Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Where have my logins gone?

  • 9 uphendule
  • 3 zinale nkinga
  • 1168 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu dungbkhn02

more options

I 'refreshed' firefox as suggested. The guidance suggested that all my logins and passwords would be preserved but when I check the Logins and Passwords all have been cleared. I am now faced with the arduous task of resetting many many login credential. Poor advice from Mozilla.

I 'refreshed' firefox as suggested. The guidance suggested that all my logins and passwords would be preserved but when I check the Logins and Passwords all have been cleared. I am now faced with the arduous task of resetting many many login credential. Poor advice from Mozilla.

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

You copy the two logins.json and key4.db files from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop to the current profile folder with Firefox closed to replace the current files. This means that you lose passwords you already saved in this profile, so make a note and make sure to keep a backup of the current files in case you need to access the old password files.

Funda le mpendulo ngokuhambisana nalesi sihloko 👍 1

All Replies (9)

more options

Sorry that happened to you.

Did an Old Firefox Data folder appear on your Windows 10 Desktop screen?
It should be there as long the Refresh process was allowed to run until is was completed and you waited until Firefox told you that the process was completed.

Also, is any other data missing from Firefox after the Refresh?

more options

Yes, I do have that file on my desktop. Please let me know how I can restore my login and pwd data from this file.

I don't appear to have anything else missing.


Thanks

more options

when you use the refresh feature in Firefox then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks and history, Form Data, tabs) is automatically imported. The current Firefox profile folder will be moved to an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop. Installed extensions and other customizations (toolbars, prefs) that you have made are lost and need to be redone.

It is possible to recover data from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.


You can copy logins.json and key4.db with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to recover the logins.

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.


  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.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)
more options

I have a Mac using Version 79. I, too, was misled by the 'REFRESH' option to correct my slow browser. I see the key4db. I see 2 versions from when I refreshed this morning and 2 from 2019. Am I understanding correctly, I must physically remove the current key4db somewhere and replace it with the key4db from the 'old Firefox folder' that has today's date on it? Can you indicate the pathway for me.

Please revise the refresh instructions, or correct the password/login info deletion from a refresh. This is very inconvenient and frustrating for non-techs.

more options

Hi Jodar66

The key4.db (previously key3.db) is the key file that stores the encryption key and the additional master password. The actual logins are stored in logins.json and the two files logins.json and key4.db need to match to be able to decrypt the logins stored in logins.json. The logins.json file is a plain text file and you can check its content in a text editor.

more options

So, after refreshing, I have the Old Firefox Data folder on my desktop. How do I restore the missing passwords and login info? Open the logins.json file and copy the contents that are presumably the login and password info into where, on my Mac?

more options

Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

You copy the two logins.json and key4.db files from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop to the current profile folder with Firefox closed to replace the current files. This means that you lose passwords you already saved in this profile, so make a note and make sure to keep a backup of the current files in case you need to access the old password files.

more options

Thanks - I followed the process you outlined above and works perfectly - I now have all my logins and password restored. Thanks

more options

I'am a programmer, server system manager

I've use firefox 10 year , to help remember password login

To now, I permanent lost password 3 times in some year, because I trusted Firefox Now I'm affraid, and can not believe again any more! I'm really affraid firefox!

Nightmare with many passwords lost now