The key3.db file store the encryption key that is used for encrypting and decrypting the passwords. The encrypted names and passwords are stored in the logins.json file. The signons.sqlite file is no longer used in current releases since Firefox 32.

You need to move the logins.json and key3.db files to the current profile folder to recover the passwords. Make sure that Firefox is closed when you replace the existing logins.json and key3.db files.

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

Thanks! I will see if I can recover the logins.json file.

Makes sense then that what I did didn't work. Thanks again.

You're welcome.

You can still make Firefox importing bookmarks from signons.sqlite, but that would give you passwords from years ago. You can force Firefox to reimport the passwords from the signons.sqlite file and rebuild the logins.json file with these steps:

• reset the signon.importedFromSqlite pref on the about:config page to the default value via the right-click context menu
• delete the logins.json file in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed

Before I see what the old signons file has in it - yes, it is old, I thought I should try for a more recent logins file.

I found that I could recover what appear to be intact logins.json files. I have them for three different recent dates.

I moved the most recent one into the Profiles folder but no passwords showed up. After checking the Profiles folder, the logins.json file is now named logins.json.corrupt. I tried with the 2 others and the same thing happened.

Does the key3.db and the logins.json file need to be the same date? In my case this is not true.

Is there something else I can do to see if I can reinstall the more recent logins files? (Before I give up and try the signons file that's two years + out of date.)

Thanks again!

They do not need to be of the same date, but is the encryption key changes or the Master Password then the key3.db file will no longer work.

Did you check the logins.json files to be sure that they only contain plain text and not binary data?

You can open the file in the Scratchpad (Firefox/Tools > Web Developer). Click the "Pretty Print" button to format the file for readability.

Cor-el

Again, Thanks!

Recovered logins.json do not look correct in scratchpad. Also I get an error message that says "failed to convert file to Unicode from UFT-8."

Newly created login.json does look OK to me in scratchpad.

I will try the conversion from signons.importedfromsqlite.

Re-importing the signons.sqlite file will only work if you haven't changed the Master Password since Firefox switched to using logins.json.

Here's what I have done.

I have set signons.importedFromSqlite to default in about:config by right-clicking and selecting reset I closed Firefox I opened my profile and deleted the logins.json file I have verified that the signons.sqlite is in the profile with the key3.DB When I restart FF, I have an empty password list. And a new logins.json file

I repeated the steps to make sure I didn't goof up.

My master password has never been reset so my key3.db and my signons.sqlite should be compatible.

Any hope? Is there something I didn't do correctly?

Thanks AGAIN!

If that didn't work them I'm afraid that the key3.db file isn't compatible.

Are you asked for the master password when you access the Password Manager?

Thanks, Thanks.

I started up my old XP machine and checked the passwords - worked. I exported them to a file. I also transferred that key3.db and signons.sqlite to .my current PC-windows 7

I followed your instructions (or at least I believe I have) and I still get no passwords.

The old machine is XP. Is that a problem?

I emailed rather than used a USB token to transfer the files. Is that a problem?

This seems weird to me. That what worked on XP does not seem to work now. This makes me think I must be doing something wrong.

What do you think?

Thanks again,

What Firefox version is on the XP computer?

The XP Firefox is 11.0. Version as of 8-9/2011. Old,

Also, as to whether I am being asked for the Master password. I did have one iteration where it did but otherwise no.

Does that help solve the issue?

Many thanks!!

Looks that the signons.sqlite version used in that older version isn't compatible with the import function in the current release.

You can try to use the Password Exporter to export the passwords on the XP computer and import this file in your current computer.

• Password Exporter: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/password-exporter/

You need the older Version 1.2.1.1-signed of the extension from the versions page for Firefox 11.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/password-exporter/versions/

Hopefully that will work, but at least this will give a backup. You could compare the backups to see if you modify the older version in case it isn't working.

Cor-el

Thank you again!

The export file from old PC XP with FIrefox 11 did not import into the new version of Firefox/new computer.

In the end, I cleared out some junk on the XP machine which allowed me to update Firefox to the current version (by making space). The current version then generated the signons.sqlite file and I could move it to the new machine and yes, I now have recovered the passwords!!

Thanks for all your patience in coaching me though.

Ahh...a follow on question.

During the process of trying to recover the logins, in the meantime, I have been busy creating new ones in the current signons.sqlite.

Is there a way to append the two files/dbs (eg the one I have been working with and the old(er) I just was able to transfer?

If I export from the one and import into the other, will that append the entries?

Yes, the Password Exporter should merge the imported password with existing passwords. I don't know what happens if there are dupes in the user name and its passwords are different.

Cor-el

Thank you again!

I would have been totally lost without your help!