How to load Keys from old Key.db/logins.json File? After PC crash.
HI, I had a PC crash and I am now unable to use my old Installation, so I reinstalled Windows anew. Before that I could save some stuff.
I have saved the whole Firefox Profile Folder and the Installation.
Now I just copied the Key3 and Key4 + logins.json Files to my new Profile Folder (places, booksmarks, etc too) but nothing will be applied.
What do I have to do to get my old stuff back? Especially my Login Data and Bookmarks? Why does this not work anymore? Is it due to different Versions? Although I am pretty sure that my old FF was up to date. Is there a Log File?
Also I have an old logins.csv, but it has corrupt/incorrect symbols in it.
All Replies (5)
Ahh and I just realized that when I restart Firefox it will create an -n.corrupt everytime I try to use my old logins. The same happens when I use the logins-backup.
You can still make Firefox importing bookmarks from signons.sqlite, but that would give you passwords from years ago. You can force Firefox to reimport the passwords from the signons.sqlite file and rebuild the logins.json file with these steps:
reset the signon.importedFromSqlite pref on the about:config page to the default value via the right-click context menu delete the logins.json file in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed
There is no signons File.
It's possible that the crash actually did corrupt some files. As a starting point, you can open the logins.json file in a Firefox tab. If Firefox understands the structure to be valid JSON, it will display the contents in a structured view. (The encrypted/encoded fields require the key in key4.db to decrypt/decode.)
Did you ever enable Sync before the disaster? If so, and assuming your remember your original Firefox Account password, you can install the About Sync extension and then type or paste about:sync in the address bar to see whether your logins are in the Mozilla cloud. https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/about-sync/
Regarding bookmarks, did you get a copy of the bookmarkbackups folder? Those files work with the Restore feature (on the menu, you would select "Choose file" to point Firefox to wherever your backups can be found): Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.
How old is the backup you restored ? compatibility.ini stores the data of what Firefox version last used the profile.
Note that current releases only use key4.db and logins.json.
Firefox uses two locations for the Firefox profile folder. One location for your personal data (e.g. bookmarks) and another location for temporary files like the disk cache, so make sure to look in the correct location.
Location used for the main profile that keeps your personal data (Root Directory on about:profiles).
- C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>
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).
- Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data