Ken Auggie
Level 1 (90 points)

Q: iCloud Safari Bookmarks Links Not Downloading after El Capitan Clean Install

I did a clean install of El Capitan 10.11.2 on my Mac Pro and decided to manually recreate my personal settings instead of performing a Migration Assistance because of unbearably slow performance (dreaded massive kernel_task CPU utilization sometimes reaching over 1,400%).  I activated my iCloud account/sync but almost all the Safari bookmark links themselves do not appear; only bookmark folders.

 

iCloud bookmark syncing definitely works fine between my MacBook Pro and all iOS devices; it's just with the newly clean install on my Mac Pro.

 

Need help; TIA!

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 2x2.8 8-Core

Posted on Dec 30, 2015 7:35 AM

Close
Ken Auggie

Q: iCloud Safari Bookmarks Links Not Downloading after El Capitan Clean Install

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by jason269,

    jason269 jason269 Dec 31, 2015 2:35 PM in response to Ken Auggie
    Community Specialists
    Dec 31, 2015 2:35 PM in response to Ken Auggie

    Hi, Ken.  

     

    Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.  

     

    I understand that iCloud Bookmarks aren't loading on your Mac Pro after what sounds like an erase and install.  Let's start with going through these troubleshooting steps below.  

     

    Mac

    After each step, check to see if the issue still exists.

    Turn on iCloud Bookmarks and upgrade your software

    • Click Apple > System Preferences, click iCloud and select Safari.
    • Upgrade to the latest version of OS X that's supported by your Mac.

    Check your Internet connection

    1. Try to go to www.apple.com in Safari. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud Bookmarks and Reading List won't update in the Safari app. Get help with your Internet connection.
    2. Open a secure website from your Mac to see if you can access ports 80 and 443. Safari requires access to port 443 to push updates between iCloud and your devices.

    Check your account details 

    Click Apple > System Preferences, and click iCloud. Make sure that you're signed in to the same iCloud account that you're using on your other supported devices.

    Turn off iCloud Bookmarks and turn it back on

    1. Quit Safari.
    2. Click Apple > System Preferences and click iCloud.
    3. Deselect Safari.
    4. Close System Preferences and wait about a minute.
    5. Open System Preferences and click iCloud.
    6. Select Safari.
    7. Open Safari.

    Restart your computer

    Restart your computer and see if the issue still exists.

     

    Get help using iCloud Bookmarks and Reading List

     

    Cheers

  • by Ken Auggie,

    Ken Auggie Ken Auggie Dec 31, 2015 7:15 PM in response to jason269
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Dec 31, 2015 7:15 PM in response to jason269

    I do appreciate the response.

     

    However, it's not a question of internet connectivity (Mac Pro access the internet just fine), nor is it an iCloud Bookmarks setting issue (I already tried turning it off then back on), and of course, I've restarted many times.  Again, custom bookmark folders synced fine (just the folders) but almost none of the actual URLs saved would download.

     

    My solution was to replace the Bookmarks.plist file in the user Library/Safari with one from my laptop and now all works and syncs fine.  I really don't understand it because the Bookmarks file was a clean installed one.  Oh well, my solution worked and hopefully this will be helpful to someone else who experiences a similar issue.