With sync, you can select what data is shared with the other systems/profiles. But, if you select, say bookmarks, all of the bookmarks are shared. There is no option to only share some of the selected data.

You could have used a backup in the bookmarkbackups folder to restore the bookmarks.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

still sorting bookmarks on 6 computers, sorry , but a bookmark backup was not suggested, just synced anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't stop it, seems it was automatic. So I have turned sync off probable forever to avoid this again. Would like to know how to set bookmarks for each computer in my account without syncing again. Gary

Is it that you want the bookmarks kept separate, or you don't want to share some of them?

If you use sync, it is an all or nothing as far as the bookmarks.

Try this idea: In the Bookmarks Manager, separate the bookmarks into folders such as; work, sports, fun, movies . . . .

FredMcD said

With sync, you can select what data is shared with the other systems/profiles. But, if you select, say bookmarks, all of the bookmarks are shared. There is no option to only share some of the selected data.

well that just sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which "new Sync thing" are you referring to?

AFAIK, Sync still merges all bookmarks to all connected devices, as it has done since the beginning of Sync back in Firefox 4.0. I see no difference in Options > Firefox Account -> Sync Settings in Firefox 65 that would indicate that there was a change in how Sync works. IOW, Sync has always synchronized the data that is enabled in Sync Settings.

windsorbug said

... but a bookmark backup was not suggested, just synced anyway! ...

Firefox automatically backs up the users bookmarks and retains a copy for the last 2 weeks; the user doesn't need to do anything to enable that feature.

With Sync disconnected restore a backup file from before you had this issue. Do that for each device that was connected to Sync, where your bookmarks became synchronized.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them#w_restoring-from-backups

Also, you can clear your Sync data from the Sync server by merely changing the Firefox Account Password

I want to sync ONLY certain bookmarks from different devices!

With sync, its all or nothing.

Export your bookmarks to an HTML file. Edit the file so it contains only what you want to share. Then Import the edited file to the others you want to share with.

can I have different bookmarks on different computers this way?

Yes, as long as you do not sync bookmarks.

never ever had a backup file on any devices! So I guess I have a long road ahead of me. Got 100s of bookmarks on all computers. Will have to customize each one and TURN OFF sync and just use each pc to backup bookmarks, to H with sync

FredMcD said

Is it that you want the bookmarks kept separate, or you don't want to share some of them? If you use sync, it is an all or nothing as far as the bookmarks. Try this idea: In the Bookmarks Manager, separate the bookmarks into folders such as; work, sports, fun, movies . . . .

got WAY to many!! To bad I can't edit them on the server for each pc.

nope, nobody has a fix

windsorbug said

this new sync thing has totally messed up all my computers, now I have all my bookmarks on every computer!!!! Fu%$. It has taken me hours to get each of my computers back to where I had them setup in bookmarks!!!! I only want certain bookmarks on certain computers, so this has been a horror to fix, how do I keep getting ALL bookmarks on ALL computers? I have each computer customized. Guess I'll have to delete my sync account, only way I know! Thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!

still not finished, have 100 s of bookmarks and will be weeks before I get them re-organized . DON'T USE SYNC IF YOU DON'T WANT CERTAIN BOOKMARKS ON CERTAIN DEVICES!!!!!! BELEIVE ME!

FredMcD said

Yes, as long as you do not sync bookmarks.

Well what's the point in that? I'll just save them on each pc the way I want them and to a usb stick and name them what ever pc. I'm so tired of this. People make things that don't always work they way the public want!

windsorbug said

never ever had a backup file on any devices! --- So I guess I have a long road ahead of me. Got 100s of bookmarks on all computers. Will have to customize each one and TURN OFF sync and just use each pc to backup bookmarks, to H with sync

You didn't comprehend what I said about Firefox automatically creating backups for bookmarks. Sure it's not a "one button" fix after using Sync improperly, but there are backups to make the fix less painful. the-edmeister said

Firefox automatically backs up the users bookmarks and retains a copy for the last 2 weeks; the user doesn't need to do anything to enable that feature.

Those backups are stored in the Profile folder in a folder named bookmarkbackups which can be accessed per device thru the Library window > Import & Backup >> Restore, then select the File.

the-edmeister said

With Sync disconnected restore a backup file from before you had this issue. Do that for each device that was connected to Sync, where your bookmarks became synchronized. Restoring a backup is explained here - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them#w_restoring-from-backups - which I hyperlinked in my original answer.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them#w_restoring-from-backups

Also, you can clear your Sync data from the Sync server to get a clean start with Sync by merely changing the Firefox Account Password

windsorbug said

FredMcD said

Is it that you want the bookmarks kept separate, or you don't want to share some of them? If you use sync, it is an all or nothing as far as the bookmarks. Try this idea: In the Bookmarks Manager, separate the bookmarks into folders such as; work, sports, fun, movies . . . .

got WAY to many!! To bad I can't edit them on the server for each pc.

First, all Sync data is stored merged on the Sync server; the synchronization occurs as the data enters the Sync server; data is not stored per device.

Second, user data is stored encyrpted when that data is off of the individual devices. No one except for the user ever see's or has access to the "encryption keys" which remain on each individual device. The Sync server and thus Mozilla personnel can't access those "keys" making it impossible for any data to be viewed or "worked on" anywhere except for the individual devices.

windsorbug said

FredMcD said

Yes, as long as you do not sync bookmarks.

Well what's the point in that? I'll just save them on each pc the way I want them and to a usb stick and name them what ever pc. I'm so tired of this. People make things that don't always work they way the public want!

Sync works the way it was designed to work; not the way individual users might expect it to work. There are other "data synchronization applications" out there that do work differently, like providing "web access" to the data, but Mozilla has a different idea concerning security for user data. So, if you want other features look to an alternative to Firefox Sync.

FredMcD said

With sync, its all or nothing. Export your bookmarks to an HTML file. Edit the file so it contains only what you want to share. Then Import the edited file to the others you want to share with.

So I did find out that you can't create a sync account with a .ca email ! That really sucks BIG time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! always comes back with email incorrect but if I use .com it works. I don't have a .com email so I guess I'm SOL !

FredMcD said

Is it that you want the bookmarks kept separate, or you don't want to share some of them? If you use sync, it is an all or nothing as far as the bookmarks. Try this idea: In the Bookmarks Manager, separate the bookmarks into folders such as; work, sports, fun, movies . . . .

Well now sync keeps send me to my android! I want my pc to sync but it won't