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My bookmarks backup file is not matching JSON and couldn’t restore them

  • 5 majibu
  • 25 wana tatizo hili
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  • Last reply by cor-el

AbuLaith
AbuLaith
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4 days ago I backed up the bookmarks of my firefox explorer. After I upgraded to Windows 7 I tried to restore my important bookmarks. I got the message that the file type is not supported. It should be JSON, but it is something deferent. I don’t know why it been saved in deferent format. Is there any solution for this problem? I really need my bookmarks, it contains very important links to my work.

4 days ago I backed up the bookmarks of my firefox explorer. After I upgraded to Windows 7 I tried to restore my important bookmarks. I got the message that the file type is not supported. It should be JSON, but it is something deferent. I don’t know why it been saved in deferent format. Is there any solution for this problem? I really need my bookmarks, it contains very important links to my work.

Chosen solution

Make sure that the file with the bookmarks has the correct file extension: .html for a HTML backup and .json for a JSON backup.

If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "File > Open File"
A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup as a web page with clickable links.

  • A JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded":
  • An HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>
Read this answer in context 👍 5

All Replies (5)

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Suluhisho teule

Make sure that the file with the bookmarks has the correct file extension: .html for a HTML backup and .json for a JSON backup.

If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "File > Open File"
A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup as a web page with clickable links.

  • A JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded":
  • An HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>

Modified by cor-el

AbuLaith
AbuLaith Mwenye swali
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Wow, it worked, Thank you very much. I appreciate that because of your help I got my bookmarks back.

cor-el
cor-el
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You're welcome

epsilon7466MK2
epsilon7466MK2
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I got the long line, now what?

cor-el
cor-el
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If you have a JSON backup then you need to check the file extension and make sure that it is .json
You can see that more reliably via the right-click context menu in the Properties of the file.
You may have to place quotes around the name to make Windows apply the new file extension ("bookmarks-xxxx.json").

Then you should be able to restore the bookmarks in the Bookmarks Manager

Bookmarks > Organize Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Restore > Choose File