Lost all my Google Chrome bookmarks HELP!

Graham Orm · 13 Apr 2014

In an effort to rid myself of a Chrome bug I uninstalled and reinstalled my Chrome. I lost all my bookmarks in the process, but gained all my bookmarks from 2008 when my wife shared my laptop. (Loads of sewing stuff and school stuff relating to 2008). This means that they must be somewhere, but everything I find online tells me that they are gone for ever unless I saved them on the computer first. The 2008 stuff proves that this is not the case.

I have done this process before and they all returned as soon as I logged into Google again, this is why I was unconcerned when uninstalling Chrome. Can anyone throw any light on it? I have remembered all the important stuff, but there were a gazillion other links that always come in handy.

Thanks Graham.

KevM · 13 Apr 2014

Graham,

You're signed in to Google - are you actually signed in to Chrome? There's a separate mechanism that synchronises all your bookmarks, extensions etc. It's between Downloads and Settings in the drop-down menu, and should say something like 'Sign into Chrome', or 'Signed in as ...', if it's the latter you're already signed in and you can ignore everything I've just written - you're on your own!
My Chrome exploded recently, losing everything, and I couldn't work this out. Since losing all my bookmarks a few years back I use Xmarks for bookmarks so that I have them all available on Chrome, Internet Explorer and Dolphin on Android.

Graham Orm · 13 Apr 2014

Yes I'm signed into chrome. I've remembered all my important stuff. Thanks for the help.

carlb40 · 13 Apr 2014

I also use xmarks, it's a great addon.

rafezetter · 13 Apr 2014

the bookmarks for chrome are hidden pretty well - I had to go looking for them a while back myself - search your PC at the base drive (if it's been partitioned or you have more than 1 installed) i.e at "computer" where it shows all drives - and look for "bookmarks".

Alternatively do it manually but they are REALLY buried. If you installed Chrome to the default path they will be in (wait for it...) c:\users\ (your login name)\ appdata (to see which you will have to have the folder options set to "show hidden folders")\ local\ google \chrome \user data \default.

phew, and once you've found them COPY THEM and put them elswewhere as "bookmarks.bak" and update it regularly if you are like me and adding things all the time.

I imported my BM's to my work PC a short while ago but they were not complete, I've no idea how often google main servers back up such stuff, and whether you might be able to do that on another PC then follow my above path to get them and put them on a pendrive.