Google Chrome is fickle when it comes to data management. While it offers great sync support between devices, it doesn’t allow much use in case you accidentally delete your data. And nothing has changed when it comes to bookmarks.
If you accidentally delete some bookmarks or a folder of bookmarks, you won’t be able to retrieve them after missing the little ‘Undo’ option blinking at the bottom of the screen.
This is an urgent matter. But thankfully, there are some workarounds you can use to get your bookmarks back, as long as you act quickly.
The first method involves all the prominent platforms — Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The second workaround revolves around the desktop only. Let’s look at both.
1. Reset Chrome Sync
Chrome Sync is so efficient that simply launching the browser on your device will sync your changes instantly. That means it’s not feasible to export your bookmarks with another device that may still have your bookmarks intact. Not to mention that exporting (or importing) bookmarks is not possible with Chrome on Android and iOS.
But that’s where performing a Chrome Sync reset can save time, as long as it meets these two conditions:
- At least one of your devices should have your bookmarks synced with it before the problem occurs — the closer the better.
- Since then, you haven’t launched Chrome on said device — otherwise, the changes would have been reflected on that device as well.
For example, say you delete some Chrome bookmarks on your Windows or macOS desktop, you still have the bookmarks on your Android or iOS smartphone. You haven’t opened Chrome on it since, which means the changes haven’t synced on it.
It’s time to reset Chrome Sync. This action will delete all data (including your bookmarks) on Google servers and force you to sign out of all your devices. However, local data on those devices will remain intact.
That means you can safely open Chrome on your Android or iOS smartphone without worrying about any changes syncing on it. After you sign in to Chrome, your bookmarks and other browsing data will be uploaded back to Google servers, which will then be considered the starting point.
All you have to do next is log in on your desktop and re-sync the bookmarks you accidentally deleted earlier. The following steps will help you to follow the above process easily. You can do this on any device, be it desktop or mobile, in any order.
Step 1: On the device where you just deleted the bookmark, type the following path in the Chrome address bar on a new tab and then press or press Enter:
chrome.google.com/sync
Step 2: On the Data from Chrome Sync page that displays, you need to scroll down and click or tap Reset sync.
Step 3: On the pop-up box that appears, click or tap OK to delete all your data from Google servers.
Step 4: On a device that still stores all your bookmarks intact, launch Chrome and sign in. All browsing data present on the device is now re-uploaded to your Google Account.
Note:
Step 5: Sign in to Chrome on the device where you originally deleted your bookmarks and you’ll get them back. Go to Chrome bookmarks manager to confirm.
Then, be sure to sign in to Chrome on any other devices you may have so your browsing data and bookmarks are synced across all of them.
Use a bookmark backup file
On Windows and macOS, Chrome creates a backup of your bookmarks between sessions. That represents a neat alternative to restoring your bookmarks if you don’t have Chrome installed on multiple devices. However, this will only work if you act early and haven’t exited and relaunched Chrome multiple times since deleting your bookmarks.
Step 1: On Windows, press Windows + R to open the Run box. Enter the following path (replace USERNAME with your Windows username), and then click OK:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default 
On macOS, open Finder and navigate to the link below:
Macintosh HD > Users > USERNAME > Library > Application Support > Google > Chrome > Default
Step 2: Locate the files labeled Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak.
Step 3: Cut and paste the Bookmarks file to another location in your computer.
Step 4: Rename the Bookmarks.bak file to Bookmarks.
Save your work, exit Chrome, and then launch it again. Provided that the backup file has been overwritten with the changes made, you will see your deleted bookmarks listed again in the bookmarks manager.
Successful recovery
Have you managed to get your bookmarks back? Good luck if it’s a case of too late. But at least you know what to do next time you accidentally delete some bookmarks. Also, please note that you can also use the Chrome Sync reset alternative to recover deleted passwords.
Next: Having a Chrome sync passphrase available is one of the best ways to protect your browsing data. Learn about the pros and cons of using Chrome sync passphrases.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
