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Bookmarks do not show up in bookmarks bar

  • 2 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 623 views
  • Last reply by adrianh

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I'd like to first state that although the bookmarks are not showing up, the bookmarks bar is.

I don't know what has caused this but somehow, FF has stopped showing the bookmarks in the bookmarks bar. I also cannot drag and drop a link onto the bar either. When I try that, I get a circle with a slash through it.

I've tried a few things, including:

1. Installing Places Maintenance 2.0.3 add on and attempting a fix. 2. Backing up my bookmarks and deleting the places.sqlite file as stated here:

   http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox

Neither helped and has not allowed me to view old bookmarks or drag new bookmarks onto it.

NOTE that the bookmarks are still there. I can see them when I click on the bookmarks icon and show the Bookmarks Toolbar. Now that I think about it. They shouldn't be there should they? Shouldn't the bookmarks be wiped out? I didn't import them yet. The only thing that did change is that their icons disappeared when viewing them from the bookmarks menu.

This happened on my father's machine a few days ago according to him. I don't see any recent releases, so I'm not sure what it could be. Is it possible that he accidentally activated/deactivated something? He is almost blind and sometimes doesn't notice when he clicks on things.

I'd like to first state that although the bookmarks are not showing up, the bookmarks bar is. I don't know what has caused this but somehow, FF has stopped showing the bookmarks in the bookmarks bar. I also cannot drag and drop a link onto the bar either. When I try that, I get a circle with a slash through it. I've tried a few things, including: 1. Installing Places Maintenance 2.0.3 add on and attempting a fix. 2. Backing up my bookmarks and deleting the places.sqlite file as stated here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox Neither helped and has not allowed me to view old bookmarks or drag new bookmarks onto it. NOTE that the bookmarks are still there. I can see them when I click on the bookmarks icon and show the Bookmarks Toolbar. Now that I think about it. They shouldn't be there should they? Shouldn't the bookmarks be wiped out? I didn't import them yet. The only thing that did change is that their icons disappeared when viewing them from the bookmarks menu. This happened on my father's machine a few days ago according to him. I don't see any recent releases, so I'm not sure what it could be. Is it possible that he accidentally activated/deactivated something? He is almost blind and sometimes doesn't notice when he clicks on things.

Chosen solution

It is possible that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is no longer on the Bookmarks Toolbar.


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

  • Right-click empty toolbar area -> Customize
  • "3-bar" menu button -> Customize
  • View -> Toolbars
    *you can tap the Alt key or press F10 to show the Menu Bar
  • 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 window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize window to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click the Restore Defaults button in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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Chosen Solution

It is possible that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is no longer on the Bookmarks Toolbar.


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

  • Right-click empty toolbar area -> Customize
  • "3-bar" menu button -> Customize
  • View -> Toolbars
    *you can tap the Alt key or press F10 to show the Menu Bar
  • 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 window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize window to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click the Restore Defaults button in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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Yeah, thanks. Discovered this last night. Didn't know that you could do that.

Not sure how my father could have removed this by accident. Wouldn't he have had to go into the customizer and remove it? Very strange.