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restore bookmarks

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Had to reload Firefox thanks to Microsoft, and cant get bookmarks or bookmark folders to restore. I've read numerous ways to restore after researching and none have worked and I've really wasted all the time I care to. The obvious bookmarks, show all, restore did not work as the files to restore are not there, plus the other 1/2 dozen ways I've tried. I would appreciate a step by step metoh if possible. Thanks.

Had to reload Firefox thanks to Microsoft, and cant get bookmarks or bookmark folders to restore. I've read numerous ways to restore after researching and none have worked and I've really wasted all the time I care to. The obvious bookmarks, show all, restore did not work as the files to restore are not there, plus the other 1/2 dozen ways I've tried. I would appreciate a step by step metoh if possible. Thanks.

Chosen solution

Hi bearpower, did you do a Windows 10 refresh? Why did you need to reinstall Firefox?

Normally, when you reinstall Firefox, it finds your existing settings (profile folder) and it's completely seamless. However, if you did an OS refresh, your profile folder may have been moved to a temporary folder here:

C:\Windows.old\

Do you see that folder? That is a temporary folder (removed after 28 days) with a copy of a lot of your old data in it.

To explore its contents fully, you'll need to set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

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

You'll be looking for:

C:\Windows.old\Users\your_user_name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\your_profile_name\bookmarkbackups

That folder has the backups you were looking for. In order to restore one, it would be easiest to right-click > copy it and then right-click > paste it on the desktop. Then on the Restore menu, use the "Choose File" option to point Firefox to the desktop and open the file.

Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer

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Chosen Solution

Hi bearpower, did you do a Windows 10 refresh? Why did you need to reinstall Firefox?

Normally, when you reinstall Firefox, it finds your existing settings (profile folder) and it's completely seamless. However, if you did an OS refresh, your profile folder may have been moved to a temporary folder here:

C:\Windows.old\

Do you see that folder? That is a temporary folder (removed after 28 days) with a copy of a lot of your old data in it.

To explore its contents fully, you'll need to set Windows to show hidden files and folders:

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

You'll be looking for:

C:\Windows.old\Users\your_user_name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\your_profile_name\bookmarkbackups

That folder has the backups you were looking for. In order to restore one, it would be easiest to right-click > copy it and then right-click > paste it on the desktop. Then on the Restore menu, use the "Choose File" option to point Firefox to the desktop and open the file.

Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer