Not able to vacuum Firefox
Greetings,
since 2-3 months, I assume after a Firefox update, I am not able to vacuum Firefox (which is extremely useful!). I am using Windows 10 and BleachBit 5.0.2. (I am also not able to clear cache on Chrome, although trying it now for the first time, but let's say this is not a problem for me).
This is what I get as log files:
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
sqlite3.OperationalError: unable to open database file
unable to open database file
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bleachbit\Command.pyc", line 186, in execute
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 1141, in vacuum_sqlite3
File "bleachbit\FileUtilities.pyc", line 524, in execute_sqlite3
andrew
Thu, 01/29/2026 - 08:32
Permalink
Two quick responses
A few responses
(1) Does the log show any filenames like places.sqlite?
(2) Are you comfortable opening Windows Task Manager to check whether there is a Firefox process running in the background?
(3) Would you please test with CI build 5.0.2.3246-master?
---
Andrew, lead developer
Regular User
Fri, 01/30/2026 - 01:11
Permalink
(1) Does the log show any
(1) Does the log show any filenames like places.sqlite?
===> No.
(2) Are you comfortable opening Windows Task Manager to check whether there is a Firefox process running in the background?
===> There aren't any, because prior using Bleach Bit I am closing Firefox completely from Task Manager.
(3) Would you please test with CI build 5.0.2.3246-master?
===> I don't understand. What should I do? I have already the latest version installed.
andrew
Fri, 01/30/2026 - 07:46
Permalink
You probably have build 3065,
You probably have build 3065, not 3246. You can check like this: click on the application icon, click on System Information, and it will be there at the top.
In my last reply, I didn't post the link correctly. Here it is: CI build 5.0.2.3246-master.
A few months ago, did you setup a secondary Firefox profile? Check your profile directory like this: In Firefox in the URL bar, type about:profiles. How many times is "Local Directory" listed?
Are you able to clean other parts of Firefox, like Firefox Cache?
---
Andrew, lead developer
Regular User
Fri, 01/30/2026 - 14:22
Permalink
I have 3065 indeed. But I
I have 3065 indeed. But I still don't see the link.
Would this work: https://download.bleachbit.org/get/BleachBit-5.0.2-setup-English.exe
"Local Directory" is listed only once.
Never tried clearing Cache, but not sure I would like to.
andrew
Fri, 01/30/2026 - 20:17
Permalink
The link you posted is for
The link you posted is for 3065, which is the latest stable version, so it won't be any different from what you have.
For most users, the latest stable version (3065) is a good choice, but the newer version might help---or it might not.
I just tested with BleachBit 5.0.2.3065, Windows 11, and Firefox 147.0.2. The vacuuming worked normally without any errors.
It's fine if you don't want to clean the Firefox cache.
A few things I suggest as next steps
1. BleachBit, run a preview of just Firefox - Vacuum. I see 13 lines with path names like this. Could you show me at least one of yours?
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xp000r00.default-release\places.sqlite
2. In BleachBit, run a preview of Firefox - Backup Files, Cookies, Form history, etc. Do them just one at a time. Is there at least one file in each option under Firefox?
3. Are you running BleachBit as administrator (when this issue happens)? When BleachBit starts, you may get a popup from Windows asking, "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" If you answer yes, that grants the administrative privileges.
4. Try the newer version 5.0.2.3246. Despite the "5.0.2" label, there are some significant changes.
---
Andrew, lead developer
Regular User
Sat, 01/31/2026 - 07:58
Permalink
I have tried the newer
I have tried the newer version 5.0.2.3246 as administrator, but it did not help.
I am also not able to delete Firefox Cache.
1. BleachBit, run a preview of just Firefox - Vacuum. I see 13 lines with path names like this. Could you show me at least one of yours?
===>
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\bounce-tracking-protection.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\content-prefs.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\cookies.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\credentialstate.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\domain_to_categories.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\favicons.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\formhistory.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\permissions.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\places.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\protections.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\storage-sync-v2.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\storage-sync.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\storage.sqlite
Vacuum ?B C:\Users\Lenovo\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gtzbwd80.default\webappsstore.sqlite
2. In BleachBit, run a preview of Firefox - Backup Files, Cookies, Form history, etc. Do them just one at a time. Is there at least one file in each option under Firefox?
===> Yes.