Restoring bookmarks from time machine

Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy it to the Clipboard (command-C):

~/Library/Safari

Quit Safari. Disable Safari synchronization in iCloud, if applicable.

Select

Go ▹ Go to Folder

from the Finder menu bar. Paste into the text box that opens (command-V), then press return.

A folder window should open. Restore the file named "Bookmarks.plist" in that folder from a backup that predates the unwanted changes. If you disabled sync, re-enable it and test.

Hi Linc, I followed your directions above but the search you advised did not reveal that folder on my laptop (running Mavericks) I backup using time machine to an external Seagate HD religiously. I found a Safari .plist file but it was dated 2009 under applications/Safari (Not under Library as I expected) Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! This worked for me.

My problem was finding the Bookmarks.plist file in the TM backup file that I wanted to copy.

For some reason, just searching for Bookmarks.plist didn't work inside the TM folder. Had to OPEN the TM backup disk then after FINDER>GO>Go To Folder... enter the specific string (i.e., Backups.backupdb/iMac27/2014-09-22-163313/Macintosh HD/Users/imac27/Library/Safari) before the Bookmarks.plist file could be found to be copied.

How come Spotlight can't find Bookmarks.plist? I guess I don't know how Spotlight works.

..rickko..

Hi, I'm having this same issue for a different reason. However, there is no Safari folder in the Library folder in my TM backups! I need to go back to a back up from this morning to restore bookmarks inadvertently deleted while preparing an older MBP for my kids this PM. But if I open the ~/Library/Safari folder in TM I cannot go back in time. If I go back via ~/Library the Safari folder disappears from all backups except the most recent one.

Sorry, Linc,

This prescription didn't work for me at any level.

First, the triple click on -/Library/Safari (which highlighted the link) - Command C didn't seem to copy it to the clipboard. While Finder-Go-Go to folder brought up the dialog box, Command-V didn't paste the link as you described. Trying to repeat the process by highlighting the link then right Click-Copy, followed by the Finder-Go-Go to folder then right click- past still failed to open the folder. All I got was an error message "Folder cannot be found"

I don't find this exactly surprising as it seems my MacBook Pro and OSX 10.8 have, over recent times, not always behaved "according to the script"

Think I'll try some other suggestions on this thread.

You may take a look at this Mac Data recovery which helped me before

http://software.bigbigsoft.com/data-recovery-mac

hope this helps.

Awesome, thanks!

Ah, it's the little things that matter: I had tried several times to get this, but I'd missed the 'syncing' issue with iCloud. Thanks for putting out this little fire.

Cheers

Carey