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When I refreshed Firefox, I lost all my data (bookmarks, passwords, etc.)

  • 3 replies
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  • Last reply by cor-el

Joymaker
Joymaker
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I refreshed Firefox and instead of selecting "Default User," I created an user with my name. When Firefox opened, ALL of my bookmarks, passwords, etc. were gone. There is a file on my desktop called Old Firefox Data - but how do I use it? Better yet, how do I get back to the "Default User" dialog box??? Oh, please help...

I refreshed Firefox and instead of selecting "Default User," I created an user with my name. When Firefox opened, ALL of my bookmarks, passwords, etc. were gone. There is a file on my desktop called Old Firefox Data - but how do I use it? Better yet, how do I get back to the "Default User" dialog box??? Oh, please help...

Chosen solution

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

If you want to recover specific data then you can see in my above post what files you need to copy. See also:

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All Replies (3)

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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What reasons did you have to refresh Firefox and create a new profile?

When you use the Refresh feature in Firefox then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks, history, cookies, passwords, form data, tabs) is automatically imported. The current profile folder will be moved to an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop. Installed extensions and other customizations (toolbars, prefs) that you have made are lost and need to be redone.

It is possible to recover data from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
  • logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other Site Preferences
  • sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

Joymaker
Joymaker Question owner
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I found the Old Firefox Data and the Profile...but how do I get the data into my new version of Firefox? (Better yet, can I restore the Default User info?) Is there someone who can talk me through this? I'm so stressed... Thanks

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

If you want to recover specific data then you can see in my above post what files you need to copy. See also: