Updated firefox, lost passwords.

[PeterM77]

Hi all, I'm not really a new member.
I lost access to some websites and was told by a computer man that I needed to update firefox. He told me to download firefox ESR (can't remember which version. I did that but lost all my saved passwords and links to web sites. I tried to fix this but made things worse... I know, don't fiddle with things. The version that he gave me made those sites work, but I can't find it again. I'm now on V 128.5.2esr 64bit, and still can't get those sites. I'm wondering if time machine could help me here, but I don't know how to do a restore. I'll need someone with some patience to walk me through a restore if possible. Everything else seems OK except firefox.
Any help appreciated.

My computer is a mid 2013 macbook air Big Sur 11.7.10 1Tb ssd.

 

[MacBiter]

Are you picking up the FF profile from your previous version? FF should do that automatically, but you could check in your user Library / Application Support / Firefox / Profiles. If there's more than one there, check the folder dates to see which is older and try switching to that. (You will have to Google 'firefox profile manager' as I can't remember right now how you get it).

 

[Slydude]

I'm not a Firefox user but this might help. In step one I think he is asking you to navigate to a point when Firefox still had the passwords intact.

How to recover Firefox password from Time Machine backup

Here are steps to recover Firefox passwords from Time Machine backup on Mac. Open Time Machine and navigate to the backup data from which you want to retrieve the Firefox passwords Make sure hidden files and folders option is enabled on your Mac. Navigate to Users -> -> Library Under...

rshankar.com

If you have not recovered files using Time Machine in a while this page might help.

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac

On your Mac, use a Time Machine backup to retrieve lost items or recover older versions of files.

support.apple.com

 

[Rod]

I take it you were signed into a Mozilla account on the original version of Firefox. I have deleted Firefox, reinstalled it as a later version and logged in again several times to find that all my preferences, extensions and passwords were saved. Firefox ESR may be viewed as a "different" app but I would have thought the same would apply, it's still Mozilla.

 

[MacBiter]

I take it you were signed into a Mozilla account on the original version of Firefox. I have deleted Firefox, reinstalled it as a later version and logged in again several times to find that all my preferences, extensions and passwords were saved. Firefox ESR may be viewed as a "different" app but I would have thought the same would apply, it's still Mozilla.

Yes, provided you just delete the app, the Application Support folder with all your previous Profiles will still be there for a later FF to pick up.

 

[hoody]

Hi all,

After all this tome, I'm back. A few things have happened, but long story short, I now have a 2019 Macbook Pro with Sequoia 15.3. I have a good computer man not far from me and he's helped me by getting everything from my old Macbook air to this new one. I now have no problems with Firefox and the screen's a lot bigger at 16". The only thing I'm not too happy with is the calculator, as others have said. When I next see the man I'll get him to sort something out for me.

Thanks for the replies, I didn't forget you.

 

[pm-r]

The only thing I'm not too happy with is the calculator, as others have said. When I next see the man I'll get him to sort something out for me.

See my recent thread in the forums here if needed, but basically I copied the old calculator from my El Capitan OS that works fine in my newer 2020 replacement iMac running macOS 15.3 Sequoia.

I also could not stand trying to use Sequoia's calculator and many of the third-party calculators in the App Store weren't much better or had an excessive price attached. The old one suits me just fine and I find it easy to read and use.

Your Mac helper friend could help you out here if you can't do it yourself, assuming you have something similar in an old OS cologne backup, not Time Machine. I don't believe it copies or backs up OS applications.




- Patrick
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[hoody]

Thanks for the reply, Patrick.

That bloke's coming round tomorrow, so I'll see if he can do something about it.