sync - Google Chrome Bookmark Synch overwrote my bookmarks--how can I get them back?

23
2014-05
  • GJTorikian

    This is a strange one.

    I have had bookmark synching turned on for two OS X machines for some months now. Today, I noticed that my bookmarks have disappeared. It seems that an older version of the bookmark folders on my Home computer have overwritten my bookmarks on my Work computer.

    Is there a revision history for bookmark synchs somewhere? How can I get my old bookmarks back?

    • Answers
  • Brad Patton

    My research shows (in Windows 7) Chrome stores our bookmarks in a "file" file called "bookmarks" at: 

    C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

    Fortunately when Chrome Syncs it creates "bookmarks.bak". I intend to merge the two somehow, but I digress.

    In this case:

    1. Close Chrome

    2. Change "bookmarks" to "bookmarks.home"

    3. Change "bookmarks.bak" to "bookmarks"

    4. Relaunch Chrome!

    Hope this helps someone!


    • Related Question

    Force Chrome to sync bookmarks?
  • Marcus

    I've been using Chrome's built in bookmark sync which seems to work well.

    Is there a way to force Chrome to do the sync as opposed to waiting for the alloted 'sync time'?

    Update: Seems to sync when I restart Chrome, so that works. Would be nice to have a "sync button" equivalent..


    • Related Answers
  • shanzhen

    Another way is to make a change to your bookmarks. For example, bookmark a new page a delete a book mark. This will force chrome to sync the bookmarks.

  • sunpech

    You'll have to manually log out and log back in.

    In Google Chrome Options, in Bookmark sync section: Click: Bookmarks Synced -> Stop Syncing this account.

    Then in Bookmark sync section: Click: Synchronize my bookmarks. And log back into your Google account.

    "Last synced" should then be updated to "Just now".

  • Alex

    I found that when, in Advanced Sync settings, synch everything was set that Bookmarks sync showed as "disabled by user"

    When looked at the debug info, (Type this into chrome: )

    chrome://sync/

    If you see that bookmark synching is disabled then, in Advanced Sync settings, you can switch synch everything to choose what to sync and then uncheck bookmarks , save , and then re-check bookmarks.

  • user23004

    It saves your bookmarks in a special Folder in your Google Docs account. So anytime a single change is made, it is saved..."in the cloud" :D

  • Marko M.

    In settings click Manage your synced data with GOOGLE DASHBOARD. Check number of synced bookmarks. Than add new one. Check again in the same way. If number is changed than your sync is up to date, and you can safely reinstall windows/chrome or whatever are you doing.

  • Jawa

    This is a way to force sync of all Chrome Sync features manually.

    Go to Settings > Extensions, click on Developer mode and hit the Update extensions now button.

    Sync works immediately for extensions, bookmarks and all Chrome Sync features. You may then check from your chrome address bar the chrome://sync/ page and observe on Local State / Last Synced, it should say "Just now".

  • jeff

    Just had the same problem. I opened my chrome browser on my mobile device, went into settings and clicked on my email address. It opens the Services window and I clicked on Sync then turned it off, backed out then went back in and turned it back on. I had to sign back into chrome at that time and after that everything was updated from bookmarks I had just deleted and added all in the last 20min. Hope this works for you too.