key3.db and logins.json : These are the Password files. Copy Both !

Open the folder in the Old Firefox folder with the latest date on it. Copy the above files into your current profile folder. Start Firefox. Are the passwords restored?

If not, try again with the other folder.

also see this https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/password-exporter Password Exporter This extension allows you to export your saved passwords and disabled login hosts using XML or CSV files that can be imported later.

There is no old firefox folder. I don't use sync. I only use my pc. What else can I do?

Hi KellieBarnett, sorry to hear about this problem.

Q: Were logins the only data lost? Was any other data or were any other settings affected? If you had a broader data loss or something like a Refresh, we'll suggest folders to look for.

When you mentioned --

I have tried restoring everything via my pc (windows 8.1). I have tried restoring Firefox.

-- I think you may be referring to the Windows system restore feature. That can be a little unpredictable, so I don't recommend using that. But there might be "backups" of the relevant files in a restore point that you could extract out. Here's how you can check:

Finding/Using Shadow Copies

You can use a utility program to search inside restore points to try to locate an old file that's usable. Here are the steps:

(1) Set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

(2) Download and run one of these programs:

• ShadowExplorer: http://www.shadowexplorer.com/
• System Restore Explorer: http://nicbedford.co.uk/software/systemrestoreexplorer/

Within the most recent restore point shown in the program, you can explore along this path to see whether you can find a recent shadow copy of your profile:

\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

(3) Export a recent copy of the following files to a convenient location such as your currently live desktop. Then you can try to swap them into your currently active profile in place of what's there to see whether that brings back your passwords.

• logins.json
• key4.db
• key3.db

Firefox switched to key4.db at some point, so if key3.db is gone, don't worry about it.

If you found some candidate files to try...

(1) From inside Firefox, open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a Windows Explorer window listing the various files and folders in your profile.

(2) Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button Exit
• (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then:

• right-click > Rename logins.json to loginsOLD.json
• right-click > Rename key4.db to key4OLD.db

(3) Then copy/paste into the folder the files you extracted from the restore point.

When you start Firefox, it should use those older files. Success?

FFus3r said

also see this https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/password-exporter Password Exporter This extension allows you to export your saved passwords and disabled login hosts using XML or CSV files that can be imported later.

This is a legacy extension, so you can remove it from your repetoire of tools now that Firefox 52 is "history."

JSCHER2000, you were correct about Windows system restore feature. It did nothing. I followed everything you said to try. I had already enabled show hidden files. Since I'm the only one who uses my pc, I want to see it all. Unfortunately, nothing has worked. I have a copy of key3.db, key4.db and logins.json ALL seated on my desktop. I can't integrate them anywhere, I can't open them and IE won't accept them to open. I had hoped to be able to integrate them into IE and then export from there back to firefox. No such luck. If I can't recover them, it seems I will have to try to remember all of my information and rebuild from scratch. The only passwords I have right now are the ones I revisited and clicked to save them. Thank you for your help.

Hi KellieBarnett, did replacing the current files with the older ones not bring you back any logins at all?

The files are not useful except to Firefox, as far as I know. If you open logins.json in a Firefox tab, after a few moments, it should show a structured view of your saved logins, but the password can't be decoded with the companion key file.

For whatever reason, I can't get any of the three to open with Firefox or replace anything. It is quite frustrating. Any more ideas? I'm open to almost anything.

Current Firefox releases use key4.db for the key file (encryption key and master password). The logins.json file stores the encrypted names and passwords.

You need to copy both files from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop or from another backup to the current profile folder with Firefox closed.

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.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

jscher2000 said

Hi KellieBarnett, did replacing the current files with the older ones not bring you back any logins at all? The files are not useful except to Firefox, as far as I know. If you open logins.json in a Firefox tab, after a few moments, it should show a structured view of your saved logins, but the password can't be decoded with the companion key file.

I used "ShadowExplorer" to export the login.jason, key3.db and key4.db, I put them into the profile folder and it did not bring back the logins, Ican see that Firefox renames the login.jason file to login.jason.corrupt. What can I do?

A post was flagged as Solved Problem. If the problem is not solved, please remove that flag. If you don’t, others that can help may not read this post.

Go to that message, and use the Undo link to its right.

In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.

Seven5555 said

I used "ShadowExplorer" to export the login.jason, key3.db and key4.db, I put them into the profile folder

Try again, but this time only use the key3 file with the login file. If there is a problem, remove key3 and use key4.

FredMcD said

A post was flagged as Solved Problem. If the problem is not solved, please remove that flag. If you don’t, others that can help may not read this post. Go to that message, and use the Undo link to its right.

---

In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.

I was in the process of backing up my passwords and accidentally removed them all, I'm not exactly sure how but they are just gone now.

I'm not sure what you mean about flags, I'm just trying to to get my passwords back and this is the closest thing I found and I'm no expert at blogs or forums. sorry if I am not asking for help properly.

FredMcD said

Seven5555 said

I used "ShadowExplorer" to export the login.jason, key3.db and key4.db, I put them into the profile folder

Try again, but this time only use the key3 file with the login file. If there is a problem, remove key3 and use key4.

okay I just did as you suggested here and firefox makes a login.jason.corrupt1. Why would this happen?

Hard to understand why removing hundreds of logins can be done so easily unintentional without confirmation and unduing is so very difficult. I've been working on this most of the day and night and made no progress. I'm not sure what to do here.

FredMcD said

A post was flagged as Solved Problem.
If the problem is not solved, please remove that flag.
If you don’t, others that can help may not read this post.

Go to that message, and use the Undo link to its right.

Note that Seven5555 isn't the creator of this thread, but merely used this thread for his own problem.

One of those cases where having ability to split off posts to be as a new thread would be helpful as this old thread started by KellieBarnett will be archived in 1 1/2 months.