Bookmarks not saved: Difference between revisions

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(more info on resetting the places.sqlite file; added link to Export bookmarks for backup, note on Add Bookmark dialog, which may or may not still apply to Firefox 3)
(→‎places.sqlite file: added that you may need to delete places.sqlite-journal if it exists; made exporting bookmarks and removing JSON backups optional.)
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===places.sqlite file===
===places.sqlite file===
'''Starting in Firefox 3,''' bookmarks and browsing history are stored in the "places.sqlite" file in the [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]].  If there is a problem with this file, bookmark changes can be lost when you next restart Firefox. If  [[Lost_bookmarks#Restoring_bookmarks_in_Firefox_3| restoring a bookmark backup from within Firefox 3]] does not help, you can "reset" the Places database by closing Firefox and then deleting (or renaming) the places.sqlite file.  When you next restart Firefox 3, a new places.sqlite file will be created and the most recent [[bookmarks-(date).json]] backup from the [[bookmarkbackups folder]] will be restored automatically.  (If no .json backup is found, Firefox will restore bookmarks from the profile folder "bookmarks.html" file, if it exists.)
'''Starting in Firefox 3,''' bookmarks and browsing history are stored in the "places.sqlite" file in the [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]].  If there is a problem with this file, bookmark changes can be lost when you next restart Firefox.   If  [[Lost_bookmarks#Restoring_bookmarks_in_Firefox_3| restoring a bookmark backup from within Firefox 3]] does not help, you can rebuild the Places database as follows: [http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?forumId=1&comments_parentId=63721] [http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?forumId=1&comments_parentId=196011]
# ''(Optional)''  [[Export bookmarks|Export your bookmarks]] to a file named "bookmarks.html" and place it in the [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]] (if a "bookmarks.html" file already exists, allow the exported file to replace it).
#*To export your Firefox 3 bookmarks, go to "Bookmarks -> Organize Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Export HTML".
# [[Kill application|Close Firefox completely]] (or restart the computer).
#Open the  [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]] and delete (or rename) the "places.sqlite" file and, if it exists, "places.sqlite-journal".
#''(Optional)'' To force Firefox to automatically restore your bookmarks from the profile folder "bookmarks.html" file, instead of from a JSON  backup, open the [[bookmarkbackups folder]]  and remove all [[bookmarks-(date).json]] files to another location.
# It is probably also a good idea to delete the [[localstore.rdf]] file, to remove the references to the old Places file (you will need to add back any [[Toolbar customization - Firefox| toolbar customizations]]).   
#Restart Firefox.
Firefox will create a new "places.sqlite" file and automatically import the most recent  JSON bookmark backup file.  If no JSON backup is found, Firefox will automatically import your bookmarks from the profile folder "bookmarks.html" file, if it exists.  


You can reset the places.sqlite file and restore your current bookmarks as follows: [http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?forumId=1&comments_parentId=63721]
Note: You may also need to use  [[about:config]] to reset all of the '''browser.places''' preferences to the default settings ([[#Places preferences - Firefox 3|see above]]).
#[[Export bookmarks|Export your bookmarks]] to an HTML file named "bookmarks.html" and place it in the [[Profile folder - Firefox|Firefox profile folder]] (if a bookmarks.html file already exists,  allow the exported file to replace it).
#*To export your Firefox 3 bookmarks, go to "Bookmarks -> Organize Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Export HTML".   
# [[Kill application|Close Firefox completely]]
# Open the Firefox profile folder and delete (or rename) the "places.sqlite" file. 
# It is probably also a good idea to delete [[localstore.rdf]] to remove the references to the old places file (you will need to add back any [[Toolbar customization - Firefox| toolbar customizations]]). 
# Open the [[bookmarkbackups folder]]  and move away all the .json backups to another location.
#Restart Firefox.
Firefox will create a new "places.sqlite" file and automatically import the bookmarks from the "bookmarks.html" file in the Firefox profile folder.  Note: You may also need to use  [[about:config]] to reset all of the '''browser.places''' preferences to the default settings ([[#Places preferences - Firefox 3|see above]]).


==Add Bookmark dialog not working - Firefox==
==Add Bookmark dialog not working - Firefox==

Revision as of 11:44, 31 October 2008

If you add, delete, or make other changes to bookmarks and those changes are not saved when you restart your Mozilla browser, try the solutions below. If bookmarks that were saved previously are now missing, see Lost bookmarks.

Read-only bookmarks file

Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey and Firefox 2: If changes to your bookmarks are not saved when you restart the browser, the bookmarks.html or bookmarks.html.moztmp file in the profile folder may be "read-only" (Windows) or "locked" (Mac). Deleting or modifying bookmarks will also have no effect and the profile folder will fill up with multiple "bookmarks-<n>.html files, where <n> is a number. See Multiple profile files created for additional information.

Removing the "read-only" attribute or unlocking the file will again allow the bookmarks to be updated (bug 157152). To do so on Windows systems:

  1. Navigate to the profile folder
  2. Find bookmarks.html and (if it exists) bookmarks.html.moztmp
  3. Right-click on the file, choose Properties
  4. On the General tab, make sure "Read only" is not checked.
  5. Press OK.

Starting in Firefox 3, bookmarks and browsing history are both stored in the Firefox profile folder in the places.sqlite file. Make sure this file is not read-only or locked.

Places preferences - Firefox 3

If changes to bookmarks are not being saved after restarting Firefox 3, reset the browser.places preferences to the default settings: [1]

  1. Enter about:config in the Location Bar
  2. In the Filter box, type browser.places
  3. Context-click (right-click) any preference with a user-set status and select "Reset".

Corrupt bookmarks file

In Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey and Firefox 2, bookmarks are stored in the bookmarks.html file. If this file is damaged, you may not be able to update your bookmarks. To replace a possibly corrupt bookmarks.html file with a backup, see Lost bookmarks - Replacing bookmarks with a backup file. (To create a current bookmarks backup file, simply export your bookmarks.)

places.sqlite file

Starting in Firefox 3, bookmarks and browsing history are stored in the "places.sqlite" file in the Firefox profile folder. If there is a problem with this file, bookmark changes can be lost when you next restart Firefox. If restoring a bookmark backup from within Firefox 3 does not help, you can rebuild the Places database as follows: [2] [3]

  1. (Optional) Export your bookmarks to a file named "bookmarks.html" and place it in the Firefox profile folder (if a "bookmarks.html" file already exists, allow the exported file to replace it).
    • To export your Firefox 3 bookmarks, go to "Bookmarks -> Organize Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Export HTML".
  2. Close Firefox completely (or restart the computer).
  3. Open the Firefox profile folder and delete (or rename) the "places.sqlite" file and, if it exists, "places.sqlite-journal".
  4. (Optional) To force Firefox to automatically restore your bookmarks from the profile folder "bookmarks.html" file, instead of from a JSON backup, open the bookmarkbackups folder and remove all bookmarks-(date).json files to another location.
  5. It is probably also a good idea to delete the localstore.rdf file, to remove the references to the old Places file (you will need to add back any toolbar customizations).
  6. Restart Firefox.

Firefox will create a new "places.sqlite" file and automatically import the most recent JSON bookmark backup file. If no JSON backup is found, Firefox will automatically import your bookmarks from the profile folder "bookmarks.html" file, if it exists.

Note: You may also need to use about:config to reset all of the browser.places preferences to the default settings (see above).

Add Bookmark dialog not working - Firefox

Note: This dialog is named "Page Bookmarked" in Firefox 3.

Other solutions

Try the standard diagnostic steps. Problematic extensions may be causing the issue. Try running Firefox in Safe Mode and disable all extensions, or create a new profile for testing purposes. [5]