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Misleading information from Mozilla about refreshing Firefox

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I refreshed because Firefox was slow. It seemed to help with browser speed, but, contrary to what your information about refreshing says, ALL of my bookmarks and my bookmarks toolbar were removed. I haven't checked for any add-ons or other features yet, but I find it inexcusable that you mislead users about the bookmarks. You should at least give us the opportunity to save bookmarks to install later.

I refreshed because Firefox was slow. It seemed to help with browser speed, but, contrary to what your information about refreshing says, ALL of my bookmarks and my bookmarks toolbar were removed. I haven't checked for any add-ons or other features yet, but I find it inexcusable that you mislead users about the bookmarks. You should at least give us the opportunity to save bookmarks to install later.

Chosen solution

You should keep the bookmarks and the JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder. If you didn't keep the bookmarks then something went wrong with the refresh.

Do you have the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop with that profile folder?

You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
  • logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other Site Preferences
  • sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:


When you use the Firefox Refresh feature then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks and history, form data, tabs) is automatically imported. The current profile folder will be moved to an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop. Installed extensions and other customizations (toolbars, prefs) that you have made are lost and need to be redone.

It is possible to recover data from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

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Chosen Solution

You should keep the bookmarks and the JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder. If you didn't keep the bookmarks then something went wrong with the refresh.

Do you have the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop with that profile folder?

You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
  • logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other Site Preferences
  • sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:


When you use the Firefox Refresh feature then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks and history, form data, tabs) is automatically imported. The current profile folder will be moved to an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop. Installed extensions and other customizations (toolbars, prefs) that you have made are lost and need to be redone.

It is possible to recover data from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.