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Botched Android bookmark backup

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  • Last reply by Paul

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I have no idea how or when my Android got an old version of my bookmarks, but they've been somewhat useful though more and more out of date. They don't sync, and I've never seen instructions that are clear enough to feel confident trying. I finally tried tonight and botched it pretty badly. Instead of my Android syncing with my desktop bookmarks, my desktop suddenly contained a whole bunch of old bookmarks, but they didn't exactly match the old set on my phone either. And now my phone has some very new bookmarks, but it also has folders I long ago deleted that WERE NOT THERE before I tried to sync today. So I have no clue obviously.

I did just revert to yesterday's backup on my desktop ... but that doesn't fix my Android. Can someone help me sync ONCE in the right direction and then set this to happen automatically going forward?

I have no idea how or when my Android got an old version of my bookmarks, but they've been somewhat useful though more and more out of date. They don't sync, and I've never seen instructions that are clear enough to feel confident trying. I finally tried tonight and botched it pretty badly. Instead of my Android syncing with my desktop bookmarks, my desktop suddenly contained a whole bunch of old bookmarks, but they didn't exactly match the old set on my phone either. And now my phone has some very new bookmarks, but it also has folders I long ago deleted that WERE NOT THERE before I tried to sync today. So I have no clue obviously. I did just revert to yesterday's backup on my desktop ... but that doesn't fix my Android. Can someone help me sync ONCE in the right direction and then set this to happen automatically going forward?

Chosen solution

Have you tried the alternative method to set up sync using email?

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Hi Laurie

I appreciate your concern, but although it looks a little odd, Firefox Sync is doing the right thing.

When you connected the second device, Firefox Sync will establish what is missing (in terms of bookmarks and folders) and when bookmarks were created. It will then create one set across both devices. If you are using both devices often, I would expect this to not take very long.

What you will then find is any new bookmarks on one device will be reflected in the other, and when you remove bookmarks from one device, those too will be reflected on the other.

I hope that this helps.

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Ah, thanks, Seburo ... Now I understand. But is there a way to ALWAYS have the desktop version replicated to other devices? I add, delete, move/recategorize bookmarks on my desktop CONSTANTLY and daily. It's like the Library of Congress in there. I just want that set to be the master ... any hope?

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Yes - that is what will happen. You will be able to add or remove bookmarks from any device connected to Firefox Sync and the changes will be reflected in the other devices the next time you access them.

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Sorry, I'm not clear. What I'm saying is I sometimes make quick/temporary changes to bookmarks on my phone that I do NOT want replicated across devices. I actually want my DESKTOP bookmarks to always overwrite/replace whatever bookmarks are on my phone. But I assume this isn't possible?

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No, that is not possible. The purpose of Firefox Sync is to synchronise bookmarks across devices.

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OK so I decided to start over. - I manually deleted all bookmarks on my Android. - Then I went into Account Settings > Sync and scanned the QR pairing code and clicked the approvals on both devices. - Then I clicked Settings > Sync now, and nothing happens. “Last synced: never” does not change, after an hour has gone by. The status never changes to “syncing” …

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Chosen Solution

Have you tried the alternative method to set up sync using email?