Your phone, tablet, computer: by now you have quite a few devices on which you can keep track of your internet favorites. How do you ensure that they are the same on all devices, so that you always have them at hand? An overview of the possibilities.
Adding frequently used websites to your favorites will give you quick access to those pages. You may have built up a considerable collection over time, of which it is still questionable to what extent this set is ordered. Before you make sure that the internet favorites are accessible on all devices – such as your desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone, it is a good idea to go through the list with the dust comb and add structure.
Chrome and Edge
Do you use Chrome or Edge? To add a page to your favorites, visit the page. Then click on the button with the asterisk (on the right side of the address bar). Choose add bookmark (Chrome) or Add this page to favorites (Edge). A new window will open. Give the page a title (at Name) and choose the location at folder. By default, the full title of the page is copied, but that is not always convenient: a long title is less legible in the favorites list. Make the title compact if possible.
Will be listed at folder the desired location not shown? Choose Another folder and select the desired folder. In the window you will also find a button More. Click this if you want to create a new folder or if you want an overview of the available folders.
This section More also provides a good starting point for cleaning and structuring the favorites. Right-click on a folder to change its name (To process), to delete the folder (remove) and to create a new folder (New map). In addition, you can move the favorites to another folder by dragging them to the new location.
Edge can also help you clean up favorites by removing duplicate entries (for example, if you’ve added multiple identical pages). Press the button Settings and more (top right of the window) and choose Favorites. In the newly opened window, click on the button with the three dots. Choose Remove duplicate favorites.
Smart Hotkey
To quickly add an internet favorite, use the hotkey Ctrl+D. This key combination works in both Chrome and Edge. You can also use it to edit an existing internet favorite.
Favorites everywhere
There are several services you can use to make your internet favorites available everywhere. We use Raindrop.io for this. The service helps to make favorites accessible, but also to structure them. In addition to addresses, you can also store files centrally and make them accessible on other devices.
You can use Raindrop.io for free. The paid version (for which you pay about 30 euros per year) has extra functionality such as an online backup of your favorites and more powerful search options. Always start with the free version first and decide later to upgrade if you are satisfied. Go to www.raindrop.io and create an account.
You can use Raindrop.io in several ways. You have access to the full functionality via the web environment. The bookmarks are displayed on the right side of the window. click on Add at the top right of the window to add a favorite. Type or copy the web address in the box URL and click Save. Instead, you can also click on the arrow next to the button Add. This allows you to upload a file, which you can then also access on other devices.
To sort
Raindrop.io works on the basis of collections, which are folders with which you sort the favorites. New favorites are saved separately and placed in the collection Unsorted. Click the plus sign next to the username to create a new collection. Give the collection a name and press Enter. Return to the map Unsorted and drag the individual favorites to the folders you created.
Of course we also want to have access to our previous favorites collection, for example from Chrome. Click on the username at the top left of the window and choose Institutions. Open the section Import. Raindrop.io supports several file formats for importing existing lists.
Now open a new browser window and click the button with the three dots (top right corner of the window, on both Chrome and Edge). For Chrome, then choose bookmarks, Bookmark Manager. Click on the button with the three dots and choose Export bookmarks. At Edge you choose Favorites. Click on the button with the three dots and choose Export Favorites.
In all cases, save the resulting export file in a convenient location and return to the Raindrop.io browser window. Choose Upload file and point to the file. Choose the option Import everything and click the button Start import. Return to the main screen: all favorites are now shown here.
Local copy
It is a good idea to regularly save a local backup of your favorites collection so that you are not completely dependent on Raindrop.io. In the aforementioned settings window of the service, choose backups. Backing up to Dropbox or Gdrive is only available for paid plans, but a local one backup is always possible. click on Export bookmarks .html file. The file will be sent via email.
Easily accessible
Instead of working through Raindrop.io’s web environment, you can also add the features as a browser extension. The advantage of this is that you can call up the favorites faster without leaving the website you are visiting.
In the main Raindrop.io window, click on your username. Choose Browser extension. In the newly opened window, choose your preferred browser, such as Safari, Chrome or Firefox. The Store of the respective browser opens. Follow the steps in the Store to install the extension.
When installing the extension, you can choose from two modes. The Mini app mode provides a compact display of your favorites. In terms of functionality, it is comparable to the full web environment. The other mode – clipper – is even more compact, but also more limited. Clipper mode only allows you to add the favorite. Decide which mode you use and whether you want to automatically show a ‘reminder indicator’ on websites that you have saved before. Place a check mark next to the option Highlight saved pages.
After installing the extension, you will find a new button in the browser’s address bar, in the form of a cloud. Click the button to open the extension. The structure is similar to that of the previously discussed web environment. To quickly open the extension, you can also use a key combination: Ctrl+Shift+E. If you visit a website that you would like to add to your favorites, use the shortcut key Ctrl+Shift+S.
Share favorites
Interesting is the possibility to share internet favorites with others. In the main Raindrop.io window, choose To share. You will find this button at the top right of the window. A new window will open. You can then choose between two ways of sharing.
Through Public page you can create a link that anyone can view without registration. You can share this link via e-mail, but also via WhatsApp or text message.
Through the other option – To share – you can invite specific people. Enter the email address at E-mail and determine what rights the other has with the favorites. Choose Can edit if you offer the possibility to adjust the favorites as well. Choose Can view if you want to share the list without giving the option to make changes. Finally, confirm with a click on Send invitations.
Integrations
In addition to making your internet favorites centrally accessible, you can set up links with other services via Raindrop.io. A good example of this is the integration with If This Then That (IFTTT). In combination with this service, you can set up an integration that automatically transfers internet favorites to a Google Sheets sheet.
In the Raindrop.io settings window, choose Integrations. Locate the section you want to use the integration for. For example, do you want to generate an automatic overview of favorites with IFTTT, then choose the section IFTTT and click Send new bookmarks to Google Sheet.
Another interesting option is the automatic saving of YouTube videos that you have marked as ‘like’. You will find this option if Save favorite YouTube videos. If you use Twitter, you can use the option Save favorite Tweets In addition, automatically favorites memorable tweets.
Mobile use
Of course we also want to make the favorites available on mobile devices, such as tablets and telephones. For this we can use the app for iOS and android is available. Go to www.raindrop.io/download. Choose App Store for Apple and Google Play in case of Android.
Finally, Raindrop.io is also available as an app that you can install on the desktop PC or laptop. This is useful if you prefer to use an app rather than the web environment. Three variants are available: two for macOS (for Intel and for Apple chips) and one for Windows.
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