Getting duplicate bookmarks after sync

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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

I hope it's helpful.

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

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

GH

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

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

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!!!!

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..

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

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

None of them. It's an empty one.

Well I have rebooted just after a deletion.... and there is no new one bookmarks.plist file created.

It was 10 min ago. I cross fingers.

(If good put this in your Memo)

Do you confirm there are still some bookmarks in the iPhone that can't be deleted?

It seems each time I check Safari in iCloud on the iPhone it asks to append and this is here where there are bookmarks additions in my opinion.

On the iPad (OS 5) it asks if I want to delete all the bookmarks. It seems better.

So I am about to reset my iPhone (And all these bloody bookmarks files) and rebuild it from 0. What do think about it? Is there a way to only kill the bookmarks file instead?

Thanks for your active support!!!!!

Eiffel