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New Computer but Bookmarks Not Synching

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  • 1 has this problem
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Got a new PC and loading all the software (ugh). I made Firefox my default browser and opened my Yahoo email. I tried synching the bookmarks and picked Sync Now but the old bookmarks are not showing up. I still have a laptop with all the old bookmarks (from synching automatically). Can I export those to a thumb drive and bring into the new computer somehow? Do I risk losing my bookmarks on the laptop when I turn it on? Fred

Got a new PC and loading all the software (ugh). I made Firefox my default browser and opened my Yahoo email. I tried synching the bookmarks and picked Sync Now but the old bookmarks are not showing up. I still have a laptop with all the old bookmarks (from synching automatically). Can I export those to a thumb drive and bring into the new computer somehow? Do I risk losing my bookmarks on the laptop when I turn it on? Fred

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You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from one profile folder to another profile folder to transfer personal data. Note that best is to avoid restoring a full profile folder and only restore important files that are safe to restore/transfer.


  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (encrypted logins) and key4.db (encryption key/primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)

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