Profile Missing (Cant open Zotero)

markpatzer · 2025-11-10T19:00:14+00:00

When trying to access the Zotero app, this error message pops up: "Your Zotero profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible."

dstillman · 2025-11-10T19:02:47+00:00

We'll need more details.

Have you used Zotero before on this computer? What happened since the last time you used it?

Have you created multiple Zotero profiles?

What OS? Is this a work computer?

Generally this would happen if you messed around with the profiles feature, though it could also be due to security software on the system or other problems.

markpatzer · 2025-11-10T19:34:52+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Yes I have used Zotero may times before with no issue. I had access with no issues until I did not anymore, unexpectedly.

There were no changes in between the time zotero worked and did not work. I have 2 zotero profiles; a work profile and school profile.

I am on Windows 11 Pro and this is a work computer. others are not having this issue.

dstillman · 2025-11-11T05:08:06+00:00

Since you used multiple profiles, you'll need to debug this yourself. This is just the Firefox profile system. Take a look in the Profiles folder and make sure the specified profile folders exist and have the correct file permissions, or start with the -P flag and create a new profile that points to the correct data directory.