aboutconfig.png
  2. In the Filter box, type browser.places
  3. For each browser.places preference that has a user-set status, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click on it and select Reset.

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 can be lost whenever you restart Firefox. You can fix this by forcing Firefox to rebuild the Places database, as follows:

  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 FolderProfile Directory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
    Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking Open Folder or 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.

#(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.

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

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 your edits to your bookmarks from being saved.

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 FolderProfile Directory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
    Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking Open Folder or 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 FolderProfile Directory, click Open FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window will open that contains your profile folder.Your profile folder will open.Your profile directory will open.
    Note: If Firefox displays an error after clicking Open Folder or 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.




Based on information from Bookmarks not saved (mozillaZine KB)