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Bookmarks

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

Ralph Whittle
Ralph Whittle
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Last week Firefox just quit browsing. After much frustration, I just uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox. Now it seems that Firefox will NOT bookmark properly. After doing a normal bookmark, the blue star shows in the URL line but I can NOT find the newly linked URL where I put it. However, if I export the bookmarks to a html backup file, the new bookmarks appear in the backup file exactly where I put it.

I tried Firefox Help, the instructions, "Can't add, change or save bookmarks - How to fix | Firefox Help" did not help. The places.sqlite file was unchecked for Read Only. Trying to create a new bookmark file seemed overwhelming.

I lost most of a day when Firefox quit browsing. After discovering this bookmark problem, I have spent over an hour trying to solve it. And I fear there are other problems ahead as well. Having used Firefox for years, I just do not want to go to Chrome or Edge (aaarrrghhh), but I can't afford the lost time.

Is there a real (and simple) solution to this bookmark problem? Please help!

Last week Firefox just quit browsing. After much frustration, I just uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox. Now it seems that Firefox will NOT bookmark properly. After doing a normal bookmark, the blue star shows in the URL line but I can NOT find the newly linked URL where I put it. However, if I export the bookmarks to a html backup file, the new bookmarks appear in the backup file exactly where I put it. I tried Firefox Help, the instructions, "Can't add, change or save bookmarks - How to fix | Firefox Help" did not help. The places.sqlite file was unchecked for Read Only. Trying to create a new bookmark file seemed overwhelming. I lost most of a day when Firefox quit browsing. After discovering this bookmark problem, I have spent over an hour trying to solve it. And I fear there are other problems ahead as well. Having used Firefox for years, I just do not want to go to Chrome or Edge (aaarrrghhh), but I can't afford the lost time. Is there a real (and simple) solution to this bookmark problem? Please help!

All Replies (1)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most 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 lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

See also:

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).