Bookmarks on the iPad
Intended Audience
WSU students and faculty interested in creating browser bookmarks on their iOS device or synching their bookmarks between their laptops and their iOS devices.
Overview
In this section, we will discuss how to create bookmarks in the Safari browser on the iPad as well as how to sync bookmarks between the laptop and the iPad.
Creating a Bookmark in Safari on the iPad
- Begin by navigating to the page you wish to bookmark. While on that page, click on the icon shown in the toolbar below.
- From the dropdown selection box, choose Bookmark.
- Set the text to be displayed as the name of the bookmark. By default, the name is set to the title of the page but it can be set to anything you like. (See the image below.) Do not change the URL, this is the address the bookmark points to. Changing this will cause the bookmark to point elsewhere.
The final entry in the box shows where the bookmark will be stored in your bookmark tree. You can click on the field and select a new location for the bookmark.
Synching Bookmarks Between the iPad and the Laptop
Safari
Safari is the native browser on iPads. It is also the native browser on the Macs. I you use Safari as your go-to browser, syncing your bookmarks between devices is quick and easy. (Before you begin, be sure you have logged into both devices with the same AppleID.)
- Open the System Preferences on your Mac and go to the iCloud preferences. Be sure Safari is checked.
- On the iPad, open the Settings application and select iCloud. Be sure Safari is selected in the list of applications.
Done. Your bookmarks will automatically sync.
Through the Chrome Browser
Don't want to use Safari on the iPad? Google offers the Google Chrome browser on both the laptop and the iPad.
- Install Chrome on both the laptop and the iPad. Chrome for the laptop is available from Google's web site.You can download Chrome for the iPad from the App Store.
- Open Chrome on the laptop and click the little wrench in the top right. Click Sign into Chrome... and log into the browser. (You will need a Google account to log in. If you do not have one, you can create a free one by clicking "Create a Google Account" on the login page.)
- Open Chrome on the iPad. Click on the icon with the three horizontal bars at the top right. (See the image at right.) Select Settings and log into Chrome using the same Google account as above. Your bookmarks will sync.
You can view the bookmarks in Google Chrome by clicking the same icon with the three horizontal bars and selecting Bookmarks. (See the image at right.)
Through the Firefox Browser
Synching bookmarks from Firefox on your laptop to Safari on your iOS device is simple using an application called Bookmarks on the Go.
- Under the Firefox Preferences, select the Sync tab and create a Firefox Sync Account.
- Download the Bookmarks on the Go application from the App Store on your iOS device and open the app.
- Click the I Have A Sync Account button. You will see a Passcode screen with 12 characters on it.
- In the Firefox Preferences on the laptop, click Pair a Device and enter the 12 characters into the supplied dialog box. Click Continue.
- Your iOS device will switch to a new screen from which you can Search your bookmarks or access your Tabs and Bookmarks. There is also a Settings button from which you can refresh the bookmark list from the laptop.
The image at right shows Firefox bookmarks synched to an iPhone using Bookmarks on the Go.