Bookmark disaster coming up?
Hi all,
A few days ago my phone got stolen and with that thousands of Firefox bookmarks.
IF I hadn't had a tablet with which I sync those bookmarks that is, so all is good. But...
I'm planning to get rid of that very tablet and then won't have an other device to sync with any longer. I think that means that if my phone gets stolen next time I have to say goodbye to all Firefox bookmarks as well. But since society is more and more turning into single device use with smartphones becoming so powerful, is there really no way to deal with this? Can Firefox really be the last company on Earth without the ability to back up settings and bookmarks in the cloud? I mean, I'm getting crazy that every single app has it's own cloud backup, but that's still a LOT better than not having the possibility at all - especially for a security/privacy minded company like Mozilla that's... well... crazy...
My question to avoid total failure next time: Is there ANY way I can have those bookmarks exported and/or automatically backed up? Or can I somehow sync them with a non-existing device and then sync back a week later when I have a new phone?
I'm truly struggling with this one as I don't want to part with Firefox after 1.5 decades. However, in the end my bookmarks are more important to me than my browser, so if I HAVE to move on to stay secure then I'm afraid I will have to go that road... :-(
Your help is much appreciated!
drftr
All Replies (12)
Hi
Firefox Sync us designed to transfer bookmarks and other data between two copies of Firefox. It is not designed as an online cloud backup service.
The longer you leave between syncing to a new device, the greater the chance that your data will not be there.
Is it even possible to plug in a new phone a week or so later and sync back? That would suprise me as Mozilla states one shouldn't count on this being possible. That statement for security reasons I will HAVE to interpret as a NO. Unless you or anyone else knows for sure how much time I have between my last sync from the old phone to the first sync from the new phone.
But this way there's also the issue that I possibly can't even start the sync as there's only the old phone because I wouldn't have my tablet anymore. So the second question is: Can we really "sync one device" as that pretty much looks like a backup, albeit a very short-lived one. I think I and many others with only 1 device would be totally saved if Mozilla could guarantee a 7 or 10 day "backup" that after that time simply would be deleted, leaving us empty-handed.
Tnx...
drftr
Firefox Sync is not designed as a backup - it is designed so that you can sync bookmarks and user credentials between copies of Firefox.
I know, I've stated that twice now.
drftr
What you are intending to do is not guaranteed to work. You may find that your bookmarks do not sync across after that period of time.
That means I will finally have to leave Firefox after 17 years for a stupid reason :-(
Tnx...
drftr
Thank you for your feedback.
. I'll be right back.
Modified by lsteil
Tnx for answering, but I don't think it's correct unfortunately :-(
When I search what you said to back up Firefox from an Android device there is not a single helpful link as everyone says it can't be done. From Windows and other operating systems Yes, but from Android No. That was my whole problem as in 2 weeks I will only HAVE an Android device. But if I can't make a backup somehow then it's exit Firefox :-(
drftr
Hi
I am sorry, but I do not know what you mean. Aside from confirming that Firefox Sync is not an online backup, there is no other way to backup your bookmarks other than to Sync them to a copy of Firefox on another device.
Exactly. So out goes Firefox.
drftr
Thank you for your feedback.