Failed bookmark import/sync

[rg4711]

I've used the Avast browser for several months initially importing bookmarks from Chrome which worked fine.
I still use both browsers but bookmarks made on Chrome will not transfer.
I do it manually and after a few seconds get the "Done" message but nothing has moved and everything stays as it was when I first did it months ago

Any help much appreciated. Keep it simple if you can please, poster in late 70's!
Thanks

[bob3160]

I've used the Avast browser for several months initially importing bookmarks from Chrome which worked fine.
I still use both browsers but bookmarks made on Chrome will not transfer.
I do it manually and after a few seconds get the "Done" message but nothing has moved and everything stays as it was when I first did it months ago

Any help much appreciated. Keep it simple if you can please, poster in late 70's!
Thanks

It works if you do the following,
Open your Chrome browser, go to bookmarks and then select bookmarks manager
When it opens, click on the three-dot menu on the top right and select export bookmarks.
Save the html file.

Next, open the Avast Secure Browser, click on the threee dot menu

go to bookmarks and then select bookmarks manager
When it opens, click on the three-dot menu on the top right and select import bookmarks.
when it ask for the file, select the one you downloaded in the first part of theses insructions.

That's it. You've now imported the chrome bookmarks.
This is a flaw in the Avast secure Browser that I've already reported to Avast but it apparently still needs to be fixed.

[Asyn]

Seems there are some improvements in the latest ASB beta (86.1).

Fixes

• Improved importing data from your previous browser
• Improved stability and speed of cross-platform sync

[bob3160]

Seems there are some improvements in the latest ASB beta (86.1).

Fixes

• Improved importing data from your previous browser
• Improved stability and speed of cross-platform sync

So I totally removed the Secure Browser including using the removal tool and the removal .bat file.
I installed the latest beta, Checked off import from Chrome and that didn't work.
Then I selected

But the Bookmarks Bar still isn't anywhere to be found.
What does work is following the instructions I outlined in my post.
Certainly not something you expect everyone to follow just to see a populated Bookmarks Bar.

[bob3160]

Here are the results after importing the bookmarks that I had saved yesterday when creating my instructions.

[Pavel Rujzl]

Hi rg4711, please accept out apologize for the delayed response. What version of the browser and Google Chrome are you running? Would importing the bookmarks work from any other browser than Chrome? Would you mind sharing the export of your bookmarks with us so we can try to replicate the issue? We currently cannot but perhaps there is something specific to your configuration. Also, could you please share step by step screenshot documentation of how the import does not work?

Please, also paste the diagnostic info here if you can. Open the browser > click the three dots menu at the right top > Help and About... > About ... > Diagnostic Information. Copy the info to clipboard and paste it here please.

Thanks a lot.

[bob3160]

Hi rg4711, please accept out apologize for the delayed response. What version of the browser and Google Chrome are you running? Would importing the bookmarks work from any other browser than Chrome? Would you mind sharing the export of your bookmarks with us so we can try to replicate the issue? We currently cannot but perhaps there is something specific to your configuration. Also, could you please share step by step screenshot documentation of how the import does not work? Thanks a lot.

I've already shared screenshots and a way to work around the current problem.
Has anyone from Avast looked into it? It's also posted on the slack channel.

[Pavel Rujzl]

Yes we have Bob as we always do. Unfortunately, this always does not lead to us being able to reproduce the issue, which is necessary in order to debug and fix the root cause.

[bob3160]

Yes we have Bob as we always do. Unfortunately, this always does not lead to us being able to reproduce the issue, which is necessary in order to debug and fix the root cause.

What else can I do to help you get to the root of the problem, so it gets fixed?

[Pavel Rujzl]

Bob, I've just spoken to a developer. Since we are unable to reproduce the issue here, there is a chance something had blocked the access to the file where Chrome stores the bookmarks data. This could be an AV software or some Chrome extension, to give an example. Are you still able to replicate the issue, if you remove the bookmarks from Avast browser and run the import? If yes, could you try to reproduce with all the AV shields off and with the Chrome extensions disabled?

[bob3160]

Bob, I've just spoken to a developer. Since we are unable to reproduce the issue here, there is a chance something had blocked the access to the file where Chrome stores the bookmarks data. This could be an AV software or some Chrome extension, to give an example. Are you still able to replicate the issue, if you remove the bookmarks from Avast browser and run the import? If yes, could you try to reproduce with all the AV shields off and with the Chrome extensions disabled?

How do I delete the bookmarks without totally removing the browser?
The only AV is Avast Omni. The problem occurs before I install any extensions.

[Pavel Rujzl]

Hi Bob,

you can remove them one by one from the bookmarks bar manually, via the bookmarks manager or all at once by deleting the "Bookmarks" file located in "c:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Local\AVAST Software\Browser\User Data\Default" folder. If you are to delete the file, you may want to make a copy beforehand.

Also, one tests comes to my mind now. If you add an extra bookmark to Chrome, which is not present in your Avast browser, will it be imported in our browser when you initiate a new import?

Thank you!

Pavel @ Avast

[bob3160]

Hi Bob,

you can remove them one by one from the bookmarks bar manually, via the bookmarks manager or all at once by deleting the "Bookmarks" file located in "c:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Local\AVAST Software\Browser\User Data\Default" folder. If you are to delete the file, you may want to make a copy beforehand.

Also, one tests comes to my mind now. If you add an extra bookmark to Chrome, which is not present in your Avast browser, will it be imported in our browser when you initiate a new import?

Thank you!

Pavel @ Avast

Hello Pavel,
Here's a video that shows the problem. Let me know what else I can try.
https://youtu.be/5FZ15_X7VqY

[Pavel Rujzl]

Cheers Bob, now, that is quite obvious this does not work for you. Could you please download the Process Monitor from the following URL https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon, then redo your test with the Process Monitor running and capturing events? Then please save what has been captured as the native format (PML), then pack it using any packer (7zip or alike) you have installed and share the result using any file sharing service. I am looking forward to what we will discover.

Thank you!

Pavel @ Avast

[bob3160]

Cheers Bob, now, that is quite obvious this does not work for you. Could you please download the Process Monitor from the following URL https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon, then redo your test with the Process Monitor running and capturing events? Then please save what has been captured as the native format (PML), then pack it using any packer (7zip or alike) you have installed and share the result using any file sharing service. I am looking forward to what we will discover.

Thank you!

Pavel @ Avast

I've done a clean install and the sync function was there. I was still not able to import bookmarks from Chrome.