ronin79

Q: Getting duplicate bookmarks after sync

After making the transition between mobileme and iCloud my bookmarks continue get duplicated.  I have tried slowly deleting the duplicates and turning off sync on all my devices.  It seems the duplicates are being held on the server and I have no idea how to stop it or reset the information.  I am ok with losing all the bookmarks and starting over as it is not manageable right now.

iCloud, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Dec 13, 2011 12:01 AM

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Q: Getting duplicate bookmarks after sync

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Dec 13, 2011 4:08 AM in response to ronin79
    Level 10 (122,107 points)
    Apple Music
    Dec 13, 2011 4:08 AM in response to ronin79

    On your Mac open System Preferences > iCloud. Deselect the box next to Bookmarks then reselect then restart your Mac.

     

    On any iOS devices tap Settings > iCloud

     

    Switch Bookmarks off then back on then reset the device(s).

     

    Hold the On/Off Sleep/Wake button and the Home button down at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.

  • by dougfromchicago,

    dougfromchicago dougfromchicago Dec 20, 2011 8:38 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 20, 2011 8:38 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    I have followed all the steps listed above, however, I'm still seeing the duplicates on my Mac Mini and on my iPhone.  My iPad now has no bookmarks.  Bookmarks are turned on on the iPad under settings, iCloud, bookmarks.  Any more thoughts?

  • by dougfromchicago,

    dougfromchicago dougfromchicago Dec 20, 2011 8:40 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 20, 2011 8:40 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Also, I went into the bookmarks editor and deleted all the duplicates on teh Mac Mini.  they don't appear there, but they are all still there on the bookmarks bar.

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Jan 23, 2012 7:43 AM in response to ronin79
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Jan 23, 2012 7:43 AM in response to ronin79

    I wrote a blog post about how to remove duplicates and then reset iCloud. 

    I had the same issue with thousands of bookmarks getting duplicated.  I tried tons of steps until I found a way that worked.  I then re-created the problem to see if my method would work again and it did. 

  • by GH,

    GH GH Jun 14, 2013 12:57 PM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 14, 2013 12:57 PM in response to Peter Berglund

    Peter,

    What was the method you used to clear duplicates?  I assume the bookmark continue to be synced between ios device and the desktop?  Your blog link takes me to my iCloud sign in.

     

    GH

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Jun 15, 2013 5:05 AM in response to GH
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 5:05 AM in response to GH

    GH, my blog post was removed when Apple pulled their web hosting. I moved it to http://macandiostips,com

     

    I hope it's helpful. 

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Jun 15, 2013 5:08 AM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Jun 15, 2013 5:08 AM in response to Peter Berglund

    Http://www.macandiostips.com is the link to the blog post. Sorry for the typo and I can't go back and edit the entry above here from my iPhone. /Peter

  • by GH,

    GH GH Jun 15, 2013 9:31 AM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 15, 2013 9:31 AM in response to Peter Berglund

    In the system prefs/icloud there is only a toggle for safari and not obvious toggle for bookmarks??

    GH

  • by eiffel,

    eiffel eiffel Aug 12, 2013 1:05 PM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 1:05 PM in response to Peter Berglund

    Hello,

     

    I have been on your site, paid for Safari Prairiefire, followed step by step your guidelines and... as soon as I switch on my iPhone unwanted bookmarks appears again and again. I am getting mad with this sync problem!!!

     

    What could I do?

     

    FL

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Aug 12, 2013 2:13 PM in response to eiffel
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 2:13 PM in response to eiffel

    Eiffel,

    First, did the app eliminate the duplicates locally on your Mac first? 

     

    GH,

    Yes, it seems like the name for the bookmarks syncing is changed such that it is now called "Safari" instead. 

     

    I wonder if iCloud's Safari syncing has somehow changed since the step-by-step guidelines didn't work for Eiffel... The problem is that it's really touch to troubleshoot iCloud but I will try and get back here.

     

    Peter

  • by eiffel,

    eiffel eiffel Aug 12, 2013 2:27 PM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 2:27 PM in response to Peter Berglund

    A bookmark file has been recreated automatically despite I have unchecked Safari in iCloud preference's pane.

     

    I am so fed up that I am ok to completely delete the bookmark file. But I can't succeed even in this situation.

    I have tested BookMacster without any more success.

     

    It reports an error saying the Apple's iCloud is currently syncing my bookmarks. But I repeat my Safari option is unchecked in iCloud pref pane!!!!

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Aug 12, 2013 3:11 PM in response to eiffel
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 3:11 PM in response to eiffel

    Eiffel,

     

    I just did as follows:

     

    1. Quit Safari

    2. Make a backup copy of my ~/Library/Safari/bookmarks.plist file

    3. Uncheck the Safari box on my Mac's iCloud settings pane in System Preferences. 

    4. Deleted the ~/Library/Safari/bookmarks.plist

     

    On my system the bookmarks file was NOT automatically created.  Of course, when I launch Safari, a factory default bookmarks file will be created.

     

    I notice that Apple has updated their Knowledge Base article about troubeshooting iCloud bookmarks on iOS devices, especially interesting that they instruct to reset Safari and give enough time for the syncing to occur..  I am thinking that the issue is with iCloud and iOS since you get the problem with duplicates once you turn it back on on your iPhone.  I suspect the bookmarks data in iCloud have not been fullly erased, which is aboslutely necessary in order to remove duplicates (since the 'syncing' actually will merge rather than sync the first time).

     

    It seems like the guidelines i posted way back don't work any more (other than that Safari Prairiefire does it's job).  I hope we can figure this out so I can update the blog as well..

  • by eiffel,

    eiffel eiffel Aug 13, 2013 12:19 PM in response to Peter Berglund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 12:19 PM in response to Peter Berglund

    I am getting really mad,

     

    Mac Preferences / iCloud / Safari is unchecked on the iMac.

    Safari is not running

     

    Mac Min is running on Snow Leopard so, I think, there is no Sync with it. (and Safari bookmark is completely different and not sync with anything)

     

    Safari is unchecked on the iPhone

     

    Safari is unchecked on the iPad

     

    And the problem remains. Again, again and again a new empty bookmarks.plist is created automatically. I have sent 100 to the trash. And again a new one is created within 1 min.

     

    Do you have an idea? I used MobileMe in the past.

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    Eiffel

  • by Peter Berglund,

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Aug 13, 2013 12:42 PM in response to eiffel
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 12:42 PM in response to eiffel

    The one that's recreated, is that identical to the one one on the iPhone. iPad or the One previously on the Mac mini?

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