Hi Carolyn, as you add bookmarks, Firefox stashes the site icons in a database file named favicons.sqlite. It sounds like your file was delete or became corrupted or otherwise became disconnected. Normally those will start reappearing as you use the bookmarks again.

I can't even 'open a page in a new tab'. That function has also disappeared.  ?????

This is missing when you right-click a bookmark or a link? If it's a link, try holding the Shift key when you right-click to bypass any custom right-click menu that page might be trying to substitute.

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

• use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

• keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
• you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

• Bookmarks -> Show All Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-add-change-or-save-bookmarks

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 (Root directory).

• 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

Thanks #jscher2000. Unfortunately, what is happening now is that I when I click on those icons they don't work at all. I didn't realise that last night. And yes, when I hover over a bookmark and right click and choose to 'open in a new tab' it's not doing anything. But that might also be because I can't click on any of those Bookmarks anymore.

Thanks #cor-el. I had a few ways to get to 'bookmarks' but the second way got me to where I could follow your steps, and this has restored all of them. Thanks a bunch.