firefox browser
I have lost all of my old firefox data (bookmarks, shortcuts, etc.) I think I downloaded a newer version of firefox by mistake. I have followed all the Firefox Help information to try and retrieve the data, but nothing works. I have tried each profile listed on the profile management page: not a single profile has my missing data. I created a new profile, that didn't work. I restarted my computer, that didn't work. I am using a Dell desktop computer with Windows 10, or possibly 11. Can you help, please?
thank you, anne
Soluzione scelta
Hi Anne, that's great news. I don't know how those folders fell off the list, but it's good to know that it was a problem with the list and not with a missing folder.
(Also, I went and made chili, so that's why I was gone for so long!)
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Hi Anne, sorry to hear about this problem. It certainly sounds like you have checked all the usual things. Do you have any regular disk backups for your computer?
Three other ideas:
(1) Unlisted profiles
The about:profiles page shows profiles from a list, and it's possible there is a folder that is not on the list. If you go to the page and choose the Open Folder button for the Root Directory of any profile, it should open in File Explorer. In the address bar of File Explorer, click "Profiles" to move up to the parent folder. Then you can compare the folders listed here with the ones listed on the about:profiles page to see whether you have any more that are not accounted for.
(2) Old Firefox Data
If Firefox performed a Refresh, it would have moved your old profile folder to your Windows desktop inside a folder named Old Firefox Data. Can you find anything like that?
(3) Backups in a Windows Restore Point
Please do not use the Windows "System Restore" feature except as a last resort. It is safer (less data loss) to download a program that searches inside the saved restore points to see whether you can export out saved Firefox data.
Exploring Restore Points Safely
Set Windows to show hidden files and folders: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files
Then download and run either of these two programs:
- ShadowExplorer: http://www.shadowexplorer.com/
- Shadow Copy View: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shadow_copy_view.html
Within the most recent restore point shown in the program, you can explore along this path to see whether you can find a shadow copy of your profile:
\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Within each profile folder, which appears to be the most likely to have your data? You can export files and hopefully you can export an entire folder (for example, to your Documents folder) for further examination.
Anything look useful there?
Hello, Thank you so much for your prompt reply, which was indeed helpful. I was able to find some hidden profiles in File Explorer. One profile has a folder called "bookmarkbackups" and when I opened the folder, I found a list of bookmarks. All the bookmarks are of the type JSONLZ4 File, and I am unable to open them. I will post a screenshot in a separate message what happens when I try to open any of the bookmarks files.
I also found a folder "Old Firefox Data" on my desktop, but cannot open any of the folders.
Any advice? Thanks again, Anne
Hello again,
I found the solution! Reading a help topic entitled "Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer", I followed the instructions for "restoring from backup" and that did the trick. All my bookmarks are back, and I am so relieved. Again, many thanks. Anne
Soluzione scelta
Hi Anne, that's great news. I don't know how those folders fell off the list, but it's good to know that it was a problem with the list and not with a missing folder.
(Also, I went and made chili, so that's why I was gone for so long!)