How to import bookmarks from one firefox profile to another firefox profile?
I used Firefox at work as my browser. In order to backup my bookmarks and addons, I used Firefox Sync to sync my work account. I also have a home sync account for the bookmarks and addons that I use at home.
There are a number of bookmarks that I would like to transfer from the work sync account to the home sync account, but I'm afraid that if I sync my home browser with the work sync account, I'll loose all of my home settings, bookmarks, and addons in favor of the ones under my work sync account.
How do I get the bookmarks from my work sync account to my home sync account?
I know I could create a second profile at home, sync that profile with my work sync account, but then how do I transfer the bookmarks from there to the other profile used with the home sync account?
All Replies (4)
Attach the account after only setting it to sync bookmarks, however it will merge them and will try to absolve duplicates which will make it seem a bit unorganized. There is also a possibility of exporting the bookmarks and importing the file to the destination profile. Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks
Modified by guigs
Hi
Thank you for your question about the Firefox Sync service.
It appears from your question, that you are using Firefox Sync as a back up service. This is not what Sync is designed to do. The Firefox Sync service takes a copy of the data you wish to include and transfers it to a second device (typically a mobile device such as a tablet or a telephone) running a copy of Firefox. The storage in between all attached devices is both temporary and fragile and is not stable enough to be (and is not designed as) a reliable backup service.
You cannot link Sync accounts, but you could (as a one off or occasional exercise) export bookmarks to a HTML file, email them across (subject to your employers policies) and import them. You can read more about how to do this here.
I notice that your copy of Firefox is out of date. I strongly recommend you update Firefox to make sure that you have the latest security and stability fixes, as well as new features. You can read more about how to update here.
I hope this helps, but if not, please come back here and we can look into a different solution for you.
Thank you Seburo and guigs for the replies. I really appreciate it.
Guigs, so you're saying if I try syncing with the other account and only set it to sync bookmarks, it will try to merge the bookmarks; not overwrite what's already there? I just want to be sure I understand correctly before giving it a try.
It sounds like exporting the bookmarks that I currently have, syncing with the other account, and then importing the exported bookmarks may work. I'm just worried about the addons and other stuff.
Seburo, I thought that was what sync was. A way to sync your bookmarks, addons, etc so that if anything every happened to your install, you could easily get them back by syncing everything once it was reinstalled. What should I use to back up everything? Is there an addon or some other tool that you recommend I try? Or is there an easier method for that; like just grabbing the profile folder?
Hi
Sync is not designed to be a backup tool, it is designed to be something that allows you to have the same bookmarks (or other selected data) on another device (such as a mobile phone) and to keep the two in "sync".
The best way to backup up your data on a desktop copy of Firefox is to capture your Firefox profile folder and include that in your backup. I recommend you have a read of this guide that will will walk you through how to backup (and restore) your Firefox profile.