Lost all bookmarks, extensions, and saved websites

After restarting my desktop PC it brought me to the “add new profile” page. It reads “Guest Mode” in the bottom left. I’m not sure how I got here. I didn’t click anything new. My saved websites and bookmarks are gone. Please advise me how to return to my original profile. I followed directions from LEO ai but it didn’t help. Thanks

Some orientation and tips, in order for you to be better prepared:


The BraveSoftware folder is the parent folder that a Brave Browser (Windows OS) user should back up.

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\

aka

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\

You might use WinZip to .zip compress that folder. Then I rename the resulting .zip file, to show the date:

20241101-1935_EDT_Friday_BraveSoftware.zip

and copy that to an external drive. Keep a stack of those backed up files, maybe covering 1 month.


Location of your initial Brave Browser Profile (aka Profile 1) is stored in the “Default” folder:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

If you create 1 additional Profile (aka Profile 2), it will be stored in (carefully notice the folder name is different):

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1\

If you create a Guest Profile (or there already is a Guest Profile), it will be stored in:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Guest Profile\


Your Bookmarks are stored in:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks

A backup of your Bookmarks is automatically created:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks.bak


As a matter of routine, back up your Windows Registry - BEFORE creating the System Restore Point. How to:

"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows-855140ad-e318-2a13-2829-d428a2ab0692


Create a System Restore Point, also as a matter of routine. Edit its name, to include the date at the beginning of the name (Egs. 20220221_Mon_SysRstrPt_etc) . . . so you can find the specific System Restore Point that you later, suddenly need. How to create a System Restore Point:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-restore-windows-10


How to manually back up your Bookmarks as an HTML file:

Two ways to get to the Bookmarks Manager.

One way:

  1. Launch Brave and open the Main menu: newmenuicon.png
  2. Select Bookmarks --> Bookmarks Manage
  3. Open the More options menu at the top right
  4. Select Export and choose where you want to store the exported file.

Another way:

  1. In a new Brave Browser window, go to: brave://bookmarks
  2. Locate the “Organize” (vertically-arrayed 3-dot) menu button in the upper-right area of the window; click on that
  3. You should get a pop-up menu, in which you click on the “Export bookmarks” selection and choose where you want to store the exported file.

The exported file name: “bookmarks.html”

Be sure to store a copy on an external drive.


Back up Passwords

Scrolling down the webpage at:

https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018185951-How-do-I-use-the-built-in-password-manager

A note states:

" Export Passwords — Selecting Download file will export all credentials you’ve saved in your browser as a .CSV file onto your system. Note that anyone who has access to your system will be able to open and view this file, so it is recommended that you delete this file once you’ve used the file for its intended purpose."

In order to encrypt that .CSV file:

https://www.crucial.com/articles/pc-users/how-to-password-protect-a-folder

https://nordvpn.com/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-zip-file/

https://www.winzip.com/en/features/security/password-protection/

And be sure to copy that compressed and encrypted file, to an external drive that you safely store.