How to transfer Firefox bookmarks...

Question

How to transfer Firefox bookmarks...

Am using Sierra (OS 10.12.3) on a MacBook Pro.

What precise steps should be taken in order to copy Firefox bookmarks from an existing Firefox Profile to a new Profile - on the same computer?

I do not wish to transfer the complete profile folder, just the bookmarks!

Firefox 52.0.1 64-bit (for Mac) is the installed browser version.

Thanks!

Posted on Mar 25, 2017 1:25 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

158,208 points

Mar 25, 2017 2:59 PM in response to apples'npears

Read https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Basic-Browsing/Export-Firefox-bookmarks-to-an-HTM L-file-to-back-up-or-transfer/ta-p/2145
Copy that exported file to the Shared folder on your Mac: macOS Sierra: Share files with others who use your Mac
Read https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Basic-Browsing/Import-Bookmarks-from-an-HTML-file /ta-p/1352

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Answer 2

Mar 25, 2017 2:58 PM in response to John Galt

Thanks for your instructions John, which I'll try later....

Before I do - will Step 1 delete the bookmarks from the "Old" Profile?

I want the same set of bookmarks to be in BOTH profiles. (Really just want to copy them - there are several folders worth...couple of hundred, maybe in "Old' profile and none in New one.

BTW: Just read your profile bio. Wow! It's impressive. And funny

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Answer 3

Mar 25, 2017 4:53 PM in response to dialabrain

Yes....this is what John had me do.

Had no idea how to go about it (never had occasion to need to do so before now).

Problem is....Only small portion of my 100s of bookmarks ended up in the transferred file that's now in new profile.

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Answer 4

Mar 25, 2017 5:14 PM in response to John Galt

Thanks again!

As I just said in post above (to "dialabrain") - it only semi-worked. Maybe I have to repeat the steps with the different bookmarks folders.....fortunately my original profile has all bookmarks intact. I created the New Profile in an attempt to deal with another issue altogether...

So now I have 2 unresolved issues!

Will probably open another thread re: the 1st issue....

and re: the bookmarks - I wonder if it's not more straightforward to try the JSON file format import. This is something I did once before....but can't remember exactly how I did it.....

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

137,277 points

Mar 25, 2017 3:16 PM in response to apples'npears

apples'npears wrote:

I see no link or tab for doing that - for exporting, that is.

No do I see one to import

You can also use Backup… then Restore.

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

137,277 points

Mar 25, 2017 1:46 PM in response to apples'npears

One way would be to export them from Show All Bookmarks from the old profile then import them when Firefox is open under the new profile.

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Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

137,277 points

Mar 25, 2017 1:52 PM in response to apples'npears

FWIW, if you created a Mozilla account and have Sync enabled you wouldn't have to worry about transferring bookmarks.

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Answer 8

Mar 25, 2017 2:27 PM in response to dialabrain

I see no link or tab for doing that - for exporting, that is.

No do I see one to import

As I asked before:
"What precise steps should be taken?"

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Answer 9

John Galt

Level 10

158,208 points

Mar 25, 2017 4:23 PM in response to apples'npears

No. Your existing bookmarks will just be copied to an HTML file, that you can subsequently import to another profile. Using the Mac's Shared folder is only one technique.

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Answer 10

dialabrain

Level 10

137,277 points

Mar 25, 2017 6:17 PM in response to apples'npears

You select "Backup…" and save the json file from the original profile somewhere, then select "Restore" while in the new profile.

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