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How can I upload my offline bookmarks to sync server for syncing them?

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 32 views
  • Last reply by nero.006

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Firefox is the only browser I use and I have tons of bookmarks. I use Firefox Sync to sync my bookmarks primarily over 4 devices (2 Desktop PC, 1 Notebook and 1 Tablet). With the previous Sync model of Firefox I had to request for a quota increase mentioning that I will be needing only the Bookmarks to be synced, nothing else. My quota was increased, Firefox introduced the new Sync model, it was really great and easier, everything was fine.

Recently I've lost a huge number of bookmarks from Sync. Only one desktop PC still has all the bookmarks, but on the other 3 devices a certain number of bookmarks is absent at the end of the alphabetically sorted list. I uninstalled Firefox and deleted everything Firefox-related from one of these 3 devices, performed a fresh new installation and synced again. But no result, those bookmarks are still missing. I've added new bookmarks from the PC that still has all the bookmarks and they were synced properly over the other 3 devices. I think somehow those specific bookmarks (which are missing on the other 3 devices) got disconnected/unlinked from the Firefox Sync Server.

Now, since I have the missing bookmarks on one PC, is there any way to upload these unlinked bookmarks to Firefox Sync Server so they can be re-linked and synced over the other devices? If yes, how can I do that? If no, what else are my options to get my bookmarks back & synced?

- Atiyar

Firefox is the only browser I use and I have tons of bookmarks. I use Firefox Sync to sync my bookmarks primarily over 4 devices (2 Desktop PC, 1 Notebook and 1 Tablet). With the previous Sync model of Firefox I had to request for a quota increase mentioning that I will be needing only the Bookmarks to be synced, nothing else. My quota was increased, Firefox introduced the new Sync model, it was really great and easier, everything was fine. Recently I've lost a huge number of bookmarks from Sync. Only one desktop PC still has all the bookmarks, but on the other 3 devices a certain number of bookmarks is absent at the end of the alphabetically sorted list. I uninstalled Firefox and deleted everything Firefox-related from one of these 3 devices, performed a fresh new installation and synced again. But no result, those bookmarks are still missing. I've added new bookmarks from the PC that still has all the bookmarks and they were synced properly over the other 3 devices. I think somehow those specific bookmarks (which are missing on the other 3 devices) got disconnected/unlinked from the Firefox Sync Server. Now, since I have the missing bookmarks on one PC, is there any way to upload these unlinked bookmarks to Firefox Sync Server so they can be re-linked and synced over the other devices? If yes, how can I do that? If no, what else are my options to get my bookmarks back & synced? - Atiyar

Chosen solution

You cannot add anything to Sync that is outside of Firefox. The service will only connect thru a Firefox installation.

As far as trying to solve that problem with the "lost" bookmarks on 3 devices ...

1. Disconnect all 4 devices from Sync. 2. Then on the PC that still has all your bookmarks, install this extension - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/ - to rebuild the Places database on that device. I suspect that is where your problem started. 3. When the "maintenance" is done, reconnect that device to Sync and let it run for like maybe 24 hours to re-populate the Sync server with "fixed" data. 4. Then you can start reconnecting the other 3 devices to Sync one at a time (do the Tablet last), allowing some time for each device to "digest" whatever changes are made when re-connecting to Sync.

Don't rush Sync at any stage - depending upon how many bookmarks and how much history you have - maybe add one device per day and leave Firefox running for a long time not doing anything else. From what I have observed with Sync when fixing something like this it works in "spurts" of data transfers especially when the Sync servers are very busy.

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You can manually save your bookmarks and restore (even shift them to another PC). Follow these steps:

  • Press Ctrl + shift + B, that will bring up your bookmarks window.
  • Now at the top of the window you'll find Import and Backup dropdown menu.
  • For saving your bookmarks select backup and save it on suitable place of your hard disk.
  • For restore just select Restore. Here you can restore from some auto saved by Firefox or you can restore your own saved version by choosing Choose files.

Hope this may work for you.

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Chosen Solution

You cannot add anything to Sync that is outside of Firefox. The service will only connect thru a Firefox installation.

As far as trying to solve that problem with the "lost" bookmarks on 3 devices ...

1. Disconnect all 4 devices from Sync. 2. Then on the PC that still has all your bookmarks, install this extension - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/ - to rebuild the Places database on that device. I suspect that is where your problem started. 3. When the "maintenance" is done, reconnect that device to Sync and let it run for like maybe 24 hours to re-populate the Sync server with "fixed" data. 4. Then you can start reconnecting the other 3 devices to Sync one at a time (do the Tablet last), allowing some time for each device to "digest" whatever changes are made when re-connecting to Sync.

Don't rush Sync at any stage - depending upon how many bookmarks and how much history you have - maybe add one device per day and leave Firefox running for a long time not doing anything else. From what I have observed with Sync when fixing something like this it works in "spurts" of data transfers especially when the Sync servers are very busy.

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the-edmeister said

You cannot add anything to Sync that is outside of Firefox. The service will only connect thru a Firefox installation. As far as trying to solve that problem with the "lost" bookmarks on 3 devices ... 1. Disconnect all 4 devices from Sync. 2. Then on the PC that still has all your bookmarks, install this extension - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/ - to rebuild the Places database on that device. I suspect that is where your problem started. 3. When the "maintenance" is done, reconnect that device to Sync and let it run for like maybe 24 hours to re-populate the Sync server with "fixed" data. 4. Then you can start reconnecting the other 3 devices to Sync one at a time (do the Tablet last), allowing some time for each device to "digest" whatever changes are made when re-connecting to Sync. Don't rush Sync at any stage - depending upon how many bookmarks and how much history you have - maybe add one device per day and leave Firefox running for a long time not doing anything else. From what I have observed with Sync when fixing something like this it works in "spurts" of data transfers especially when the Sync servers are very busy.

@the-edmeister, thanks a LOT. Followed your steps and suggestion. The problem is totally fixed. Thank you again.

Modified by nero.006