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

Unable to restore Stored Backup

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Hi, I am using Linux Zorin and have updated to a later OS but cannot reinstall my stored files because, "/home/garry/.mozilla/firefox/0czvkt76.default-release/lock". Which has confused me, I have used a Deja Dup backup which uses Duplicity files as per the Zorin programme. Duplicate files are stored in a WD ext hard drive. What can I do to recover my files pls? Appreciate! Cheers, Garry

Hi, I am using Linux Zorin and have updated to a later OS but cannot reinstall my stored files because, "/home/garry/.mozilla/firefox/0czvkt76.default-release/lock". Which has confused me, I have used a Deja Dup backup which uses Duplicity files as per the Zorin programme. Duplicate files are stored in a WD ext hard drive. What can I do to recover my files pls? Appreciate! Cheers, Garry

All Replies (1)

more options

You do not need to backup or restore this lock file, it is only used to prevent more than one Firefox instance from using the profile at the same time, same for .parentlock


You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from one profile folder or backup to the current profile folder to recover 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)