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On loading backup file to new computer, I keep getting an error message.

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  • Last reply by cor-el

Brenner57
Brenner57
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I have been trying to move my bookmarks to a new computer using the backup file which I prepared and stored on my external hard drive, but I keep getting an error message.

I have been trying to move my bookmarks to a new computer using the backup file which I prepared and stored on my external hard drive, but I keep getting an error message.

Chosen solution

What error message do you get?

Can you attach a screenshot?

  • Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot
  • Make sure that you do not exceed the maximum size of 1 MB

Make sure that the bookmarks backup file has the correct (lowercase) file extension:

  • .html for a HTML backup (needs to be imported and merges bookmarks)
  • .json for a JSON backup (needs to be restored and replaces bookmarks)

You can check the file type via the right-click context menu of that file and open the Properties. If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "Firefox > New Tab > Open File" or "File > Open File". A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup shows 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>

Verify the file type in the Properties via the right-click context menu to make sure that the change has been successful.

Windows hides some file extensions by default. Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see file name without file extension. You can see the real file type (file extension) in the properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.

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cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

What error message do you get?

Can you attach a screenshot?

  • Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot
  • Make sure that you do not exceed the maximum size of 1 MB

Make sure that the bookmarks backup file has the correct (lowercase) file extension:

  • .html for a HTML backup (needs to be imported and merges bookmarks)
  • .json for a JSON backup (needs to be restored and replaces bookmarks)

You can check the file type via the right-click context menu of that file and open the Properties. If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "Firefox > New Tab > Open File" or "File > Open File". A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup shows 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>

Verify the file type in the Properties via the right-click context menu to make sure that the change has been successful.

Windows hides some file extensions by default. Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see file name without file extension. You can see the real file type (file extension) in the properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.