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My bookmarks toolbar is selected but only shows empty space but show all bookmarks has all the entries in toolbar entry

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  • 6 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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When I open Firefox Quantum 58.0.1 (64-bit) there is an empty space where the bookmarks toolbar should be. The bookmarks toolbar is selected to be displayed. When deselected, the space closes, reselecting it causes the space to open but it remains blank. If I open 'show all bookmarks' then 'bookmarks toolbar', all the bookmarks are there. All my other bookmarks are there, and every one of them works. I have re-installed Firefox, but it made no difference. Everything else seems to be working. If anyone can help, I would be greatly obliged, as it is very time consuming to have to open all bookmarks all the time, just to get the toolbar ones.

When I open Firefox Quantum 58.0.1 (64-bit) there is an empty space where the bookmarks toolbar should be. The bookmarks toolbar is selected to be displayed. When deselected, the space closes, reselecting it causes the space to open but it remains blank. If I open 'show all bookmarks' then 'bookmarks toolbar', all the bookmarks are there. All my other bookmarks are there, and every one of them works. I have re-installed Firefox, but it made no difference. Everything else seems to be working. If anyone can help, I would be greatly obliged, as it is very time consuming to have to open all bookmarks all the time, just to get the toolbar ones.

Chosen solution

Open the Customize window and set what toolbars (Show/Hide Toolbars) and toolbar items to display.

  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the Customize palette to the Customize window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize window to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click the Restore Defaults button in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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All Replies (5)

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Hi dekles.

According to your descriptions, it looks like your toolbar controls in Firefox got messed up a bit. But do not worry, it's not that hard to fix. ;)

First open the toolbar customization as described in Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars. There in the bottom right you will see Restore Defaults button, so click it. After that the default toolbar layout will be restored. Now it's time to toggle the setting to display the bookmarks toolbar again.

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Seçilmiş Həll

Open the Customize window and set what toolbars (Show/Hide Toolbars) and toolbar items to display.

  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the Customize palette to the Customize window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize window to the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click the Restore Defaults button in the Customize palette window to restore the default toolbar set.
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This has happened to me too. But all my Bookmarks have actually disappeared (so it is not wonder that my Bookmarks Toolbar is empty) along with all my History. This is as a result of upgrading to Firefox 52.7.3 64 bit.

Note that I do not want to restore the defaults - I want my old bookmarks back in full, and those in the toolbar to go back there. I also have tried restoring a previous version of the bookmarks but just get the message "Unable to process the backup file."

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Thank you, but this does not provide any solution to the problem

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Hi HenryGasko

The error message "Unable to process the backup file" means that the places.sqlite database is corrupted and you either need to repair the file or remove all places.sqlite files and let Firefox create a new places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.


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.