Frequently Asked Questions

This page summarizes common questions and solutions users encounter when using BookmarkSync.

Installation and Login

Q: Which browsers are supported?

A: Currently supports Chrome (version 111 and above) and all Chromium-based browsers, including:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Brave
• Opera
• Vivaldi
• Other Chromium-based browsers

Q: "Invalid package" error during manual installation?

A: Possible reasons and solutions:

1. Incomplete download: Re-download complete extension file
2. Browser version too low: Ensure browser version is 111 or above
3. File format issue:
   • If it's a .crx file, try extracting and loading as folder
   • Or extract to folder first, then select "Load unpacked extension" in extension management page
4. Chrome version 153 and above will prompt unusable, please download through Chrome Web Store.

Q: Can't find extension icon after installation?

A: Follow these steps:

1. Click the puzzle icon (extension management) on the right side of browser toolbar
2. Find BookmarkSync in the list
3. Click the pin icon to pin it to toolbar
4. Extension icon will appear in toolbar

Q: Must I log in to use?

A: Yes. BookmarkSync's core features (bookmark sync, cloud bookmarks, private bookmarks) all require account support. But you can:

• Register for free using email
• Or quick login using GitHub account
• More login methods will be gradually added

Q: "Network error" when logging in?

A: Please check:

1. Network connection: Ensure device is connected to internet
2. Firewall settings: Check if firewall is blocking extension's network requests
3. Proxy or VPN: If using proxy or VPN, try disabling and retry
4. Server status: May be temporary server maintenance, try again later (check homepage for announcements)

Q: GitHub login fails?

A: Please confirm:

1. Email binding: Your GitHub account must have a valid email address bound
2. Authorization scope: Need to allow BookmarkSync to access your email information when authorizing
3. Network connection: Ensure you can access GitHub normally
4. Browser settings: Check if third-party cookies are disabled

Bookmark Sync

Q: How long does first sync take?

A: Depends on your bookmark count:

• Under 100 items: Usually 10-30 seconds
• 100-500 items: About 1-2 minutes
• 500-1000 items: About 3-5 minutes

If sync takes too long, please check network connection.

Q: Bookmarks duplicated after first sync?

A: System will try to avoid duplicates, but duplication may occur in the following situations:

• Local and cloud have bookmarks with same title but different URLs
• Simultaneous operations on multiple devices in short time

Solution:

1. Manually delete duplicates in browser bookmark manager
2. Or use extension's "Override Sync" function to override one side with correct data

Q: How long after modifying bookmarks will they sync?

A: Immediately. BookmarkSync monitors bookmark bar changes in real-time, any add/delete/modify operation will immediately sync to cloud (requires internet connection).

Q: Can I use offline?

A: Yes. When offline:

• ✅ Browser bookmarks work normally
• ✅ Can add, delete, modify bookmarks
• ❌ Cannot sync to cloud
• ❌ Cannot access cloud bookmarks and private bookmarks

After going online, all changes during offline period will automatically sync.

Q: How to sync bookmarks across multiple devices?

A: Use the same account to log in to BookmarkSync on different devices, bookmarks will automatically sync:

1. Device A adds bookmark → automatically uploads to cloud
2. Device B automatically downloads from cloud when online
3. Both devices' bookmarks stay consistent

Q: What about sync conflicts?

A: When conflict is detected (such as two devices modifying same bookmark simultaneously), extension will prompt:

• Auto merge: System attempts to intelligently merge changes from both sides
• Manual selection: You can choose to keep local version or cloud version
• Override sync: Force override one side's data with the other side

Q: Can deleted bookmarks be recovered?

A: Currently does not support recycle bin function, deleted bookmarks cannot be recovered. Suggestions:

• Carefully confirm before deleting
• Regularly export bookmark backups (feature in development)

Cloud Bookmarks

Q: What's the difference between cloud bookmarks and browser bookmarks?

A: Main differences:

Feature	Browser Bookmarks	Cloud Bookmarks
Storage Location	Browser local	Cloud server
Occupy Bookmark Bar	Yes	No
Access Method	Bookmark bar/manager	Extension page
Use Cases	High-frequency access	Low-frequency access

Q: How to move browser bookmarks to cloud bookmarks?

A: There are two methods:

Method 1: Select when saving

• When bookmarking websites, select "Save to cloud only" in the popup notification

Method 2: Manual add

• Open cloud bookmarks management page
• Click "Add Bookmark"
• Manually enter title and URL

Method 3: Batch move (feature in development)

• Select multiple bookmarks in browser bookmark manager
• Use extension's batch move function

Q: Can cloud bookmarks be exported?

A: Current version does not support export function, planned to be added in future versions.

Q: How are cloud bookmark icons obtained?

A: Extension automatically gets favicon (website icon) from website. If website has no icon set, default link icon is displayed.

Q: Why are some website icons not displaying?

A: Possible reasons:

• Website has no favicon set
• Website's icon address is inaccessible
• Icon format not supported

This doesn't affect normal bookmark use, only a display issue.

Private Bookmarks

Q: What's the difference between private bookmarks and cloud bookmarks?

A: Main difference is security level:

Feature	Cloud Bookmarks	Private Bookmarks
Access Restriction	Login to access	Secondary password required
Encryption Level	Standard encryption	Enhanced encryption
Use Cases	General collection	Sensitive/privacy content

Q: What if I forget private bookmark password?

A: Cannot be recovered or reset. This is by design to ensure absolute security.

If you forget the password, the only solution is:

1. Select "Clear Private Bookmarks" in settings
2. After confirming operation, all private bookmark data will be deleted
3. Can set new password

⚠️ Warning: Data cannot be recovered after clearing, please proceed with caution!

Q: Can I modify private bookmark password?

A: Current version does not support password modification function. Planned to be added in future versions (will require entering old password to set new password).

Q: Is private bookmark password universal across multiple devices?

A: Yes. Password is saved in cloud and requires entering the same password on all devices.

Q: Why can't private bookmarks and cloud bookmarks be opened simultaneously?

A: This is a technical limitation. Both features use the browser's sidebar, only one can be displayed at a time. Please close one before opening the other when using.

Storage Quota

Q: Is 1000-item free quota enough?

A: Sufficient for most users:

• Statistics show over 95% of users have bookmark counts under 500
• 1000-item quota can meet almost all daily usage scenarios
• If you're a heavy user, recommend regularly cleaning unused bookmarks
• If really not enough, follow updates for possible expansion plans

Q: Do folders and categories count toward quota?

A: No. The 1000-item quota only counts bookmark links themselves, folders and categories do not count toward quota.

Q: Are cloud bookmarks and private bookmarks calculated separately?

A: No. Cloud bookmarks, private bookmarks, and browser sync bookmarks share the total quota of 1000 items.

Q: How to check used quota?

A: Can see in extension's "Personal Center" page:

• Current used bookmark count
• Remaining available quota
• Quota usage percentage

Q: What happens after exceeding 1000 items?

A: In current version:

• Cannot continue adding new bookmarks
• Existing bookmarks not affected, can use normally
• After deleting some bookmarks, quota is released and can continue adding

Q: Will expansion service be provided in the future?

A: May introduce paid expansion service in future versions, but 1000-item free quota is permanently retained and will never be reduced.

Data Security

Q: Is my bookmark data secure?

A: Yes. BookmarkSync uses multiple security measures:

• ✅ Transmission encryption: HTTPS encrypted transmission
• ✅ Storage encryption: Database encrypted storage
• ✅ Key isolation: Encryption keys stored separately from data
• ✅ Access control: Strict permission management
• ✅ Privacy protection: Administrators cannot view user data

Q: Will you use my bookmark data?

A: No. We promise:

• ❌ Will not view your bookmark content
• ❌ Will not share data with third parties
• ❌ Will not use for advertising or recommendations
• ✅ Data used only to provide sync service

Q: What happens to my data if service shuts down?

A: We will notify users at least 3 months in advance and provide data export function. But rest assured:

• Project will run long-term
• Will continue maintenance and updates
• Recommend regular export backups (feature in development)

Performance Related

Q: Will extension affect browser speed?

A: No. BookmarkSync is designed as a lightweight extension:

• Main logic runs in background
• Does not occupy browser main process resources
• Sync operations execute asynchronously, do not block browser

Q: Why are cloud bookmarks loading slowly?

A: Possible reasons:

1. Network issue: Check network connection speed
2. Too many bookmarks: Loading slower when approaching 1000 items
3. Server load: May respond slower during peak times

Solutions:

• Check network connection
• Try refreshing page
• Avoid use during network peak times

Q: Will sync consume a lot of data?

A: No. Bookmark data is very small:

• Single bookmark about 100-500 bytes
• 1000 bookmarks about 100-500 KB
• Even with frequent sync, data consumption is minimal

Other Questions

Q: How to provide feedback or suggestions?

A: You can contact us through:

• GitHub Issues: Project address
• Email: support@app.itgz8.com

Q: What new features in the future?

A: Planned features include:

• Bookmark import/export
• Tag system
• Bookmark sharing
• Browsing history
• More themes and customization options
• Mobile app

Q: Is the extension free?

A: All current features are completely free. May introduce premium features in the future:

• ✅ Permanently free: All existing features + 1000-item quota
• 💰 May charge: Expansion, advanced features, enterprise version

We promise to never reduce free feature availability.

Can't Find Answer?

If the above content doesn't solve your problem, please:

1. Check Installation Guide
2. Check Feature Introduction
3. Check Cloud Bookmarks Documentation
4. Check Private Bookmarks Documentation
5. Contact us through feedback channels

We will continuously update this document to add answers to more common questions.