How to backup safari bookmarks in Yosemite

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Level 1

8 points

How to backup safari bookmarks in Yosemite

Every few years I go through a panic when it looks like I've lost all my current bookmarks in Safari when iCloud replaces them with an older version. I know I should never click on anything in iCloud because it always takes an older version and not the current one.

Apparently this time iCloud placed some older bookmarks folders in front of, rather than replacing, my current bookmarks, so now that I've found the current ones, I want to make a copy of them.

So I then go through the process of searching how to restore them or how to back them up and find instructions to go to my Home>Safari>plist or some such, but I can never find those folders because the instructions were written for an older or newer OSX than I've got.

I'd very much appreciate if someone could explain where my Home folder is in Yosemite, and how to navigate to the Safari bookmarks .plist file so I can make a copy of it.

Thank you! I know how lame this is, so I appreciate your help!

PS. If you don't mind explaining how to get iCloud to make a copy of my current bookmarks it might help -- I thought it did that automatically, but apparently it doesn't.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Mid-2010

Posted on Jun 14, 2017 3:29 PM

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Answer 1

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Jun 15, 2017 6:49 PM in response to Katsmbp

Hi Katsmbp,

I understand that iCloud has restored some older bookmarks on top of the bookmarks you already have on your Mac, and now you are looking for a way to back them up in case this happens again. I'm happy to provide some help for this.

First, use the steps here to backup your current bookmarks:

Archive or make copies of your iCloud data - Apple Support

Safari

Export a copy of your Safari bookmarks:

Choose File > Export Bookmarks.

Choose where you want to export the file, then click Save. The file’s name will be Safari Bookmarks.html unless you change it.

To export a copy of your Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Internet Explorer bookmarks, see the Mozilla, Google, or Microsoft steps for exporting bookmarks.

Then you can use the following article to restore your previous data in the future:

If you accidentally deleted your calendars, reminders, bookmarks, or contacts from iCloud - Apple Support

Additionally, you may find that this article provides some helpful information regarding iCloud bookmarks:

Get help using iCloud Bookmarks and Reading List - Apple Support

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Cheers!

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,257 points

Jun 15, 2017 6:49 PM in response to Katsmbp

Go to Finder/Preferences/Sidebar/Favorites and select the house (last item). That will make it visible in the Finder Sidebar. That is your Home/User folder. Select the folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library/Safari and the Bookmarks.plist should be there. Move it to your Desktop.

Go to System Preferences/iCloud and make sure Safari syncing is turned on. Quit and reopen Safari. If you have the out of date bookmarks, delete them in Safari. Quit Safari. Move the .plist file from your Desktop to the Safari folder. Reopen Safari and test.

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