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Restore the profile and than no pwd saving avaiable

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  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hi folks, the user deleted his firefox completely. But he had saved his profile folder. So I installed the latest version of firefox and loaded all the content from the saved profile folder into the new profile folder - and he got his old ff back again. But all his pwds where gone - but that's okay, I made a printout of it all. Now he comes back to me with the problem, that none of the pwds enterd new will be stored. I was via teamvier on his pc - and he was right. I enterd a pwd, press the save button, get into the page, quit the page, call the page again - no pwd appeared. I compared all the setup parameter with mine, where everything works fine - there was no difference. So what can I do ? Is it a lockwise problem ? Thanks for any answer Michael

Hi folks, the user deleted his firefox completely. But he had saved his profile folder. So I installed the latest version of firefox and loaded all the content from the saved profile folder into the new profile folder - and he got his old ff back again. But all his pwds where gone - but that's okay, I made a printout of it all. Now he comes back to me with the problem, that none of the pwds enterd new will be stored. I was via teamvier on his pc - and he was right. I enterd a pwd, press the save button, get into the page, quit the page, call the page again - no pwd appeared. I compared all the setup parameter with mine, where everything works fine - there was no difference. So what can I do ? Is it a lockwise problem ? Thanks for any answer Michael

All Replies (6)

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logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files. Did you Copy Both ?


Is there another password manager besides the Firefox installed one?


Start Firefox using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

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Hi Fred,

no - there's no other password manager involved. And up to the point, where FF was deleted, everything worked fine. I will try the safe mode. Thanks

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Interesting !

What I first found out was, that I've had a key3 file in the saved profile and in the active profile a key4 file. So it must be an old saved one. Next I deleted the key3 file, because it has the size of 16kb and the key4 file 288. I tried to store a pwd - wont work.

Than I started FF in the safe mode - saved a pwd - and it was saved !!!! I saw it.

But back in the normal mode, when I opend the link to the saved pwd - empty :-(

Could it be, that the old profile doesn't work with the newer version of FF ?

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Read this entire post before doing anything.


FredMcD said

logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files.

Let's try this. Delete all of these files.

Yes, you will lose those passwords. But as this is not working anyway . . . .


Password:Recovery:Restore:Export https://www.ghacks.net/2018/07/18/how-to-export-firefox-passwords-in-firefox-57/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/passwordfox.html (Win) PasswordFox v1.58 - Extract the usernames/passwords stored in Firefox Copyright (c) 2008 - 2017 Nir Sofer

Note: Some anti-virus show false positive. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Easily export your passwords from Firefox. https://github.com/kspearrin/ff-password-exporter

Export your passwords from Firefox in a portable CSV or JSON format. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 Tools to Decrypt and Recover Passwords Saved in Firefox • Raymond CC https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-find-hidden-passwords-in-firefox/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ https://www.ghacks.net/2018/07/18/how-to-export-firefox-passwords-in-firefox-57/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ https://github.com/kspearrin/ff-password-exporter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you don't find a third party script or program you can trust, you can run a script in Firefox's Browser Console to spit out the list in CSV or JSON format. For example:

JSON file: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1258644

CSV: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1253828 (copy/paste from console)


chrome://passwordmgr/content/passwordManager.xul

chrome://passwordmgr/content/passwordManager.xhtml

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Hi Fred,

thanks for your answer. Maybe it doesn't came out clear, I've read your mail in total.... But I tried it for myself some times, so I have had a litte experience in the restore process.

I will install FF new again, delete the actual profile and restore it from the saved one - without logins.json and key3.db.

The old pwds where saved by screenshots, so none of the mentioned tool could help. But thanks anyway.

I will report, what will happen.

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Note that you can export the logins to CSV to have a backup.

You need key4.db (encryption key) and logins.json (encrypted logins). There may also be a logins-backup.json file that can be used instead of logins.json, i.e rename logins-backup.json to logins.json with Firefox closed.

You can set signon.debug = true on the about:config page and check the Browser Console for login related messages when you open Lockwise. Do not forget to reset the pref after you are done.