shawnw.orgfaith – technology – culture

At some point you’re going to stop using the computer you’re using today, the very computer you’re using right now, and start using a different computer.

Maybe you’re using a desktop PC and you’re going to get a laptop, or vice versa. Maybe it’ll be an upgrade, or maybe the PC you’re using now will just break.

Whatever happens, you’re going to want to be able to get to your bookmarks, right? And maybe even your cookies, too. That way you don’t have to remember all of those usernames and passwords you have saved automatically in your browser.

You didn’t spend all that time saving all of your favorite sites just to lose all of your bookmarks and have to rebuild that list from scratch. It’s not like you’re going to remember them all. I know I couldn’t remember all of my bookmarks if I lost them.

No, you’re going to want to have access to your bookmarks and that means you’re going to need to back them up. Not only that, you’re going to need to be backing them up before disaster strikes.

This prompts a couple questions (at least, if not more). How do you find the file or files that contains your bookmarks? Is it easy to export them then import them on your new computer?

Those questions become moot with Google Browser Sync.

What does Google Browser Sync do? Here’s the official description from Google:

Google Browser Sync for Firefox is an extension that continuously synchronizes your browser settings – including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords – across your computers. It also allows you to restore open tabs and windows across different machines and browser sessions.

It doesn’t matter if you only have one computer, though. Your bookmarks, cookies, and other stuff will get synced to Google. Because a copy of your bookmarks, etc., will be at Google, they’re essentially "backed up."

And, the best part to me is that your bookmarks, etc., are continuously backed up. So, if you make a change by deleting a bookmark, adding a bookmark or visiting a new site and creating a username and password for that site, that info gets backed up to Google automatically. Pretty sweet, huh?

None of this is hard to do. Now, let’s get to it.

First, though, you’ll need to be using Mozilla Firefox. If you’re not using Firefox, you can download it for free by clicking here. When you install Firefox, it will import your bookmarks and cookies from Internet Explorer (actually, it will ask you if you want to import them; that’s up to you).

Firefox also have fewer security flaws which is just another reason to switch from whatever browser you’re using now.

Now that you’re using Firefox, follow the instructions below for installing Google Browser Sync. It seems complicated but it’s not. Check it out:

1. Click the "browsersync.xpi" link on this page. Be sure to review the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice.

If this is your first time installing a Google Firefox extension, when you click "Agree and Install", the Firefox browser may display a notice in a bar across the top of the page. View screenshot

If this notice appears, you will need to edit your browser options to allow the extension to be installed from Google:

  1a.  Click "Edit Options…" in the bar. The Firefox "Allowed Sites" window will appear.
  1b.  In this window, enter tools.google.com in the box under "Address of web site". View screenshot
  1c.  Click "Allow" to add Google to the list of allowed sites, then click "OK".
  1d.  You will need to click "Agree and Install" a second time to begin installation.

2. After clicking "Agree and Install", the Firefox software installation window will appear with Google Browser Sync listed. View screenshot

3. Click the "Install Now" button. The Firefox extensions window will appear confirming installation. View screenshot

4. Close the Firefox extensions window, then close all Firefox windows and restart the browser (you may be prompted to do this automatically).

When Firefox restarts, Google Browser Sync’s setup will start automatically.

If you don’t have a Google Account, you can sign up for a free Gmail address by clicking here. This will act as your Google Account. You’ll need this to log into Google Browser Sync.

You’ll be prompted to create a PIN (consider it extra security) and then you’ll be asked what you want to sync. I’d recommend the following settings (see the image below):

Click OK. You’ll then need to wait a few minutes (usually no more than five) while your bookmarks and cookies are synced. If you’re only using one PC, in this case, synced equals backed up.

That’s it! You’re done. A copy of your bookmarks and cookies now rest on a far-off Google server, safe and secure.

Imagine, now, that your computer crashes tomorrow. You can simply jump on another PC, install Google Browser Sync on that PC and BAM! All of your bookmarks and cookies will be synced to the PC you’re using. Nothing’s lost!

You might be asking, "ok, how do I do this for the files on my PC?" Stop by next week and I’ll tell you.

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Thanks to waffler for the image of the broken PC.