Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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

Corrupt History File

  • 1 nzaghachinzaghachi
  • 1 nwere nsogbu anwere nsogbu a
  • 8 views
  • Nzaghachi ikpeazụ nke cor-el

more options

I saw this problem addressed, but not sure how to proceed. Apparently I have a corrupt History file? Going to History, Clear Recent History doesn't work. I can go to Settings, Privacy and then Manage my Data to delete the recent pages (I usually delete all but 2 or 3).

But clearing my history is much faster than individually selecting each one. How do I get the History option to work? I'm using Firefox 97.

I saw this problem addressed, but not sure how to proceed. Apparently I have a corrupt History file? Going to History, Clear Recent History doesn't work. I can go to Settings, Privacy and then Manage my Data to delete the recent pages (I usually delete all but 2 or 3). But clearing my history is much faster than individually selecting each one. How do I get the History option to work? I'm using Firefox 97.

All Replies (1)

more options

Make sure you do not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode (Always use Private Browsing mode; Never Remember History).

  • Settings -> Privacy & Security
    Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"
  • remove checkmark: [ ] "Always use Private Browsing mode"

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).