Has this been going on since March, or were things okay in between?

Your previous thread: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1112493

If this just started again today, have you tried shutting down Windows and starting it up again? After Windows updates and perhaps some crashes, Windows may start up in a mode where Firefox does not have full privileges to your profile folder. A Windows restart nearly always cures this.

These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences

DAM, it erased my reply when I added an image!!!!! Now I'm composing this on notepad.

When I first opened Firefox today I was "greeted" with the dam default theme & ALL my add ons & the themes were GONE AGAIN! This has been going on for MONTHS! I will soon find the "add on" page blank as well for themes & add ons. I've had to take screen shots of it before it goes away AGAIN so I know what I HAD installed!

Firefox must have updated itself because I did NOT update it because EVERYTIME I DO MY EXTENSIONS & THEMES ARE REMOVED! I have already reset my profile, didn't work.

As long as nothing is changed after I have once AGAIN re-installed everything, everything works ok but as soon as anything is changed, boom, there goes my extensions, themes & the add-on page for them goes blank after a short time. Firefox didn't update, it must have been another program. I'll have to set all of them to NOT automatically update perhaps then I can find the troublemaker.

The problem with Alternet has been fixed, it was from an incompatible extension "Adguard".

I see the problem from your second screenshot. Your add-ons did not disappear, they are just being reloaded.

It is possible that there is a problem with the file(s) that store the extensions registry.

Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini in the Firefox profile folder to reset the extensions registry.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Profiles

New files will be created when required.

After, restart Firefox.

See "Corrupt extension files":

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_install_themes_or_extensions
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+install+add-ons

You will have to approve the updating one last time.

After the above, if you are still having problems,

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).

Is the problem still there?

Once AGAIN I have to find & install ALL MY DAM ADD ONS!!!I am SO sick & tired of having to do this every time I open firefox!!! This happens EVERY time ANYTHING IS CHANGED IN FIREFOX!!! I did delete most but not all of the extensions listed below.

I AM SICK OF THE DAM DEFAULT THEME, I have to keep changing it back to lavafox over & over just as I have to keep installing the add ons over & over again. Thank goodness I made a list of all the add ons & the theme I want. This time I AGAIN installed the add ons, I then restarted then had to Again install them!!! this sucks!! & it's too dam salty as well!

I'm ready to delete every dam jason,sqlite, ini in the dam profile folder. Now ALL of these extensions have been deleted!

I had to restore the "logins.json" however.

Now let's see if deleting ALL of those listed extensions will do the trick as I am sick & tired of having to re-re-re-re & re-install all my dam add ons & the theme over & over & over again! I hope the additional images will help you with MY problem, will I have to get rid of the theme? I really do like it.

I installed "opie" but it only backed up 5 of my add ons & not the theme. I have 15 add ons. How can I back up the other stuff like the theme, preferences, cookies etc??? I can't find any way to add these to the backup. Thank you for your help, I'm sorry this is giving me & you so many problems!

sheilach said

I installed "opie" but it only backed up 5 of my add ons & not the theme.

Opie backs up the settings for the add-ons. Nothing else. Febe backs up the whole profile.

Did you Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini ?

Use this link to create a new profile. Test it. Any problem? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

Thanks for the info on Opie & Febe, I'll try Febe next.

I did delete ALL those extensions, json, ini including the compatibility.json & all .sqlite but I later had to "restore" the "longins.json". Now I'll have to see if the add ons & theme are all gone again when I re start or change something in Firefox. It's been doing that every time Firefox is changed in any way.

Note that you need to restore both logins.json and key3.db to restore names and passwords stored in the Password Manager.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile

I had removed ALL those extensions but then later I did "restore" the Logins.json. I never removed the "Key3.db as that was not listed to be deleted. I have also already reset my "profile" but still the add ons & theme keep disappearing from the add on list, it claims I don't have any such add ons or themes but as you can see from the image, they are installed but I can no longer access their options or disable them . The last image is what it should look like, I took this screen shot before they disappeared. I can try to again reset the "profile" but that didn't change anything last time I tried that.

There are two things to check

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.

It is possible that there is a problem with the file(s) that store the extensions registry.

Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini in the Firefox profile folder to reset the extensions registry.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Profiles

New files will be created when required.

After, restart Firefox.

See "Corrupt extension files":

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_install_themes_or_extensions
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+install+add-ons

I AGAIN reset my "profile" & AGAIN searched for & found & re installed my theme & add ons, since I have done this before, I expect to find all my add ons & themes not listed in the "Tools=Add-ons" list again next time I start Windows. If my memory is any good, I don't remember having to find & install everything again the last time I reset the "profile". Perhaps this time it will be different? Thank goodness, I took a screenshot of the "Add on" & "theme" window before they disappeared again. I have already deleted all those files other than the login.json which I later "restored". I needed that one. ;^) DAM, ALL my passwords are now GONE! Good thing I wrote them all down on PAPER.

For the passwords you need the logins.json and key3.db files, so check if you can find them in the profile folder in the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile

Still having the same DAM problem after "refreshing" firefox I had to install everything AGAIN, all passwords are gone AGAIN, history is GONE AGAIN, I AGAIN changed my "profile", worthless! Now even after "installing" the add-ons AGAIN there is still NOTHING showing in the add-ons window other than get add-ons! I removed a program that was causing firefox to crash, realplayer.exe, Im now using VLC media player. something called "inspector console" keeps popping up another worthless bit of gobblygook.

I cannot change, remove or disable any add-ons since they aren't showing even though they are installed. IF I click on "view recent updates" I can see for now, my add-ons but not for long, next time I open firefox, they will be GONE AGAIN!

Is there any "fix" for this invisible add-ons page? It just keeps getting WORSE!

Are you still using the same profile?

Is there only one profile folder?

Is there an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop in case you have used the Firefox Refresh feature?

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

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

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Recovering_a_missing_profile

Let’s do a full clean re-install; Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.

Do Not remove the profiles folder.

Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.

If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
Free Online Encyclopedia

These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences

I wish this page would Not delete my post before I'm finished with it! Now I'm composing it on notepad!

I "refreshed" firefox & lost everything! no history, no bookmarks, no passwords, no theme, no add-ons, a royal PAIN! lucky I have everything written down or have a image of the now worthless "add-ons" window that keeps disappearing. There was NO "Old firefox data" folder on the desktop.

I reinstalled everything yet AGAIN, I found my "profile" folder & found 6 profiles, one was empty so I deleted it.

I suppose I'll have to make yet another useless "profile" then delete the old profiles again. They range in date from Jan. to june of this year. How did they pop up again? They had been DELETED!

If that fails & I expect it will, it always has, I'll try the "clean reinstall" mess & go through this horror yet again! I downloaded "OPIE" to backup passwords, extensions, add-ons etc IF I can EVER get this mess fixed! I am spending too much time trying to fix firefox!

Thanks for the little screen shot. The profile folders that have long numbers toward the end of the name would have been created as part of the Refresh. How were the other profile folders created, especially the recent "Sheila 2" and "Sheila 4" profiles?

By the way, try not to install the full theme the next time if it hasn't been updated in the past few months. Some of those stopped working correctly with internal Firefox pages.

OPIE can Import/Export extension preferences FEBE saves your profile.

When you refresh Firefox, the old profile is automatically moved to the Old Firefox folder on the desktop. The folder is created if there isn't one already.

I see from your screenshot that you have 3 profiles last accessed in May.