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Bookmarks disappeared, restore doesn't work

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by aearon09

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My bookmarks disappeared mysteriously yesterday while I was using the browser. All of them (I have a lot), there's nothing in the bookmarks toolbar. I use Firefox on two different machines regularly, and yesterday the second machine was fine, bookmarks still there. Today I logged on and the second computer had lost its bookmarks too.

I tried restoring. It worked on my other computer, no problem, all bookmarks returned. However, on this one the restore points are visible, but when I click them, nothing happens. I have tried restarting Firefox, no luck. Any ideas?

My bookmarks disappeared mysteriously yesterday while I was using the browser. All of them (I have a lot), there's nothing in the bookmarks toolbar. I use Firefox on two different machines regularly, and yesterday the second machine was fine, bookmarks still there. Today I logged on and the second computer had lost its bookmarks too. I tried restoring. It worked on my other computer, no problem, all bookmarks returned. However, on this one the restore points are visible, but when I click them, nothing happens. I have tried restarting Firefox, no luck. Any ideas?

Chosen solution

Make sure toolbars like the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible. Open the Customize page and set what toolbars (Show/Hide Toolbars) and toolbar items to display.


  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the Customize palette to the Customize page to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize page to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click Restore Defaults in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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All Replies (6)

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Are you using Sync to sync the bookmarks ? Did you try to reboot the computer ?

Firefox keeps a backup of the bookmarks and you should be able to restore the bookmarks.

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cor-el said

Are you using Sync to sync the bookmarks ? Did you try to reboot the computer ? Firefox keeps a backup of the bookmarks and you should be able to restore the bookmarks.

I do use sync, but I am afraid to manually sync in case it erases the bookmarks on my other computer again. Also, as mentioned, I did try restoring. The files are there (various backups dated over the past weeks/months), but when I click on them, it does not restore the bookmarks. The bookmarks bar remains blank.

Modified by aearon09

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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).

See also:

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).

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I tried running the Verify Integrity tool, it did not seem to come up with any issues. But I went ahead and removed those files you mentioned, restarted, and tried to restore the backup again. Same problem; the backups are there, but they won't restore. I have tried four of them so far and none of them restore anything.

When i click on Bookmarks Manager, it does show my bookmarks there. But they don't show up in the toolbar.

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Chosen Solution

Make sure toolbars like the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible. Open the Customize page and set what toolbars (Show/Hide Toolbars) and toolbar items to display.


  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the Customize palette to the Customize page to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize page to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click Restore Defaults in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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That fixed it! I had tried "Show" and "hide" the bookmarks toolbar but hadn't tried dragging it back into place in the customize menu. Thank you!