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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Lost Bookmarks and can't recover them from jsonlz4 files

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by someguy55

someguy55
someguy55
more options

Hi Everybody, [I'm on a mac running Yosemite]

I lost my FF bookmarks, and I'm not sure why (no HD crash or otherwise obvious hack, Malwarebytes says no issues, etc.).

So now when I open FF, there are no bookmarks.

I opened the Bookmark Library, try to recover them from the backups folder, and it says "Unable to process the backup file" The sample format of the backup files is (I replaced some digits wih "..." in the middle in case of security): bookmarks-2017-06-28_2877_uJHIQcI...PzHQ==.jsonlz4

It also cannot save new bookmarks. When I save a webpage as a bookmark, it simply doesn't add it to any bookmark folder. And when I am in the Library folder and click the Gear drop down menu, all the options to create new bookmarks are greyed out.

...any suggestions?

Thanks!

Hi Everybody, [I'm on a mac running Yosemite] I lost my FF bookmarks, and I'm not sure why (no HD crash or otherwise obvious hack, Malwarebytes says no issues, etc.). So now when I open FF, there are no bookmarks. I opened the Bookmark Library, try to recover them from the backups folder, and it says "Unable to process the backup file" The sample format of the backup files is (I replaced some digits wih "..." in the middle in case of security): bookmarks-2017-06-28_2877_uJHIQcI...PzHQ==.jsonlz4 It also cannot save new bookmarks. When I save a webpage as a bookmark, it simply doesn't add it to any bookmark folder. And when I am in the Library folder and click the Gear drop down menu, all the options to create new bookmarks are greyed out. ...any suggestions? Thanks!

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

See also:

If the Places Maintenance extension can't repair the places.sqlite database then remove all places.sqlite file(s) in the Firefox profile folder to make Firefox rebuild the places.sqlite database from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

someguy55
someguy55 Question owner
more options

Thanks cor-el!

The Places Maintenance extension didn't work. When I tried running it, it would just say "Fetching stats..." indefinitely.

However, deleting all my places.sqlite files in my profile and reloading FF

      • DID WORK***

To do this I had to unlock my Mac Library so I could access it. (http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/22/access-user-library-folder-in-os-x-lion/)

Then follow the instructions under "Rebuild Places Database" under the page you suggested: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox

Thanks again! SG55