Transfer bookmarks from backup copy?

Description of the issue:
Want to import bookmarks, but I didn’t think to export them first.

Steps to Reproduce (add as many as necessary): 1. 2. 3.
I refreshed my Win10 laptop, requiring me to re-install all apps. I backed up the system first, but I did NOT think to export my Brave bookmarks. So I have a full copy of the Brave data, but not a bookmarks.html file.

Is there some way to import from that backup copy? I don’t see any likely html files in the Brave files.

Actual Result (gifs and screenshots are welcome!):

Expected result:

Reproduces how often:

Operating System and Brave Version(See the About Brave page in the main menu):

Additional Information:

@garyfritz,
Thank you for reaching out.
When you say you have a “full copy of the Brave data”, can you tell me what directory specifically you’ve saved?

Everything. I backed up the entire C: drive. I looked under C:\Users\fritz\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\ but I didn’t see any likely html files.

1 Like

@garyfritz,
So the file you’re looking for – assuming you did not have multiple profiles in your previous installation – will be in

~\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

Here you should see both a bookmarks file and a bookmarks.bak file. Make sure all Brave instances are closed. Then, copy the bookmarks.bak file and paste it in the same directory of your new Brave installation. Once pasted, rename the file bookmarks. Then launch Brave.

Are you bookmarks now in the browser?

Hm. I didn’t find bookmarks or bookmarks.bak files anywhere in the active file system OR in my backup copy.

However I have a copy of the \Users directory under C:\Copy for some reason. I don’t remember making the copy, even though some of the files under \Copy are dated yesterday!?

That copy DOES have the backup/.bak files. So I copied them into C:\Users\fritz\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default and restarted Brave, and now I have my bookmarks back.

Strange situation and a mysterious solution, but it worked… Thanks!

1 Like

@garyfritz,
You’re very welcome, glad that worked out for you.

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