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.

Bookmarks missing

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

howardmdavis
howardmdavis
more options

I recently upgraded my old MacBookPro with new hardware (2TSSD, 16GB memory, etc.). Before I upgraded, I backed up my hard drive using Mac's TimeMachine. And then, after loading Catalina in the upgraded MacBook, I "restored" my "new" computer with the Time Machine Backup. I loaded&opened Firefox and clicked on the 64bit version, but I can't find any bookmarks from my old hard drive. Not sure where to look either on my Time machine backup, or on the "new" drive. ( I find most the articles about backup, library folders, etc. to be very confusing.)

I'd appreciate whatever help you can give in restoring my bookmarks. My current bookmarks are critical, and I use my older ones for reference all the time. Thanks

I recently upgraded my old MacBookPro with new hardware (2TSSD, 16GB memory, etc.). Before I upgraded, I backed up my hard drive using Mac's TimeMachine. And then, after loading Catalina in the upgraded MacBook, I "restored" my "new" computer with the Time Machine Backup. I loaded&opened Firefox and clicked on the 64bit version, but I can't find any bookmarks from my old hard drive. Not sure where to look either on my Time machine backup, or on the "new" drive. ( I find most the articles about backup, library folders, etc. to be very confusing.) I'd appreciate whatever help you can give in restoring my bookmarks. My current bookmarks are critical, and I use my older ones for reference all the time. Thanks

All Replies (3)

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

Firefox uses two locations for the Firefox profile folder, 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).

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

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.

howardmdavis
howardmdavis Question owner
more options

Thanks, cor-el

I looked in both folders, but I don’t see any bookmarks. It seems like these folders only have data for my current version of Firefox, which I just opened. Actually, I found this file, which is the only one with a chunk of data, but I can't open it: favicons.sqlite 5.2MB Document

When I backed up this new hard drive would the Time Machine backup include the profile (bookmarks, etc.) from the version of Firefox that I was using initially?

I think my question is how do I find all the bookmarks from the older version of Firefox that I was using before I updated my computer? I’m assuming that my profile transfers from one version of Firefox to the next.

Suggestions?

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

Did you try to locate the Firefox profile folder in the Time machine backup using the location like I posted above ?

I don't know whether browsing to a hidden location (~/Library is hidden) in a TM backup requires extra steps just like is required when you would browse your current home directory.