My computer crashed and after restart I lost all my saved passwords. How do I recover it?
I was looking on a saved password when suddenly my computer crashed and rebooted. After restart I couldn't see any saved passwords. As a test I saved a password and that password is showing in the saved passwords list, but all the other ones are still gone. How do I recover my saved passwords?!
Thank You!
Gekose oplossing
If the file doesn't have valid data then you can't use this file.
You could try if there is a previous copy of the logins.json file.
- Right-click: Properties > Previous Versions
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Previous-versions-of-files-frequently-asked-questions
All Replies (12)
Just out of curiousity ,did you recently update firefox by any chance?
That sounds quite severe. Usually when Firefox crashes you get a dialog from Firefox ("Mozilla Crash Reporter"), or from Windows (sometimes offering the option to research the problem), or in the case of a device driver issue, a blue screen. I'm not sure what might cause Windows to reboot itself.
Do you use any add-ons to manage passwords in Firefox, or just the built-in features?
Do you have any security software that creates an on-screen keyboard or otherwise tries to protect logins?
If you lost passwords stored by Firefox, one possible reason is that the logins data file got corrupted by the crash. That might not be recoverable, but hopefully someone more familiar with the scenario will chime in.
I don't remember when I updated it. I keep all my software up to date. I don't have any security software installed or any password add-ons.
What exactly happened that day is, I was connecting to my home pc with Team Viewer from my iphone, as I needed to get a password for my online banking account. As I was reading the password, I got disconnected from teamviewer. When I reconnected i noticed my computer had just rebooted but this time I couldn't see anymore any saved passwords. I really hope i can recover these passwords as I have over a hundred passwords saved there :( I guess I was wrong in relying just on firefox to keep the record of my passwds.
Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
The "Remember Password" extension that shows in the System Details list has been reported to cause issues with the passwords disappearing, so if you have this extension then remove (uninstall) it.
I don't have such folder on my desktop. I have never saved my profile so I don't think the recover option applies in this case. I don't have any password related extension installed.
Do you still have all other personal data like the bookmarks?
Did you check there you are still using your original profile and that there hadn't been anew profile created possibly because of problems with the profiles.ini file?
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Recovering_a_missing_profile
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Go up one level to see if there is only one profile. C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
Hi cor-el, I still have all the other personal data. I have all my bookmarks. in the folder you mentioned "C:\Users\A\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles" there is only one folder named "gzvcrkk5.default"
Thank You Alex
You can try to open the logins.json file in the Scratchpad (Firefox/Tools > Web Developer) for inspection. Click the "Pretty Print" button to format the file
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
- Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
Hi again cor-el, in the profile directory i have logins.json file that contains just 3 entries. I also have the file "logins.json.corrupt" wich has exatly the date when my computer crashed. This file is big 179Kb, but when I open it it's full of red dots. (183370 of them). I have restarted the firefox in safe mode but I am already using the default theme. Should I use the "refresh" function?
thank you Alex
Gekose oplossing
If the file doesn't have valid data then you can't use this file.
You could try if there is a previous copy of the logins.json file.
- Right-click: Properties > Previous Versions
- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Previous-versions-of-files-frequently-asked-questions
Dear cor-el, you're a GENIUS!!! I did that, and found some earlier versions (one just 3 days before the crash day ). I restored to it and all my passwords are back. Thank you very much! You saved me from a lot of troubles! If you're ever coming to Spain let me know!
Cheers! Alex
Great to hear. Now do a backup as soon as you can.
Password Exporter {web link} This extension allows you to export your saved passwords and disabled login hosts using XML or CSV files that can be imported later.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
Gewysig op deur FredMcD