You can recover Safari bookmarks that exist as a retrievable file format if it peters out of your browser. Many people ask: Why have my bookmarks disappeared?
Well, if your Mac app crashes or freezes, your Safari bookmarks may disappear. Similarly, resorting to the Force Quit to close the Mail app will freeze the application. Your bookmarks also vanish when you manually shut down the Safari, restart the Mac, and re-launch it.
Force Quit also interferes with the bookmark.plist file forcing Safari to ignore a simply locked file. Without a Time Machine backup, you will need third-party recovery software.
This article will walk you through the easiest ways to recover Safari bookmarks and how to steer clear of future loss.
People Also Read:Free File Or Data Recovery Software For Mac Computers How to Reset Mac Password?
Part 1. How to Find Hidden Bookmarks Library on Mac
In addition to the corruptible bookmark.plist file, the property list may be interfered with as you try to re-launch the Mail app. It’s not your fault as Apple developed one system repository for Safari and Mail apps that worsens the lockup issues.
So where are Safari bookmarks stored? The .plist file is retrievable without affecting Top Sites because Safari stores the Top Sites bookmarks elsewhere. It’s kept as a list of banned sites ~/Library/Safari/TopSites.plist and the remainder ends up in ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist.
Interestingly, Mac hides these libraries by default. To spot them, use the Terminal and type the following command “chflags nohidden ~/Library". It makes the library visible in the long-term. Once you hit the Enter button, the file pops up in the Finder.
Bookmark Organizer and Cleaner
iMyMac PowerMyMac eliminates duplicate bookmarks, sifts through, cleans up, and organizes your Safari browser. It’s a potent multi-use tool to optimize and clean up your Mac to free up space or rev up performance.
If you use Safari as your default browser, your computer falls prey to duplicate files. And it is also important to clear cookies on your Mac computer regularly. This Mac cleaner declutters and organizes your Safari saving chunks of time.
Best of all, PowerMyMac integrates a smart feature that automatically detects duplicates and erases them in one click. It deletes redundant empty folders, erases dead links, and sorts useful bookmarks. It does not interfere with bookmarks located in a specific folder.
It’s a must-have for Safari users with massive bookmark folders for intuitive accessibility, retrieval and broadens the utility repertoire. For Mac users struggling with frequent crashes, bookmark errors like Safari bookmarks disappear, and file corruption, this software works like charm.
Part 2. Restore Lost Safari Bookmarks from Time Machine
You can recover deleted bookmarks from the recent backup with Time Machine. The easiest way to back up your browser bookmark is by installing an iCloud, which supports troves of data including bookmarks. Having a backup of your Chrome or Safari and any other browsers means you will steer clear of bookmarks loss down the road.
Copying Bookmarks.plist File
Method 1
Step 1: Go to Finder window and scroll through to Home Directory> Library>Safari. Press the Option button and move the Bookmarks.plist file to your desired destination.
Step 2: Next, latch on the Option button to verify the cloned copy and the original in the default location.
Method 2
Step 1: Right-click the bookmark and select “Bookmarks.plist”. This creates a fresh file dubbed Bookmarks.plist.zip.
Step 2: Drag the new file to a new location on your computer, the original remains intact.
Method 3
Step 1: Hold down Command-N to launch a new Finder window.
Step 2: Once you’re in the Finder, latch on the Option button and click on Go>Library.
Step 3: Look for the Safari folder in the Library and then open. Inside a Bookmarks.plist file with all Safari collections pops up.
Step 4: Go to your Time Machine, open and click on “Enter Time Machine”.
Step 5: Time Machine starts processing in Safari window. Browse through to the time when your Safari bookmarks were deleted.
Step 6: Click on Restore if you home in the exact day or time.
You can either keep the original or retain both by hitting on your desired option. You may want to retain deleted bookmarks and the new ones.
Tip: What to do when your Chrome bookmarks suddenly disappear.
