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password recovery
My laptop crashed last night
I had to reboot windows. I had a lot of passwords saved on my firefox browser How can i recover these passwords? I need them to run software for college
Sincerely Ben Martens
Chosen solution
By recent data, I meant that the files are dated close to the time of the crash rather than being months or years old. If you double-click into one of the profile folders (the names are partially random, like 1z45bu7s.default-release), and set Windows File Explorer to show the date column, are the dates from this week?
For next steps, this is what I suggest trying. I suggest opening this post in a different browser for reference since closing Firefox is part of the process.
(A) Double-click into the old "1z45bu7s.default-release" (or whatever) folder. Here you should see the bookmarkbackups folder and many, many files.
Resize/position that Windows File Explorer window on the left side of the screen (we are going to copy/paste left to right). Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox.
(B) Type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter to load that page.
This page should list at least one profile and could list many. (Each profile has two folders and one or more buttons. Do not use any Remove buttons!)
The profile that Firefox is currently using will have this:
This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.
On the Root Directory row for that profile, click the Open Folder button to launch that folder in Windows 10's File Explorer
Resize/position that destination window on the right side of the screen.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox.
(C) Exit Firefox using the menu (menu button > Exit, or on the menu bar, File > Exit)
After allowing time for Firefox to complete its shutdown routine, we're going to rename the working files in the live profile in case you need them later, and/or in case your windows are switched.
(D) In the destination window on the right side:
- right-click the logins.json file, click Rename, then assign a name like loginsOLD.json and press Enter or click away to complete the edit
- right-click the key4.db file, click Rename, then assign a name like key4OLD.db and press Enter or click away to complete the edit
(E) Starting in the source window on the left side, transfer the saved logins files:
- (left side) right-click logins.json, then click Copy
- (right side) right-click a blank area of the file listing in the destination window on the right side and click Paste
- (left side) right-click key4.db, then click Copy
- (right side) right-click a blank area of the file listing in the destination window on the right side and click Paste
(F) Transfer bookmark backups:
In the source window on the left:
- Double-click the bookmarkbackups folder to open it -- Firefox should display numerous files with names similar to: bookmarks-2023-04-22_1045_gibberish==.jsonlz4
- Select all of the backup files using Ctrl+A.
- Right-click any file, then click Copy
In the destination window on the right:
- Double-click the bookmarkbackups folder to open it -- probably this is empty or just has a small file for today
- Right-click a blank area of the folder and click Paste -- Windows should drop in all the files you copied in the other window
(G) Start Firefox
Firefox should automatically detect the copied-in logins files. If you check saved logins, is the data there?
To restore one of those bookmark backups, use the steps in this article: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.
Success?
Read this answer in context 👍 2All Replies (7)
Hi Ben, when you say you had to "reboot," do you mean turn your computer off and on again, or something more drastic?
Any crash has the potential to corrupt data, but a long as you did not reformat your disk, you may be able to get some of it back.
Did your Firefox manage to retain your other settings/history/add-ons, the only data lost was your saved logins?
Dropa: Is it possible to save passwords without syncing? I don't think i synced my firefox
jscher2000: I got a blueschreen from anti piracy software. I had to reset my computer and lost all firefox data
MartensBen said
jscher2000: I got a blueschreen from anti piracy software. I had to reset my computer and lost all firefox data
Oh, that sounds like something different than the Windows Reset/Refresh where Windows asks whether you want your data saved. But just in case, can you find a folder named
C:\Windows.old
in Windows' File Explorer?
If you find that folder:
Set Windows to show hidden files and folders -- this Microsoft article has the steps:
Then explore that folder up to this point (if it exists):
C:\Windows.old\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
If you find recent data there, please pause and we can suggest how to resurrect your saved files.
what do you mean with recent data? i have opened the folder you asked thank you for your response
Chosen Solution
By recent data, I meant that the files are dated close to the time of the crash rather than being months or years old. If you double-click into one of the profile folders (the names are partially random, like 1z45bu7s.default-release), and set Windows File Explorer to show the date column, are the dates from this week?
For next steps, this is what I suggest trying. I suggest opening this post in a different browser for reference since closing Firefox is part of the process.
(A) Double-click into the old "1z45bu7s.default-release" (or whatever) folder. Here you should see the bookmarkbackups folder and many, many files.
Resize/position that Windows File Explorer window on the left side of the screen (we are going to copy/paste left to right). Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox.
(B) Type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter to load that page.
This page should list at least one profile and could list many. (Each profile has two folders and one or more buttons. Do not use any Remove buttons!)
The profile that Firefox is currently using will have this:
This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.
On the Root Directory row for that profile, click the Open Folder button to launch that folder in Windows 10's File Explorer
Resize/position that destination window on the right side of the screen.
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox.
(C) Exit Firefox using the menu (menu button > Exit, or on the menu bar, File > Exit)
After allowing time for Firefox to complete its shutdown routine, we're going to rename the working files in the live profile in case you need them later, and/or in case your windows are switched.
(D) In the destination window on the right side:
- right-click the logins.json file, click Rename, then assign a name like loginsOLD.json and press Enter or click away to complete the edit
- right-click the key4.db file, click Rename, then assign a name like key4OLD.db and press Enter or click away to complete the edit
(E) Starting in the source window on the left side, transfer the saved logins files:
- (left side) right-click logins.json, then click Copy
- (right side) right-click a blank area of the file listing in the destination window on the right side and click Paste
- (left side) right-click key4.db, then click Copy
- (right side) right-click a blank area of the file listing in the destination window on the right side and click Paste
(F) Transfer bookmark backups:
In the source window on the left:
- Double-click the bookmarkbackups folder to open it -- Firefox should display numerous files with names similar to: bookmarks-2023-04-22_1045_gibberish==.jsonlz4
- Select all of the backup files using Ctrl+A.
- Right-click any file, then click Copy
In the destination window on the right:
- Double-click the bookmarkbackups folder to open it -- probably this is empty or just has a small file for today
- Right-click a blank area of the folder and click Paste -- Windows should drop in all the files you copied in the other window
(G) Start Firefox
Firefox should automatically detect the copied-in logins files. If you check saved logins, is the data there?
To restore one of those bookmark backups, use the steps in this article: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.
Success?
It worked Thank you! you really saved me
Great result! Thank you for working through that.