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Bookmarks move around on the Bookmarks Bar on their own.

  • 6 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

ShasOBorkan
ShasOBorkan
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This is the second time I have had this issue, the first time I had it was several months ago, but it stopped after I did a re-installation of Windows 10 (for other reasons, my upgrade was imperfect). So this is not the first time I've seen this issue, but it is the first time I have seen it since having a perfectly working installation of Windows 10.

I have many icons on my bookmarks bar. I also use separators to group the icons, and having them organized is helpful since I remove the text/title from them and just show the icon (this way I can have many bookmarks on my bar). The problem is that these icons and separators changes places. I began with them in a certain order, and after adding a new bookmark the other day, they are out of order completely. I recognized this issue from the first time it happened, and pessimistically put them back in order. After a random length of time (even leaving the computer idle with the browser running) they always jumble themselves again on their own. I should also note they always go back to the same places (every time the disorganize themselves, they disorganize in the same spots in the same way).

I want to resolve this and have my bookmarks stay where I put them.

Thanks

This is the second time I have had this issue, the first time I had it was several months ago, but it stopped after I did a re-installation of Windows 10 (for other reasons, my upgrade was imperfect). So this is not the first time I've seen this issue, but it is the first time I have seen it since having a perfectly working installation of Windows 10. I have many icons on my bookmarks bar. I also use separators to group the icons, and having them organized is helpful since I remove the text/title from them and just show the icon (this way I can have many bookmarks on my bar). The problem is that these icons and separators changes places. I began with them in a certain order, and after adding a new bookmark the other day, they are out of order completely. I recognized this issue from the first time it happened, and pessimistically put them back in order. After a random length of time (even leaving the computer idle with the browser running) they always jumble themselves again on their own. I should also note they always go back to the same places (every time the disorganize themselves, they disorganize in the same spots in the same way). I want to resolve this and have my bookmarks stay where I put them. Thanks

All Replies (6)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Places Maintenance {web link} Allows to run Maintenance tasks on the database that drives Places, the bookmarks and history module behind Firefox.

Open the Add-ons Manager. Locate the add-on and press the Options button. Select All of the tests. Then press Execute on the bottom.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

ShasOBorkan
ShasOBorkan Question owner
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FredMcD said

Places Maintenance {web link} Allows to run Maintenance tasks on the database that drives Places, the bookmarks and history module behind Firefox. Open the Add-ons Manager. Locate the add-on and press the Options button. Select All of the tests. Then press Execute on the bottom.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

These didn't change anything. I had already tried Places Maintenance, but forgot to mention it. Also upon trying again your instructions might be out of date. There is no Execute, it simply goes Next a few times then goes Finish.

Nonetheless, it didn't help.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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You're not using Sync, are you?

ShasOBorkan
ShasOBorkan Question owner
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the-edmeister said

You're not using Sync, are you?

I am, is that the problem? I sync with my android but I do not use bookmarks on android.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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ShasOBorkan said

I am, is that the problem? I sync with my android but I do not use bookmarks on android.

The reason I asked is that their have been quite a few threads posted here over the last few months about corruption issues when Sync is used with desktop Firefox along with Firefox for Android. But if you're not using bookmarks on Android, I wonder if yours is a similar issue or not. But considering that Places Maintenance didn't fix the problem, I wonder if the mere fact that Sync is used on Android for other data might still be the source of your problem.

Sorry, I don't have anything "solid", just a hunch. My advice is to disconnect from Sync in the Android device and see if that corruption stops or it continues on the desktop device alone.

Beyond that, the only other thing I can think of is to enable "logging" for Sync for all events (beyond just "errors") and to read the logs for both Desktop and Android to try to see what might be happening. Reading of those "logs" is far beyond my capabilities concerning Sync. And I haven't used Sync with multiple devices since it has been a part of Firefox; I last used the "Weave" add-on which was used back in 2008/9 to develop what is called "Sync". My use of Sync for the last 5 - 6 years has been on one Desktop PC with multiple Profiles, to keep 'their data sync'd' and just to "keep up with it" for support purposes.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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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.

See also:

Keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite needs to be created, but no suitable JSON backups are available to rebuild the bookmarks or if you need to keep the history.

You may have to restore an older JSON backup in case the most recent backup is corrupted.

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync (temporarily) while performing maintenance/repair efforts to the places.sqlite database.