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Restore bookmarks from prior Firefox version - prior help posts cannot be followed

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I just downloaded the new Firefox and replaced the old application. All my bookmarks are gone. When I go to Manage and Restore, it tells me to choose a file but I don't seem to have the file on my computer. Under library>application support there is no Firefox folder. There is a Mozilla folder, but the only thing in it is the "extensions" folder with one file. I have a backup of my full computer on a hard drive from before the download, but I can't seem to find a file there either. I don't think I ever specifically asked my computer to save the Bookmarks. Does it auto save in the application? Is there a way to restore the prior version of Firefox on my computer?

I just downloaded the new Firefox and replaced the old application. All my bookmarks are gone. When I go to Manage and Restore, it tells me to choose a file but I don't seem to have the file on my computer. Under library>application support there is no Firefox folder. There is a Mozilla folder, but the only thing in it is the "extensions" folder with one file. I have a backup of my full computer on a hard drive from before the download, but I can't seem to find a file there either. I don't think I ever specifically asked my computer to save the Bookmarks. Does it auto save in the application? Is there a way to restore the prior version of Firefox on my computer?

Chosen solution

In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the "~/Library" folder in the Home directory is a hidden folder.

Primary location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data (Root Directory on about:profiles).

  • ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>

You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from one profile folder to another/current profile folder to transfer/recover/backup your personal data. Note that best is to avoid restoring a full profile folder and only restore important files that are safe to restore/transfer.


  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (encrypted logins) and key4.db (encryption key/primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)
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Chosen Solution

In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the "~/Library" folder in the Home directory is a hidden folder.

Primary location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data (Root Directory on about:profiles).

  • ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>

You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from one profile folder to another/current profile folder to transfer/recover/backup your personal data. Note that best is to avoid restoring a full profile folder and only restore important files that are safe to restore/transfer.


  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (encrypted logins) and key4.db (encryption key/primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)
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Thank you so much!!