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I cannot understand how bookmarks are organized in Firefox

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Hitting the star in Firefox is totally useless as the folder I want to save it to is not listed there. I have no idea where my bookmarks go.

If I click on Show Sidebars and select Bookmarks I get a list of folders where every single name sounds like the correct one but there are soooooo many book mark names. What do any of them mean and why are they not available when I click the star to add a bookmark. Here is the list Firefox created, not me:

Bookmarks Toolbar Bookmarks Menu (I have no idea what this is for) Mozilla Firefox (I have no idea what this is for) Speed Dials (I have no idea what this is for) Unsorted bookmarks ( I have no idea what this is for) All Bookmarks (This looks right but is not available using the star when I save a bookmark) Other Bookmarks (I have no idea what this is for)

Notice how most of them have the same sounding name. I did not create these. I don't know what to do or how to organize it because Firefox just randomly puts things in one of those folders when I click the star.

Why can't I just have two folders: one for the Bookmarks Toolbar and another one for Bookmarks? Why is there this convoluted list that makes no sense except for tearing my hair out? Where are my bookmarks?

Hitting the star in Firefox is totally useless as the folder I want to save it to is not listed there. I have no idea where my bookmarks go. If I click on Show Sidebars and select Bookmarks I get a list of folders where every single name sounds like the correct one but there are soooooo many book mark names. What do any of them mean and why are they not available when I click the star to add a bookmark. Here is the list Firefox created, not me: Bookmarks Toolbar Bookmarks Menu (I have no idea what this is for) Mozilla Firefox (I have no idea what this is for) Speed Dials (I have no idea what this is for) Unsorted bookmarks ( I have no idea what this is for) All Bookmarks (This looks right but is not available using the star when I save a bookmark) Other Bookmarks (I have no idea what this is for) Notice how most of them have the same sounding name. I did not create these. I don't know what to do or how to organize it because Firefox just randomly puts things in one of those folders when I click the star. Why can't I just have two folders: one for the Bookmarks Toolbar and another one for Bookmarks? Why is there this convoluted list that makes no sense except for tearing my hair out? Where are my bookmarks?

Chosen solution

There are three bookmarks root folders in the All Bookmarks folder where you can create new bookmarks. You can't remove these root folders (Delete in the right-click context menu is grayed for the root folders).

  • the "Bookmarks Toolbar" folder stores the bookmarks that you see on the Bookmarks Toolbar (Firefox > Options or View > Toolbars)
  • the "Bookmarks Menu" folder stores bookmarks that show in the Bookmarks menu and are created via "Bookmark This Page" or via the star (Bookmark This Link) in the right-click context menu
  • the "Other Bookmarks" folder (previously named "Unsorted Bookmarks") stores bookmarks that are created by clicking the star on the location bar

... You can add new bookmarks to one of those three Bookmarks folders, but you can not create a new folder or add bookmarks at the "All Bookmarks" root level. In the Bookmarks Manager you can also create a new folder via the Organize menu. In the Bookmarks sidebar (Ctrl+B; Cmd+B on Mac) you can do that via the right-click context menu.

You can look at this extension to set a default location (folder) for creating a new bookmark.

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All Replies (6)

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Hi Mouse to the top of the browser and Right Click in a empty spot and turn on the Menu Bar and The Bookmark Toolbar.

The Menu Bar will have Bookmarks and you will be able to do more of what you want from there.

The Bookmarks Toolbar is below the address Bar when turn on and can be turn on and off from the Menu Bar --> View and it is for dragging and dropping bookmarks to it for fast access, create folders on it and fill with Like URL's ( is the way I run).

So that answers your last part and all can be reversed with a click from Customize or by a Right Click or by View. Experiment.

why are they not available when I click the star to add a bookmark.

The Star is for adding Bookmarks not for organize or any thing else.

Speed Dials (I have no idea what this is for)
You must have added them as they do not come with Firefox :
Why is there this convoluted list that makes no sense except for tearing my hair out? Where are my bookmarks?

The above was created by you.

You can use one of these if you can not handle dragging and dropping and right click create folders for stuff so it is organized :

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Chosen Solution

There are three bookmarks root folders in the All Bookmarks folder where you can create new bookmarks. You can't remove these root folders (Delete in the right-click context menu is grayed for the root folders).

  • the "Bookmarks Toolbar" folder stores the bookmarks that you see on the Bookmarks Toolbar (Firefox > Options or View > Toolbars)
  • the "Bookmarks Menu" folder stores bookmarks that show in the Bookmarks menu and are created via "Bookmark This Page" or via the star (Bookmark This Link) in the right-click context menu
  • the "Other Bookmarks" folder (previously named "Unsorted Bookmarks") stores bookmarks that are created by clicking the star on the location bar

... You can add new bookmarks to one of those three Bookmarks folders, but you can not create a new folder or add bookmarks at the "All Bookmarks" root level. In the Bookmarks Manager you can also create a new folder via the Organize menu. In the Bookmarks sidebar (Ctrl+B; Cmd+B on Mac) you can do that via the right-click context menu.

You can look at this extension to set a default location (folder) for creating a new bookmark.

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Seriously? Firefox doesn't allow all "bookmarks" to be quickly saved and retrieved from a single location? How is that IE11, which I'm sorry I've been forced to stop using, can do it?

PLEASE, I'm begging, Firefox engineers to come up with a user-friendly solution! Right now, I 've wasted a whole lot of time and still can't figure out how to negotiate all the different areas of "bookmarks" to access the ones I want!

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Hi nmbourne, the Bookmarks Menu provides access to all three "containers" from an optional toolbar button or the optional classic menu bar. You'll see "fly-out" menus for Bookmarks Toolbar and Other Bookmarks near the top of the menu. If you want to do bulk bookmark moves between categories, try the Library window (similar to the old Bookmarks Organizer). You can call it up using "Show All Bookmarks" or Ctrl+Shift+b on Windows.

Bookmarks Menu toolbar button

It looks like this -- -- and you can add it using either:

(A) Use the Customize panel (Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars) to drag the icon to the desired spot on the toolbar

(B) Use the method from Bookmarks in Firefox - section entitled: How do I add the Bookmarks Menu button to the toolbar?

  • Click the "Library" button:
  • Click "Bookmarks"
  • Click "Bookmarking Tools"
  • Click "Add Bookmarks Menu to Toolbar"

Classic Menu Bar

To turn different bars on and off, you can use one of these methods to show the toolbar list and select the desired bars there:

  • right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank spot on the tab bar (or the "+" button)
  • (menu bar) View > Toolbars
    On Windows, tap the Alt key to activate the menu bar temporarily.
  • in Customize mode > Toolbars button (see: Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars)

To turn on the Menu Bar or Bookmarks Toolbar, click it on the list.

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I'm giving you credit for answering my question, but am extremely dissatisfied with Firefox having such an unnecessarily complicated system. I wonder if it's possible to have their IT people develop a single-step method of saving favorite sites so its users wouldn't have to go through so many hoops. Unfortunately, too many sites aren't supporting IE11 these days, so I'm being forced to find another. Firefox seems the best alternative, but this particular feature is super annoying. Thanks very much for taking the time to respond.

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Hi nmbourne, I might have some good news and some bad news.

Firefox 63 allows one-click saving of bookmarks. It still saves in the Other Bookmarks folder by default.

There is an add-on for the second problem.

For the first, you'll notice this "Show editor when saving" checkbox when you click the blue star:

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Uncheck that and saves will be automatic. (You can still click the star to edit the title, change the folder, etc.)