how do I restore my old bookmarks without deleting the new ones
I backed up my old computer to an external HD and I want to restore the bookmarks on my newer system however I do not want it to replace the ones already on the newer system. I just want to add them to the current bookmarks.
All Replies (9)
Are the old bookmarks in an HTML file?
If you want to restore a JSON backup, you have to take it in four steps:
(1) Export your current bookmarks to an HTML file (Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks). It's a good idea to open this in Firefox as a web page and skim through it to make sure it's complete before proceeding.
(2) Restore the backup file (Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer).
(3) Import the file you created in step #1 (Import Bookmarks from an HTML file).
(4) Reorganize the imported bookmarks back into the correct locations (you can use the Library dialog: Ctrl+Shift+b).
Unfortunately I do not have the old system any longer. All I have are the backed up json files on a hard drive.
jscher2000's answer should work.
If it does, don't forget to mark his answer as the solution so that other users with a similar issue will be able to easily solve their problem.
So, I guess it isn't possible to get all of my bookmarks on my new system?
Yes it is, by following the steps in jscher2000 posting.
Modified by the-edmeister
Restoring a JSON backup will replace all current bookmarks, so to keep the existing bookmarks you first need to export the current bookmarks to an HTML backup. Then you can import this HTML backup after you have restored the JSON backup.
Another option is to create a second profile and restore the JSON backup in that profile. Then you can export the bookmarks in that profile to an HTML backup and restore this file in the current profile folder. Importing an HTML backup merge the imported bookmarks with the existing bookmarks.
If you need to remove duplicates then look at one of these extensions.
- Bookmark Deduplicator: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/bookmark-deduplicator/
- Bookmark Duplicate Cleaner: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/bookmark-duplicate-cleaner/
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
- Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Export Bookmarks to HTML
- Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML
- Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Restore > Choose File (JSON backup)
Thanks for the help. I made a new profile and restored the old bookmarks. So now how do I merge the new profile bookmarks into my default profile?
Hi jcsaz, you can use this procedure:
(1) Export your new profile bookmarks to an HTML file (Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks). It's a good idea to open this in Firefox as a web page and skim through it to make sure it's complete before proceeding.
(2) Exit Firefox, and use the Profile Manager to start up in your old profile.
(3) Import the file you created in step #1 (Import Bookmarks from an HTML file).
(4) Reorganize the imported bookmarks back into the correct locations (you can use the Library dialog: Ctrl+Shift+b).