This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

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

can not locate bookmarks and prevented from making bookmarks

  • 2 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Since a recent update, bookmarks have disappeared when computer shut down. I recovered them but today, I can not recover bookmarks and unable to make new bookmarks. I wonder if I have a virus

Since a recent update, bookmarks have disappeared when computer shut down. I recovered them but today, I can not recover bookmarks and unable to make new bookmarks. I wonder if I have a virus

All Replies (2)

more options

Sorry to hear about this problem. Inability to create new bookmarks or restore a bookmark backup can indicate a problem accessing one or two different databases used for bookmark-related data.

I suggest first shutting down and restarting your Mac at least once to release any file locks. That would minimize data loss if it works.

If that doesn't help, in order to figure out if a database is locked/inaccessible/corrupted, you could first try the "Verify Integrity" function. Here's how:

Open Firefox's Troubleshooting Information page using any of these methods:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Near the bottom, there is a section titled Places Database -- that's the file which stores history and bookmarks. Click the button labeled Verify Integrity. There may be a 10-15 second delay before results appear.

If all is well, the report that appears below the button should start with:

> Task: checkIntegrity
+ The places.sqlite database is sane
+ The favicons.sqlite database is sane

Does yours say that, or something else? You can select and copy the report, and then paste it into a reply for review and comment.

more options

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite then remove all places.sqlite and favicons.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.

  • keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created

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:preferences page.

See also: