I-Firefox Community Forum

Several weeks ago, I was attempting to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. In the process, I deleted Firefox (using Revo Uninstaller) and then reinstalled it, downloading it from the Mozilla website. Unfortunately, it didn’t run, giving me, at different attempts, different error messages. In the time since then, I have read many suggestions from many different websites and I have tried some of these suggestions, all with no success – until today. I have just completed the suggestions made on https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1327628 and Firefox is now back, working. I am happy and grateful, but not finished. None of my personal data came with the currently functioning version of Firefox. Since the re-emergence of Firefox, I have been reading several websites dealing with copy, backup and restore of my Firefox profile. Right now, the path C:\Users\rsuth\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ shows 5 folders: Two of the folders show 11/11/24 as the date modified (probably the date of the download from Mozilla). The folder 0dppjrfa.default contains one file, times.json, dated 8/11/2020. The other folder, ru82tlj5.default-release, has 97 items, most dated 11/11/2024. The remaining three folders are all dated 12/2/24 (today, as I write this). One folder’s name ends .default, the second name ends .default-release, and the third name ends .default-release-thirteen digits. The question that I am asking here is what do I do next to, hopefully, bring back the personal date I had with Firefox before my updating to Windows 11. Should I delete the folders dated 12/2/24? What, if anything, is the significance of the folder whose name ends in 13 digits? I’m hoping someone will be able to tell me how to fix these Firefox problems. And if I can, then I hope to be able to do something similar to help me bring back Thunderbird as well. Thunderbird became unfunctioning at the same time as Firefox. Thank you.

Today randomly i noticed that my bookmark bar is waaay shorter out of the blue, i didn't change or adjust anything, all i do is the updates from mozilla that's all, it was all music it really saddens me because atm it's lost forever, i hope somebody can help me (i don't know since when it disappered i literally just noticed it right now ...)

I often use the Sync function to bring open tabs over from my smartphone to my desktop computer. I have noticed over the past month or so, this functionality has become increasingly unreliable and sometimes does not function at all. At the moment I have no synced tabs showing on my desktop. I have signed out and back in to Mozilla on both my smartphone and desktop multiple times, checked the sync settings, and nothing seems to resolve this. There have been a couple Firefox updates on both the desktop and mobile side, none of which have changed this behavior.

Has anyone else been experiencing this? What other trouble shooting steps can I perform? Any help is much appreciated.

Desktop FF version: v131.0 Mobile FF version (Android): v130.0.1

Hello, I've got a bit of an issue with Sync. So, my current sync profile is outdated by ages, and I'd like to delete it completely and update it with all of the information on my desktop browser. But, when I try to enable sync on my desktop it overwrites my desktop profile with all of the outdated information saved on Sync. I can't seem to find anywhere to delete the saved Sync data so that I can upload a new copy.

I hope someone can help, thank you!

I am trying to get rid of old bookmarks.

I logged out of all my devices except my main PC, deleted many folders of unwanted bookmarks.

changed my password

on my other devices that were not connected to sync, I deleted all bookmarks completely.

I only wanted what was on my main PC that I worked so hard on.

now tonight on my PC all the old bookmarks are back again.

this page doesn't make any sense, there is no option to "Delete data from this device" when I sign out.

[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-sync-data-firefox-signing-out...]

Hello- seriously doubt there is any help for this, but I can't be the only one this has happened to:

I wanted to delete the last 2 hours of a firefox session only- the session has been ongoing for a month, with 100 of what were - to me- important tabs open. Session Restore on FireFox was turned on and it always works.

But tonight, I wanted to delete only about last 2 hours of history. So I thought to use the FORGET button. I set the app to 'forget' the last 2 hours of browsing history. And hit the button. and: ALL tabs- All tabs- every one for last month- Gone in a blink. Gone.

Perhaps the onus is, at least inn part, on me: This exact issue happened to me before- but I guess i had cast that soul-killing memory out of my mind; at least, till a few years later, tonight, when it just happend again.

But- It's been years !! And the forget button is still a catastophic trap, still luring fools like me, hiding in plain sight as a button on FF toolbar. That's true- right on the toolbar is a helpful, harmless-looking button that can ruin your life.

A catastrophy that has been built into FireFox for years- and still not fixed.

I did think that if the button had a problem years ago - and in a different version of Windows [last time it happened I was using XP], must be fixed by now- Honestly- I did think that.

-Has anyone else experienced this utterly demoralizing experience with FireFox "forget"?

-Is there any hope to recover the last session? [There are NO Profiles at all now, saved in the "Profiles" folder]

Again- any hope? Anyone else have this problem?

It's been years! Why is this MAJOR minefield even still prosperng in Firefox?

Hi,

My laptop had broken and I had to reinstall Windows. All of my files had been lost on the C drive, including Firefox bookmarks. Sadly there weren't any backup json files anywhere else. Is there a way to recover those bookmarks somehow?

Thank you, János

I am signing into my Mozilla account on a new computer with a clean Firefox install. I'm able to get into my account using an authorization code to my email, but Firefox Sync isn't working so no bookmarks/passwords/history/etc. I have a persistent "account disconnected" with a yellow triangle icon. Upon clicking through, I see "Please sign in to reconnect [my email address]" with a sign in button. Signing in does nothing. What's really strange is that my other Mozilla account works fine, which leads me to believe this is an account issue—except that I've synced this account across several devices already.

What do?

I want to copy/clone information in my Firefox Profile (Bookmarks, Logins, ..) from one device to another. Once that was accomplished, then I would enable Firefox Sync for the two devices.

Scenario: Device “A” (Profile A): Primary/Original/Source Device “B” (Profile B): Copy/Clone/Duplicate

I understand that if I set up Firefox Sync first and then sync the two devices what I will get is a combination/fusion of the information on the 2 devices, i.e., all the “good” stuff in Profile A plus all the superfluous stuff in Profile B that I would just as soon ignore/delete – which is not what I want. This issue has been raised in a number of other posts on this forum but with no suitable resolution offered (that I could find). I’m wondering if there might be a “work-around” that would achieve the desired result.

So ... would this work?

1) Back everything up first (of course!) 2) Glean any unique information to be preserved (Logins, etc.) from Profile B and incorporate it into Profile A (Profile A now has everything essential!) 3) Purge Profile B

   a) Create a New Profile on Device B (and delete old?)
   b) Delete everything possible from the new Profile B (default bookmarks, etc.)

4) Login to Mozilla account and enable Sync

The idea is to create a “blank” Profile on Device B so that when Profile A and Profile B are Synched together (combined), Profile A remains unchanged, and Profile B is populated with everything in Profile A (a perfect copy!). The result that I want after Sync is essentially A+B=A, the solution of which is of course B=0, hence the focus on creating a "blank" Profile B.

Instead of purging Profile B as above, an alternate method might be to first “pre-load” Bookmarks in Profile B by the usual method of Backing up Profile A Bookmarks and then Restoring them to Profile B. At this point Profile A and Profile B Bookmarks would be exactly the same and Synching the two devices should make no changes to either’s Bookmarks. Logins and other information would still have to be purged, but this could at least be a head start.

Presumably this idea could be extended to more than 2 devices (but with only one being the “Primary”).

Note that I am (myself) only concerned about Bookmarks and Logins, and am thus glossing-over how other information that might be important to others (Browsing History, Tabs, etc.) might be Synched.

Could someone from Mozilla/Firefox with a knowledge of the inner workings of these features please comment as to the efficacy of this “work-around”?

Thanks.

I wonder why Firefox still doesn't have a session manager, it's beyond my comprehension. I've lost all my tabs and no way to recover them, even with all the hacks I could find on forums online. And why should I spend time searching for solutions anyway?! Firefox should save all open tabs at least once a day, am I asking too much? I used to have an extension active that did regular backups automatically, but it stopped working due to changes that were made in one of the most recent Firefox releases. Why we still don't have a decent session manager?!

Hi, I hope someone can help me. Please note I live in UK and I have a Desktop Computer but do not have a mobile phone. I use Firefox browser. This is what happened over 2 days Thurs and Friday. 28-11-24 THURSDAY @1.38pm On Thursday morning I used my computer with Firefox browser, and it worked perfectly OK. Then I had to go out shopping @11-15am. When I came back in doors @1.38PM I turned on my computer, it booted up as normal, then a Blue Screen appeared, with a message from Microsoft re back up in Cloud. I have not actually used Cloud before, although I did try to set it up earlier this year but not completed. So, I thought I would try again. This time I tried to register for the first time on cloud, I entered my email address and country, date of birth and then a password. Maybe something else, can't remember.

Then it asked for a code number that it said it had sent to my email, but I could not get that email then as I was stuck in between booting up and the Desktop screen. ( I DO NOT HAVE A MOBILE PHONE) As I did not have the code number, I clicked on, what may have said “not now” or similar message. Anyway, it would not continue so I had no option than to press the back button arrow, top left corner, several times. I think it took me back to the page with choices. I think I clicked remind me in a few days, which took me to the Desktop.

Normally my computer automatically opens Firefox Browser, but this time, I had to open Firefox, still no problem so far and the rest of Thursday OK. I did not try Microsoft Cloud again on Thursday.

29-11-24 Friday @ about 10.15am I thought that when I booted up, it may go back to where I left it Thursday, but no. When I turned on, there was no sign of the Blue Screen or Microsoft Cloud message re Back Up. When computer reached the Desktop, it did not load Firefox but an ERROR MESSAGE. It said. ERROR: PLATFORM VERSION "133.0" IS NOT COMPATABLE WITH MINVERSION >= 132.0.2 MAXVERSION <= 132.0.2 MAYBE TRY TO REINSTALL FIREFOX

It worked perfectly well before I tried to set up Microsoft Cloud yesterday (Thurs 28-11-24) now I cannot load or use Firefox at all, because it comes up with the same message every time. I have tried turning the computer off and back on, no luck.

My worry about Reinstalling Firefox is that I have hundreds of websites saved in bookmarks folders and I am not sure if I would lose them.

At this moment I have had to endure Microsoft Edge which I don't like. Don't put me through any more pain. Can you please help out a pensioner lost in the modern technological world. Thank you David

I'm taking nightly incremental backups of /home for example to my home storage server and, I guess, due to the databases Firefox uses for various storage, those can't be backed up by just copying them, if Firefox is running and has the database open.

What are the best practices, then, for ensuring all profile data, including these databases, is in a state where it can be backed up, while Firefox is running, in a way it can be restored to a fully functioning profile?

For example, with MySQL databases, you can dump the log before running the backup each night, which basically exports the SQL statements needed so you can skip backing up the actual binary database file (like ibdata1).  Does SQLite need something similar?  and is this the only special consideration that is needed, or are there other specialized types of data within our profile directories that can't be backed up by simply copying the data while Firefox is running?

Thanks

Hello,

I have a huge problem with Shortcuts not syncing in the main page. I have my shortcuts organized and pinned how I like it but every single time I sync new machine or mobile, the shortcuts are not being synced and they are completely out of place and sometimes gone on my main machine. This cannot be like that and should be properly synced.

Best Dawid

When I sync my Firefox account, my old data, themes, and add-ons come back. There are add-ons, themes, passwords, and usernames from 3-4 years ago that I no longer use. How can I reset my sync data and sync again? In short, there is an 'overwrite' situation; the old data remains while the new data is synced over it.

I've never had this problem before, even though I've been using Firefox for 4 years. As soon as I try to connect to an account via Google, or go to Docs/Drive/Classroom, I'm always taken to a “Clear cache and delete cookies” page. So I followed the instructions on the page, deleted all my data and saved cookies from Firefox and even tried to reinstall Firefox completely, but nothing changed, I'm always redirected to this page.

Someone can help me please? I can provide more informations if needed.

Good day,

Firefox Synchronization restores my old data as soon as I sign in, even though I do not push synchronization.

I have absolutely no power to decide what gets restored. I do not see any possibility to update the data stored on my Firefox profile online.

But the oddest behavior is that I opened a new account from another PC in order to save my actual Firefox data. I then synchronized my data from the first PC with the new account, and this time, instead of overwriting my local data from my new account, it is the data from the new account that got overwritten from my local profile containing the old data.

To sum up things, it seems that:

- I cannot choose what gets saved or restored neither on my PC locally nor on my Firefox profile online.

- When I synchronize Firefox, my data gets randomly overwritten either on my PC locally or on my profile online, without giving me the choice to either backup or restore these data.

Is there any way to avoid this ? And how do I choose if synchronization overwrite my local profile from my online one or the other way round ?

Hello,

I have Firefox browser and ATT internet and email. I was unable to load email today until I spoke with live ATT tech support. He instructed me in clearing cache and cookies, had me open a private window, then asked me to open another window. He did get my ATT email restored, but when I had 2 windows open I accidentally closed my main window which had many pinned tabs and other tabs I wished to get to. Yes, too many tabs! So I have a new browser which does not have the configuration I want which is the one I had when I first called ATT. So I made a mistake and closed the wrong browser, I knew it as it happened but it was too late, I guess speaking with and listening to the tech messed up my concentration. I have made this mistake before and closed the wrong browser but fumbling around somehow I managed to recover the browser I wanted, I don't remember how exactly. I think it has been a couple of years since I screwed up this way. The History section of my Firefox menu does not offer a selection called 'restore previous session' that the instruction page shows, the only options at the top are Recently closed tabs, Recently closed windows, Search history. Then a bar followed by Clear Recent history, then today's history in the new browser. So I only get history from today's new browser. I am old and not tech savvy there is a lot of terminology I do not understand, I need a kindergartner's step by step instruction on this I am afraid, in clear English. I am afraid to do things like refresh or reinstall without knowing what I am doing. I appreciate your help. I use desktop Firefox for email, reading items of interest, social media, ordering merch. I do not do gaming, I have no website. It is late and I am going to bed soon. You can email me at jaelizlang@att.net. Thanks so much, Jane Langston, Clarkston GA

Transferring bookmarks & backups for passwords is easy and I'm not worried about that. But the about:config settings that I have customized and accreted over years so that nothing beeps, spins, auto-plays, loops, or throbs a tab, are not so straightforward. I'd like to review what files I can save how to make sure I do not lose these, which are the most important things to me about my Firefox installs--keeping the web safe for quiet, nondistracting searches and reading.

Windows 10 Enterprise, managed by my organization, but with just enough admin privileges to customize my Firefox.