Backup and Restore Microsoft Edge Favorites in Windows 10  

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for your answer. Mine does too, i.e. imports html file.

As I said, since 1803, Edge does not create an automatic daily backup in html file, but a backup of the favorites and settings. The issue is that this backup is not a replica of the
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default folder and thus cannot be restored the way Option Three suggests (my preferred way of restoring favorites!).
That is why I asked if you knew how to use this automatically created backup to restore Favorites.

I'm not sure of an automated method, but always found it best to manually export an .html as needed to keep a current backup.

Totally agreed, but I prefer using option two to backup.
Unfortunately today, out of the blue, all my favorites were gone and my latest backup was from last Friday. So I restored this one using option three.
Looking for a more recent backup I remembered that Edge creates a daily backup. When tried to use it, I noticed that Edge does not create the html any more, but a new compact backup of the %localappdata% folder.
Anyway task accomplished, with the loss of a couple of favorites.

Hi Shawn

I recently clean installed v. 1803 on my new SSD, which replaced the old HDD.
Before starting I took both a Full Macrium image and a separate backup of the Edge Favorites, following my preferred method Option 2. Just for extra precaution, I was wise enough to also export an html file, using Option 1.

As I had other priorities...like re-installing all my apps I didn't restore Edge favorites on time, before I was offered to install 1809.
So I did Update to 1809 and when I tried to restore the favorites using Option 3, from the v. 1803 backup I had ...Edge got lost altogether!!!
Couldn't open the app or do anything of course with the favorites. So I went to the Settings and "Reset" Edge and I was lucky enough to get it back!
But both the separate favorites backup I had and the files in the Macrium image were unusable with the new version i.e. 1809.
Luckily for me as I said before I was cautious enough to also get an html export, which of course loaded to Edge and I got everything back to normal.

So I would like to suggest, that you make a note in the tutorial, that Options 2 and 3 work only if Edge backups are going to be restored in the same Build of Windows or at least the same version of Edge, cause nobody knows what changes each update brings. Moreover if someone wants to use Options 2 and 3, to be in the safe side, he should always have a recent copy of an html export (my preferred method from now on...like it is yours! ).

Cheers mate!

ddelo said:

Hi Shawn

I recently clean installed v. 1803 on my new SSD, which replaced the old HDD.
Before starting I took both a Full Macrium image and a separate backup of the Edge Favorites, following my preferred method Option 2. Just for extra precaution, I was wise enough to also export an html file, using Option 1.

As I had other priorities...like re-installing all my apps I didn't restore Edge favorites on time, before I was offered to install 1809.
So I did Update to 1809 and when I tried to restore the favorites using Option 3, from the v. 1803 backup I had ...Edge got lost altogether!!!
Couldn't open the app or do anything of course with the favorites. So I went to the Settings and "Reset" Edge and I was lucky enough to get it back!
But both the separate favorites backup I had and the files in the Macrium image were unusable with the new version i.e. 1809.
Luckily for me as I said before I was cautious enough to also get an html export, which of course loaded to Edge and I got everything back to normal.

So I would like to suggest, that you make a note in the tutorial, that Options 2 and 3 work only if Edge backups are going to be restored in the same Build of Windows or at least the same version of Edge, cause nobody knows what changes each update brings. Moreover if someone wants to use Options 2 and 3, to be in the safe side, he should always have a recent copy of an html export (my preferred method from now on...like it is yours! ).

Cheers mate!

Tru dat Dimitri.

There is a strong possibility that a backup may not work in a different version or build of Windows 10 depending on any changes made.

Brink said:

Tru dat Dimitri.

There is a strong possibility that a backup may not work in a different version or build of Windows 10 depending on any changes made.

Yeah, dat is true... but a backup is done to save someone's a... and it should work at all times!!! Otherwise is not a true backup, but a waste of time and disk space.

...OK, OK, I know....rhetorical and philosophical opinions!!!

No worries. The HTML option is definitely the most reliable and preferred option.

Brink said:

No worries. The HTML option is definitely the most reliable and preferred option.

I know it now!!!...although you kept saying that this was the method you use. And because the alien uses it, it got me to make an export just in case...
Aliens...creatures of higher intelligence!!! (Thank God for them)