Syncing bookmarks across devices

[dcs.79c]

I was on the Apple website forum asking questions about syncing bookmarks across devices. They answered a few questions & then got impatient & refused to answer any more questions.

I have 2 Mac computers - a 2013 MacBook Air & a 2018 Mac mini.

I've been updating & organizing my bookmarks on both computers.

So, I have 2 "SafariBookmarks.html" files. I don't want 2 files. I just want 1 file. I'll get back to that later.

I set the Safari browser as default on both computers. I clicked the box next to "Safari" on each computer & saw "setting up". But there is no "SafariBookmarks.html" file on iCloud.

I looked around Safari.

I have 2 options(I think. I hope.). I can import the SafariBookmarks.html file into iCloud or I can upload the SafariBookmarks.html file to iCloud. Does it make any difference which method I use?

It's a lot easier to edit bookmarks on a 27" monitor than on a 13 inch laptop.

I don't want to upload both SafariBookmarks.html files to iCloud. I just want to upload 1 file. If I try to upload another file with the same name, Apple will tell me that there already is a file with the same name. It will ask if I want to replace the newer file with the older file.

I reckon that I can import the laptop HTML file into the mini HTML file & then organize the mini file.

Then I suppose that I can delete all of the HTML files from the laptop HTML file(except for the Favorites folder) & import the bookmarks from the mini into the laptop. Is that correct,?

What are the steps?

I want the bookmarks to be synced across my laptop, iCloud & my mini. I don't want to have to upload a newer version of the bookmarks file every time that I make changes.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Why not use iCloud Safari Sync to keep everything up to date without managing files? Go to Sys Prefs and Apple ID. Now click on Safari there.

Load Safari and import your bookmarks which should get sync'ed up to iCloud. Now go to the other machine and Sys Prefs->Apple ID and enable Safari on it if not already and technically it should sync up the bookmarks without you having to do anything special.

How to sync Safari bookmarks between Mac and iPhone - iGeeksBlog

In Apple’s ecosystem, you can easily sync Safari bookmarks between iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The key is using iCloud with the same Apple ID. After that, you can enable the feature and then open those saved sites across your Apple devices. To find out how this is done, here's a detailed guide on how to

www.igeeksblog.com

 

[dcs.79c]

I did that. The SafariBookmarks.html file doesn't show up in iCloud.com. Why doesn't it?

Under Apple ID BOTH iCloud AND Safari are checked.

 

[IWT]

I don't think the actual html file will be shown anywhere.

As Moderator Ashwin said; you simply tick the Safari box on all your devices via the Apple ID. Job done.

Then all your favourites, bookmarks and other Safari data will be synced across all devices selected.

Ian

 

[dcs.79c]

By George, I think that I did it!

A thought occurred to me - add a bookmark folder. I did that on my mini. I'm on my laptop now. The new folder is there!

YAY!

On my mini, I clicked on "Restore Bookmarks". There were a bunch of them. Since the new bookmark folder that I put on my mini shows up on my laptop, I reckon that the bookmarks are synced.

What happens if I delete ALL of the bookmarks from either my laptop or my mini? Will all of the bookmarks be restored?

I just answered my own question! The bookmarks are synced. If I delete all of the bookmarks from the laptop, they will also be deleted from the mini. DUH!

I don't want 2 SafariBookmarks.html files. Which one do I delete?

 

[pm-r]

I don't want 2 SafariBookmarks.html files. Which one do I delete?

Just guessing here, but I would think one would trash the the one with the oldest date if one wants to only keep the most recent file.


- Patrick
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[dcs.79c]

I think that the bookmarks are syncing now!

This morning, I made some changes to the Safari bookmarks on my laptop. I just got on my mini. The bookmarks were not up to date. I went to Apple ID, unchecked Safari, waited, like 15 seconds, rechecked Safari, & now the bookmarks have been synced. I've made changes to the bookmarks list on my mini. I suppose that the next time that I get on my laptop, I'll have to uncheck Safari & then recheck it.

I reckon that every time that I make changes to the bookmarks list on either my laptop or my mini, I'll need to manually sync the lists.

I wonder if it's possible to have the bookmarks list update in real time.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I don't sync Safari, so I can't tell you about that, but I do sync Notes and other applications and the changes appear almost instantly across all my devices. You shouldn't have to manually do the sync'ing.

 

[IWT]

I reckon that every time that I make changes to the bookmarks list on either my laptop or my mini, I'll need to manually sync the lists.

No. Not manually. Every change on any device set up as synced via iCloud will appear on all devices.

Obviously, you can select which devices you want the sync to apply.

Ian

 

[dcs.79c]

The bookmarks seem to be syncing between my laptop & my mini.

YAY!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Thank you for your help.