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how can i retrieve bookmarks from time machine?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

medialawprof
medialawprof
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Hello. I need major help. This past weekend, I had to wipe the HD on my Macbook Pro. I did have Time Machine backups at the time. Is there any way to retrieve my old Firefox bookmarks from Time Machine? Please help. I'm trying to recover more than two years of work. Please help!  :-)

Hello. I need major help. This past weekend, I had to wipe the HD on my Macbook Pro. I did have Time Machine backups at the time. Is there any way to retrieve my old Firefox bookmarks from Time Machine? Please help. I'm trying to recover more than two years of work. Please help! :-)

All Replies (4)

kozaki
kozaki
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Hi, yes you can do that. The file that store all bookmarks (+ tags and navigation history) is called places.sqlite. So you can look for this file in your backups and, to restore your bookmarks:

  1. from within your new, blank firefox profile, delete all three places.*
  2. cp your former (ie backed-up) places.sqlite to your new firefox profile
  3. start firefox.

For more information see Recovering [Bookmarks from an old profile]

medialawprof
medialawprof Question owner
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thx for your response. how do i access backups via time machine? i would need step by step directions to make this happen. please help. :-)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You would have to find the previously used Firefox profile folder in the Time Machine backup.

You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

The profile folder consists of a part with a random name and a trailing file extension part that shows in the Profile Manager. You need to go one level up and locate that folder in the time machine backup.

  • /Users/<user>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>/

Then you need to transfer the places.sqlite file to the current profile folder or possibly use a JSON backup to restore the bookmarks. Make sure to remove other possible places.sqlite files (places.sqlite-shm and places.sqlite-wal in particular).

If you need to recover more data, see:

FredMcD
FredMcD
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These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences