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How can I recover my old saved passwords from a Windos.old folder?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 534 views
  • Last reply by Peludo

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Hi there. I reinstalled Windows and forgot to save some passwords. I want to get back the passwords from the Windows.old folder and I didn't know how. Both are Windows 7.

Hi there. I reinstalled Windows and forgot to save some passwords. I want to get back the passwords from the Windows.old folder and I didn't know how. Both are Windows 7.

Chosen solution

Hi Peludo:

(1) Set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

(2) Explore down this path:

C:\Windows.old\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Under here, you should find your recent profile folder containing all of your data. If there are multiple folders, check the dates.

(3) You will find at least two of these three files relevant to saved logins:

  • logins.json
  • key3.db
  • key4.db

These should be kept together, but replacing the ones in your currently active profile folder (while Firefox is closed), might affect other files that use key3.db/key4.db. That could affect ability to make secure connections, so it's probably a good idea to also copy over this file at the same time:

  • cert8.db

For information on locating your currently live profile folder, see: Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

Please only delete, rename, or replace files in the profile folder after exiting out of Firefox and making sure it is no longer updating settings files.

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All Replies (5)

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Hi, is there a Mozilla Firefox folder in it ?

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Should say is your Windows/user folder there, please look through it for your Profile if it is.

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Chosen Solution

Hi Peludo:

(1) Set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

(2) Explore down this path:

C:\Windows.old\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Under here, you should find your recent profile folder containing all of your data. If there are multiple folders, check the dates.

(3) You will find at least two of these three files relevant to saved logins:

  • logins.json
  • key3.db
  • key4.db

These should be kept together, but replacing the ones in your currently active profile folder (while Firefox is closed), might affect other files that use key3.db/key4.db. That could affect ability to make secure connections, so it's probably a good idea to also copy over this file at the same time:

  • cert8.db

For information on locating your currently live profile folder, see: Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

Please only delete, rename, or replace files in the profile folder after exiting out of Firefox and making sure it is no longer updating settings files.

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Note that Firefox 58+ uses cert9.db for the certificates. If you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db


  • 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)
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Great, jscher2000's reply solved the issue. Thanks