Pages in Firefox cannot be bookmarked

Introduction

Firefox is one of the most popular web browsers in the world, with a large user base on both desktop and mobile devices. However, like any software, it can sometimes experience issues that can be frustrating for users. One such issue is the inability to bookmark pages in Firefox, which can be caused by a variety of factors. In this post, we will explore some of the most common causes of this issue and provide solutions to help you resolve it.

Corrupted Profile

One of the most common causes of the inability to bookmark pages in Firefox is a corrupted profile. Firefox profiles are used to store user data, including bookmarks, history, and preferences. If the profile becomes corrupted, it can cause issues with bookmarking pages. To fix this issue, you can create a new Firefox profile and transfer your data to the new profile. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Help” and then “Troubleshooting Information”.
3. Click on the “Open Folder” button next to “Profile Folder” to open your Firefox profile folder.
4. Close Firefox.
5. Rename the folder containing your profile to something else (e.g. “Old Firefox Data”).
6. Open Firefox again. A new profile will be created automatically.
7. Transfer your data from the old profile to the new one by copying the contents of the following folders from the old profile to the new one:
– bookmarks
– cookies
– formhistory
– key3.db (if you have saved passwords)
– logins.json (if you have saved passwords)
– places.sqlite
– prefs.js

Extension Conflict

Another common cause of the inability to bookmark pages in Firefox is an extension conflict. Firefox extensions are add-ons that can enhance the functionality of the browser, but they can also cause conflicts that can prevent bookmarking pages. To fix this issue, you can try disabling your extensions one by one to see if the problem goes away. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Add-ons” and then “Extensions”.
3. Disable one extension and try bookmarking a page. If the problem goes away, that extension is causing the conflict.
4. Re-enable the extension and disable the next one.
5. Repeat step 4 until you have identified the extension causing the conflict.

Outdated Firefox Version

An outdated version of Firefox can also cause issues with bookmarking pages. If you’re running an older version of Firefox, try updating to the latest version to see if it resolves the issue. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Help” and then “About Firefox”.
3. Firefox will check for updates and download them if they are available.
4. Once the update is complete, restart Firefox and try bookmarking a page.

Corrupted Places Database

The places database is a file used by Firefox to store bookmark and history information. If this file becomes corrupted, it can cause issues with bookmarking pages. To fix this issue, you can try rebuilding the places database. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Help” and then “Troubleshooting Information”.
3. Click on the “Open Folder” button next to “Profile Folder” to open your Firefox profile folder.
4. Close Firefox.
5. Rename the following files in the profile folder:
– places.sqlite
– places.sqlite-shm
– places.sqlite-wal
6. Open Firefox again. The places database will be rebuilt automatically.

Syncing Issues

If you’re using Firefox Sync to sync your bookmarks between devices, syncing issues can sometimes prevent you from bookmarking pages. To fix this issue, you can try resetting Firefox Sync. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Options” and then “Firefox Account”.
3. Click on “Disconnect” to disconnect your Firefox account.
4. Close Firefox.
5. Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
6. Click on “Options” and then “Firefox Account”.
7. Click on “Connect” to reconnect your Firefox account.
8. Try bookmarking a page to see if the issue has been resolved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the inability to bookmark pages in Firefox can be caused by a variety of factors, including a corrupted profile, extension conflicts, outdated Firefox versions, corrupted places databases, and syncing issues. By following the solutions outlined in this post, you should be able to resolve this issue and start bookmarking pages in Firefox once again. If you continue to experience issues, you may need to seek further assistance from the Firefox community or support team.

There are a few things you can try to fix this issue:

1. Check if your Firefox is up to date: go to Help > About Firefox, and if there is an update available, install it.
2. Try disabling extensions: you can do this by going to Tools > Add-ons, selecting the Extensions tab, and then disabling all extensions. If this fixes the issue, you can re-enable your extensions one by one to figure out which extension is causing the problem.
3. Create a new Firefox profile: this will allow you to test if the issue is caused by a problem with your current profile. To create a new profile, you can follow these steps:

• Close Firefox
• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog
• Type the following and press Enter: firefox.exe -P
• Click on “Create Profile” and follow the prompts to create a new profile
• When you are done, select the new profile and click on “Start Firefox”

If none of these solutions work, you may need to reset Firefox to its default settings. To do this, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Menu button in the top-right corner of the Firefox window (the button with three horizontal lines).
2. Click on “Help” and then select “Troubleshooting Information”.
3. Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
4. Click on “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation window that appears.

This will reset Firefox to its default state, but it will not delete your bookmarks, browsing history, or other personal data. If the issue still persists after resetting Firefox, you may need to seek further assistance or consider using a different browser.

There are a few potential solutions to try if you’re experiencing issues with bookmarks in Firefox:

1. Check that you have the necessary permissions for the “places.sqlite” file in the profile folder at %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\your-profile. You can do this by right-clicking the file in Explorer, selecting Properties, and checking the Security tab.
2. Try starting Firefox in Safe mode to see if an add-on is causing the issue. If the bookmarks work in Safe mode, disable add-ons one by one to identify the cause.
3. If the above steps don’t help, the “places.sqlite” file may be corrupted. Try exporting your bookmarks to a file, closing Firefox, and moving the “places.sqlite” file out of the profile folder. Restart Firefox and it should create a new, empty “places.sqlite” file. You can then import the saved bookmarks back.
4. If none of these solutions resolve the issue, it’s possible that Firefox itself may be corrupted. To do a clean re-install, uninstall Firefox using Revo Uninstaller Freeware, delete any folders on your disk that contain the string “Mozilla”, and then re-install Firefox. Be sure to save any files you wish to keep before uninstalling.