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

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

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

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file

If "Verify Integrity" 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.

• keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox

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.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

None of that worked. It was an egg-and-a-chicken problem: I could export and import bookmarks to a json file with the current sqlite database but couldn't export to html. So I deleted the sqlite database and was able to export to html but it was blank as it was a fresh database. But at least it worked. So I thought I was saved as I figured I would import bookmarks from the json file. Wrong! Firefox couldn't process the json file with the fresh sqlite database. WTF Firefox? So how did I solve the problem? You crack the egg, of course! How do you crack it? Google Chrome! Import Firefox bookmarks into Chrome and export as html. Create a new sqlite database in Firefox and import said html file. Done! Thanks for being no help Mozilla Support! Yay!

Hi,

I'm investigating some related issues. Have you ever used the xmarks add-on?

Also, do you still have the old place.sqlite that was causing the issue? Is that something that you'd be willing to send me direct to try and analyse the issue? (I can send you instructions if so).

See also this discussion:

• /forums/contributors/712980 Problems exporting bookmarks to HTML file

Hi draito, if you still have any files from the bookmarkbackups folder created during the time you had this problem, could you set one aside for possible later study? Otherwise, Firefox will eventually cycle it out when saving a newer one. The explanation for why it can't be restored might be apparent from the contents of the file.

In case you haven't visited that folder before, you can open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Then scroll down to and double-click into the bookmarkbackups folder. You can right-click > Copy a backup from the problem period and then paste it somewhere safe (e.g., Documents folder).

Standard8 said

Hi, I'm investigating some related issues. Have you ever used the xmarks add-on?

Why yes, I have. I used XMarks forever, never had any issues with it. After a looong hiatus from Firefox I returned when Quantum was released. Am pretty happy. Mostly. The add-ons... Well, I'll save my rant for another time. XMarks: I installed it as soon as it was available for Quantum. Seemed to work OK but then the issues started. It was duplicating bookmarks (or was it just folders? I forget). A lot. After cleaning it up a few times I gave up. Their support couldn't get their shit together. And now they're gone... who knew? Anyhoo, I enabled Firefox sync and it seems to work fine so I can access my bookmarks on different devices. But I also wanted to have a local backup. That's when I ran into this issue. Now, let's see if we can get to the bottom of this. Just let me know how I can help.

Also, do you still have the old place.sqlite that was causing the issue? Is that something that you'd be willing to send me direct to try and analyse the issue? (I can send you instructions if so).

Yes, I do. Are you with Mozilla support?

jscher2000 said

Hi draito, if you still have any files from the bookmarkbackups folder created during the time you had this problem, could you set one aside for possible later study? Otherwise, Firefox will eventually cycle it out when saving a newer one. The explanation for why it can't be restored might be apparent from the contents of the file. In case you haven't visited that folder before, you can open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer. Then scroll down to and double-click into the bookmarkbackups folder. You can right-click > Copy a backup from the problem period and then paste it somewhere safe (e.g., Documents folder).

I have backups.

Thank you for sending me the file, that has been very helpful as I've just seen an issue we've not seen before, so we'll look into handling that case as well.

On the technical side, it looks like your "Other Bookmarks" folder somehow got deleted, and then at some stage later got recreated. However, when it was recreated, it was under the wrong parent - it was under the "Bookmarks Menu" rather than the root entry. This is enough to confuse the exporting routines unfortunately.

Like I say, we'll look at providing something to see if we can get that automatically corrected in case other people are seeing the same issue.

Excellent! Glad it was helpful.

Other Bookmarks: yeah, now I remember that long ago, when I originally used Firefox (and maybe after I installed Xmarks? can't say for sure) I noticed that folder gained a duplicate somewhere along the way, but one of them was always empty. Since it didn't create any problems I just didn't bother looking into it. It worked OK through my adventures with Opera, Chrome, Vivaldi and didn't start acting up until I tried Quantum. So if I have a need for this functionality I'll use the Chrome workaround for the time being.

Thanks again and wishing good luck with Firefox Quantum. You're doing a great job so far!