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Lost all my data, suspect corrupt places.sqlite file, need help recovering and restoring data.

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Data loss, suspect corrupt places.sqlite file, need help recovering and restoring data.

Reinstalled Windows 10 and Firefox 63.0.1 on new hard drive, still have old data files but suspect corrupt places.sqlite file, someone please help recover and restore my data.

Thank you, JChavez

Data loss, suspect corrupt places.sqlite file, need help recovering and restoring data. Reinstalled Windows 10 and Firefox 63.0.1 on new hard drive, still have old data files but suspect corrupt places.sqlite file, someone please help recover and restore my data. Thank you, JChavez

Modified by ChavezJ

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What makes you think that places.sqlite is possibly corrupted Did you try to copy files from those old data files to the current Firefox profile folder?

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.


You can copy files like these with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to recover specific data. Note that you should be cautious with copying SQLite database files if you previously had problems.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
    if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
  • cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
    if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)

If "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page cannot repair places.sqlite then remove all places.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder, so make sure to restore these backups.