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Safari Bookmarks not Syncing from iMac to iPad 2

I cannot get Safari bookmarks on my iMac to populate into Safari on my iPad 2. I have gone to settings on the iMac and toggled the Safari button off and back on under iCloud and have done the same on the iPad. However the bookmarks do not populate into iPad 2. Please assist.

iPad 2

Posted on May 5, 2021 8:38 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 8, 2021 1:15 PM

Hi Destiny,


I replaced my Mac about 2 years ago (disc unable to mount), but I can't remember which operating system it was running. However I seem to remember I had an issue with Safari bookmarks not syncing after I upgraded the previous Mac from Sierra. The bookmarks that had synced into my iPad before this upgrade were still available, but new bookmarks did not sync.


Recently I had an issue with my iPad so I restored the factory settings and since doing this, I no longer have any bookmarks on my iPad. Unless there is a way to import the bookmarks into iPad using iTunes?


I found the following guidelines to import bookmarks:

  1. Connect your tablet to your computer.
  2. In the iTunes Devices list, click the iPad or iPad mini.
  3. Click the Info tab.
  4. Scroll down to the Web Browser section and select the Sync Safari bookmarks check box.
  5. Click Apply - iTunes begins syncing the bookmarks from your computer to your tablet.


In clicking the Info tab it displays Sync Contacts and Calendars, but not Safari bookmarks.


Do you know of any other method to import the bookmarks from Mac into iPad?


This is my last attempt to get the bookmarks into my iPad and I may have to live with the fact that Safari bookmarks cannot be synced/imported from my Mac.


Thank you for your assistance to date.

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 8, 2021 1:15 PM in response to destiny241

Hi Destiny,


I replaced my Mac about 2 years ago (disc unable to mount), but I can't remember which operating system it was running. However I seem to remember I had an issue with Safari bookmarks not syncing after I upgraded the previous Mac from Sierra. The bookmarks that had synced into my iPad before this upgrade were still available, but new bookmarks did not sync.


Recently I had an issue with my iPad so I restored the factory settings and since doing this, I no longer have any bookmarks on my iPad. Unless there is a way to import the bookmarks into iPad using iTunes?


I found the following guidelines to import bookmarks:

  1. Connect your tablet to your computer.
  2. In the iTunes Devices list, click the iPad or iPad mini.
  3. Click the Info tab.
  4. Scroll down to the Web Browser section and select the Sync Safari bookmarks check box.
  5. Click Apply - iTunes begins syncing the bookmarks from your computer to your tablet.


In clicking the Info tab it displays Sync Contacts and Calendars, but not Safari bookmarks.


Do you know of any other method to import the bookmarks from Mac into iPad?


This is my last attempt to get the bookmarks into my iPad and I may have to live with the fact that Safari bookmarks cannot be synced/imported from my Mac.


Thank you for your assistance to date.

May 6, 2021 9:51 AM in response to brian mck

Hello Brian mck,


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. Based on your post, your Safari bookmarks aren't syncing between your iMac and iPad. We'll do our best to assist with this.


Nice work toggling off and on iCloud Safari Bookmarks on both devices. It sounds like they are out of sync. This could be related to a few things, but we'd start by backing up those bookmarks: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud


Then use the following to troubleshoot the issue: If your iCloud or Safari bookmarks aren’t syncing


Should it persist, you can try to sign out of iCloud and back in. Keep in mind, this will remove all iCloud content until you've signed back in. Also, make sure you've backed up any iCloud content you'd need prior to this step.


Hoping this helps out, take care!

May 6, 2021 9:22 PM in response to destiny241

Thank you destiny 241, I have followed the processes for If your iCloud or Safari bookmarks aren’t syncing on both my iPad 2 and Mac and besides trying to login to Apple ID from the iPad 2, everything is working perfectly.


On visiting https://appleid.apple.com/ on the iPad, the website accepts my username and password, but in opening the next page https://appleid.apple.com/account/manage it doesn't display, all I see is a blank page. I tried 3 other secure websites from the iPad and these websites open successfully.


My Mac is running the latest version of macOS Mojave 10.14.6 and my iPad 2 is running the latest supported version of iOS 9.3.5. I have checked this and there is no further update/iOS version for the iPad 2.


However, my Safari bookmarks are still not syncing between iMac and iPad 2.

May 7, 2021 7:15 AM in response to brian mck

Hi Brian,


Thanks for following up. It sounds like your iPad has issues loading the Apple ID page. Which means, there is something blocking the connection to Apple's servers.


If you have any connected VPNs, we'd disconnect it. Same with any security software you might have installed. You'll want to disable them. Restart the iPad normally and test it out.


Make sure the network connected is communicating with Apple's servers using the following router and network settings: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points You'll want access to ports 80 and 443. Safari requires access to port 443 to push updates between iCloud and your devices.


Let us know if that solves it for you.


Have a lovely weekend!

May 7, 2021 9:39 AM in response to brian mck

Hey Brian,


You're welcome for the help and you bring up some good points. You may need to revisit the router settings, but there is something else you could try first. According to: About iOS 9 Updates the most recent version your iPad would support is iOS 9.3.6, so there is an update available. We'd suggest updating your iPad, give it some time to re-sync after with iCloud, then test it out: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch


Note: Remember to backup anything important prior to updating your iPad: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


Hopefully that does the trick!


Cheers!

May 8, 2021 10:55 AM in response to brian mck

Hi Brian,


We did some more research and figured out what's happening here. While the iPad should support 9.3.6, it won't help to resolve the issues with iCloud Safari Bookmarks not syncing properly.


Back in Sierra or later, Apple migrated Safari Bookmarks. Which means, if you migrated those bookmarks, they wouldn't show up in earlier iOS or macOS versions any longer. If this did happen with your bookmarks, then that's the issue.


You should Contact Apple Support to speak with them further about this to confirm.


Glad we were able to get you on the right path towards a resolution to all this.


Take care!

May 7, 2021 7:39 AM in response to destiny241

Thank you destiny 241, I don't have any connected VPN's nor any security software e.g. Kaspersky.


Regarding your suggestion to reset my router settings there are 3 issues here.


  1. My Mac and iPad use the same router to connect via WiFi to the internet and I can open the Apple ID page and read the contents from my Mac, but not from the iPad. Surely if my Mac can successfully open the Apple ID page, there is nothing wrong with my router settings?
  2. Contacts, calendar events, iBooks and Notes sync across all devices using iCloud (I don't use iCloud for my photographs).
  3. I have no clue as to how to reset my router settings.

May 7, 2021 11:48 AM in response to destiny241

Hi again Destiny,


If I look for an update on my iPad 2 the screen returns the result “iOS 9.3.5 Your software is up to date."


Normally I check for and download iOS updates using iTunes and the result using iTunes returns “This version of the iPad software (9.3.5) is the current version”


I did some checking and found the following article that has been discussed in Apple Support Communities: 


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiN34fAkrjwAhVROBoKHYUyCRgQFjADegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscussions.apple.com%2Fthread%2F250983874&usg=AOvVaw3EJcmF31Mo5Q0etYADRA9z


Can you assist or is my iPad so old that I should learn to live with the bookmarks not syncing?


[Link Edited by Moderator]

Safari Bookmarks not Syncing from iMac to iPad 2

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