A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

Dear cor-el:

I did restart in Safe Mode; however, I DID make change in the Safe Mode restart window, resetting to defaults.

Not only did this not help, but now it is worse, as my history won't show up when I click "Show All History" so I am unable to clear history even manually.

Did I misunderstand your suggestion? I've been using Firefox with various versions of OX 10 for years w/o such a problem, and now have so many bookmarks on Firefox that I hate to abandon the browser.

However, I do not wish to have a permanent, unclearable history.

Below is a screenshot of how the Safe Mode page appeared.

Did you check for a corrupted places.sqlite file in the first part of my above post?

Thanks cor-el. It now seems to be working. I will see if it continues to work properly over the next few days; if so, I will post this as on the "solved" link.

I truly appreciate your help.

Now if I can only find someone who can help me figure out how I can set up Gmail filters under my Apple mail app so that I don't get duplicates of "sent" messages but rather have them exist only in the appropriately filtered archive box!

You're welcome

Dear Cor-El---

Sorry to say, but problem has recurred.

Any other thoughts on the matter?

Thanks again.

Do you have that problem with all items in Clear Recent History or only with the history?

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Clear+Recent+History

Where would I look to see if the other items (cookies, cache, browsing and download, forms and search history, active logins) were being cleared or not?

What makes you think that Clear Recent History isn't working?

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Clear+Recent+History

• You can see the current cache usage on the about:cache page.
• Cookies: Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
• Downloads: Firefox/Tools > Downloads
• History: Firefox > History > Show All History

The other are not easy to check.

Because when I clear history the history doesn't clear.

Also, I tried deleting and reinstalling firefox, and the problem went away, but I've lost all my bookmarks.

However, everything is backed up on my time capsule. But when I "restored" the session prior to the delete and reinstall, I still could not see my bookmarks---but the problem returned.

This truly sucks and I am about ready to abandon Firefox completely.  They've taken an excellent browser and screwed it up and I am too busy to waste much more time.  I will give it one more shot.

I appreciate your help.

A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file

Please see screenshot. This does not show up when I try to use "Restore" in the library. At the moment I now have a worse problem than before===years of useful bookmarks are not available although clearly backed up.

How can I restore from JSON when they don't show up in restore and when I use safe mode the restore option doesn't work? Can I just manually drag one of the JSON folders? What about time capsule? Please be specific if possible.

I have wasted hours but am ready to give up. See screenshot. The backups are there.

That can be caused by a problem with the place.sqlite file like I posted above.

Did you try to delete all places.* files (places.sqlite and possible other places files like places.sqlite-journal) ?

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file

Firefox will then try to restore the bookmarks automatically from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

It won't show any backup beyond yesterday when the problem occurred, although there are JSON files going back to November 7 under "Bookmarks Backup."

On Mac you can see if you can find a working backup or an older copy of places.sqlite in the Time Machine.