My collections have disappeared, how do I recover them? Where is the "Get Started" button for Collections?

Anonymous
2023-02-12T17:25:24+00:00

I turned my computer on today, accessed Edge, went to Collections, and discovered that none of my saved items under Collections headings are available, they have disappeared. Previous Help articles say to click on the "Get Started" button -- I do not see the button. Where is the "Get Started" button on the Collections sidebar. Please help, I have important items in Collections which I need to access today. Thank you.

Microsoft Edge | Favorites, history, and downloads | Windows 11

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Anonymous
2023-04-04T19:47:10+00:00

Here's what I did:

-I browsed to: edge://sync-internals/

-Located "collections" at the bottom and saw my number of collections at 128.

-I clicked the three dots and created a new profile in edge browser and it generated as "profile2" (yours may different, like profile3)

-Went to C:\users\*****\AppData\Local\microsoft\edge\userdata\default\ in File Explorer

-Closed the browser

-Copied the "Collections" folder within that default folder

-Pasted the "Collections" folder into "profile2" of "userdata" (C:\users\*****\AppData\Local\microsoft\edge\userdata)

-Opened the Edge browser

-I clicked the three dots again and opened my original profile and clicked the settings wheel and selected "sign out" on the next page that came up.

-I checked "clear favorites, history, passwords..... from this device". Finished the prompt and signed out.

-This is the most important step: I went back to the home page of the browser in my newly created profile "profile2", clicked the three dots again and signed in with my original profile's credentials (email and password) while in "profile2".
-The browser did a full sync (took a minute) and kept the pasted collections from "profile2" which then all magically became my new original profile.

My collections are now synced across all of my devices, I've confirmed.

I've also saved the original "Collections" folder in safe place in case this happens ever again.

Daniel Stewart

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-25T17:42:22+00:00

    Guys, if you're looking for collections they are in Bing

    Go to bing.com and click the stack next to your profile and reward points counter.

    First thing is collections

    Microsoft, bring this back, don't lock it away in Bing. Make it a thing for Edge like it was before.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-28T05:19:57+00:00

    hello questions I see collections 1 file and type this file explorer. But now what do I do? I am lost I deleted a big big big collection birthday card I am used a desktop computer window 11. and need it back edge browser is newest one updated yesterday, I think. thanks Linda *** Email address is removed for privacy ***

    %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Favicons

    If the in file explore and open app and asked what program app to open it with? what do I do? Collations are open side panel. too.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-31T12:22:58+00:00

    I have a similar problem as identified above. My collections have disappeared. I applied step1 and found the collection was present and running, but I cannot get the collections to appear in the Instagram app. I have all the saved photos, but no collections. What I have is a mass with no organization.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-27T19:23:17+00:00

    My Collections on Microsoft Edge have disappeared a few times only to have them "magically" reappear a week or so later. I do not appreciate having these important links in my Collections suddenly disappearing. I wonder how people working for Microsoft would feel having THEIR private information suddenly gone? I've learned my lesson. I'm going to move all my links from my Collections to my Favorites so I can control them from being taken away from me without my permission in case Microsoft pulls this s**t again.

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