Safari bookmarks ( Favorites only) keep disappearing

[kWillis]

I just bought a new iMac And transferred my data from Time machine. All my bookmarks came in fine except for the favourites bar ( yes, I have it showing)
If i go to edit bookmarks and drag a bookmark into the favourites folder, it shows 1 item and appears in the favourites bar BUT, after 2 seconds it disappears and the favourites folder shows 0 items.
I thought I'd get the bookmarks plist from a recent time machine backup. after selecting the plist file, there is no "restore button " anywhere. My wife and I have searched the desktop and we both must be blind

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello and welcome.

-Which exact models are the old and new Macs?
-Which versions of OS X/macOS are they running?
-Are you using iCloud to sync Safari by any chance?

C

 

[kWillis]

old mac is OS X 10.11.6 and is a 2009 21 inch iMac
new one is a 21 inch 2019 and is running Catalina 10.15.7

yes, it set up to sync Safari with iCloud automatically. Is that the problem?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hi,

It could be part of the issue, as sometimes it takes a while to sync bookmarks back down if there are a lot.

Do you have any iOS devices using iCloud that show the proper bookmarks?

C

 

[kWillis]

hmmm iPad and iPhone bookmarks are different that iMac
Im thinking maybe there is something with the syncing then

 

[kWillis]

I would just like it so that if I put a bookmarks in favourites, it doesn't disappear after a second or two.
all my other bookmarks are fine, its just the favourites bar that is the issue

 

[Cory Cooper]

OK thanks.

The iMac and the iPad and iPhone are using the same iCloud account, correct?

Since you have a Time Machine backup, maybe try Turing off the Safari syncing on the iMac and have it delete all the bookmarks. It should reset to the default bookmarks. You could then try adding some to Favorites and see if they stick.

There are more involved steps to take, but see if that works first.

C

 

[kWillis]

I will try that
Thank you for your help

 

[kWillis]

tried everything you suggested Cory but no luck
every time i try to make a new bookmark, it creates a new bookmarks bar folder
when i view bookmarks, I can see all these folders and my former favourites bookmarks are all there
If i go to Edit bookmarks, all these new Bookmarks bar folder don't show

On my old iMac, the favourites bar is still there with all my bookmarks
even tried importing the bookmarks plist file from old iMac to new and no luck

i attached a couple screen shots showing my usual bookmarks and one showing all the "new" folders