diff --git a/eeschema/files-io.cpp b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
index c0815aa402..f8d4c659bb 100644
--- a/eeschema/files-io.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
@@ -456,6 +456,7 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::OpenProjectFiles( const std::vector<wxString>& aFileSet, in
             // Legacy schematic can have duplicate time stamps so fix that before converting
             // to the s-expression format.
             schematic.ReplaceDuplicateTimeStamps();
+            schematic.SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
 
             // Allow the schematic to be saved to new file format without making any edits.
             OnModify();
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_plugins/kicad/sch_sexpr_parser.cpp b/eeschema/sch_plugins/kicad/sch_sexpr_parser.cpp
index 12283b5f88..4a1e924804 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_plugins/kicad/sch_sexpr_parser.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_plugins/kicad/sch_sexpr_parser.cpp
@@ -2193,6 +2193,9 @@ void SCH_SEXPR_PARSER::ParseSchematic( SCH_SHEET* aSheet, bool aIsCopyableOnly,
     }
 
     screen->UpdateLocalLibSymbolLinks();
+
+    if( m_requiredVersion < 20200828 )
+        screen->SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_plugins/legacy/sch_legacy_plugin.cpp b/eeschema/sch_plugins/legacy/sch_legacy_plugin.cpp
index 5b0cfa3a55..b3e528c2d7 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_plugins/legacy/sch_legacy_plugin.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_plugins/legacy/sch_legacy_plugin.cpp
@@ -1692,7 +1692,6 @@ SCH_SYMBOL* SCH_LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadSymbol( LINE_READER& aReader )
 
             symbol->AddHierarchicalReference( path, reference, (int)tmp );
             symbol->GetField( REFERENCE_FIELD )->SetText( reference );
-
         }
         else if( strCompare( "F", line, &line ) )
         {
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_screen.cpp b/eeschema/sch_screen.cpp
index 630510aeb1..126e828346 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_screen.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_screen.cpp
@@ -1179,6 +1179,24 @@ void SCH_SCREEN::AddBusAlias( std::shared_ptr<BUS_ALIAS> aAlias )
 }
 
 
+void SCH_SCREEN::SetLegacySymbolInstanceData()
+{
+    for( SCH_ITEM* item : Items().OfType( SCH_SYMBOL_T ) )
+    {
+        SCH_SYMBOL* symbol = static_cast<SCH_SYMBOL*>( item );
+
+        // Add missing value and footprint instance data for legacy schematics.
+        for( const SYMBOL_INSTANCE_REFERENCE& instance : symbol->GetInstanceReferences() )
+        {
+            symbol->AddHierarchicalReference( instance.m_Path, instance.m_Reference,
+                                              instance.m_Unit,
+                                              symbol->GetField( VALUE_FIELD )->GetText(),
+                                              symbol->GetField( FOOTPRINT_FIELD )->GetText() );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
 #if defined(DEBUG)
 void SCH_SCREEN::Show( int nestLevel, std::ostream& os ) const
 {
@@ -1569,3 +1587,11 @@ void SCH_SCREENS::BuildClientSheetPathList()
         }
     }
 }
+
+
+void SCH_SCREENS::SetLegacySymbolInstanceData()
+{
+
+    for( SCH_SCREEN* screen = GetFirst(); screen; screen = GetNext() )
+        screen->SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
+}
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_screen.h b/eeschema/sch_screen.h
index 9456d54faa..6a7d3537eb 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_screen.h
+++ b/eeschema/sch_screen.h
@@ -497,6 +497,11 @@ public:
 
     void AssignNewUuid() { m_uuid = KIID(); }
 
+    /**
+     * Update the symbol value and footprint instance data for legacy designs.
+     */
+    void SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
+
 #if defined(DEBUG)
     void Show( int nestLevel, std::ostream& os ) const override;
 #endif
@@ -715,6 +720,11 @@ public:
      */
     bool CanCauseCaseSensitivityIssue( const wxString& aSchematicFileName ) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Update the symbol value and footprint instance data for legacy designs.
+     */
+    void SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
+
 private:
     void addScreenToList( SCH_SCREEN* aScreen, SCH_SHEET* aSheet );
     void buildScreenList( SCH_SHEET* aSheet);
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_symbol.cpp b/eeschema/sch_symbol.cpp
index 33d6598292..251328cec6 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_symbol.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_symbol.cpp
@@ -518,7 +518,8 @@ void SCH_SYMBOL::SetRef( const SCH_SHEET_PATH* sheet, const wxString& ref )
     }
 
     if( !found )
-        AddHierarchicalReference( path, ref, m_unit );
+        AddHierarchicalReference( path, ref, m_unit, GetField( VALUE_FIELD )->GetText(),
+                                  GetField( FOOTPRINT_FIELD )->GetText() );
 
     for( std::unique_ptr<SCH_PIN>& pin : m_pins )
         pin->ClearDefaultNetName( sheet );
diff --git a/eeschema/schematic.cpp b/eeschema/schematic.cpp
index 15c4684c09..e8a4caab16 100644
--- a/eeschema/schematic.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/schematic.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * This program source code file is part of KiCad, a free EDA CAD application.
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2020-2021 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
+ * Copyright (C) 2020-2022 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
  *
  * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
@@ -401,3 +401,11 @@ SCH_SHEET_LIST& SCHEMATIC::GetFullHierarchy() const
 
     return hierarchy;
 }
+
+
+void SCHEMATIC::SetLegacySymbolInstanceData()
+{
+    SCH_SCREENS screens( m_rootSheet );
+
+    screens.SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
+}
diff --git a/eeschema/schematic.h b/eeschema/schematic.h
index 3d793729d0..a76c59a523 100644
--- a/eeschema/schematic.h
+++ b/eeschema/schematic.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * This program source code file is part of KiCad, a free EDA CAD application.
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2020-2021 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
+ * Copyright (C) 2020-2022 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
  *
  * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
@@ -169,6 +169,14 @@ public:
      */
     SCH_SHEET_LIST& GetFullHierarchy() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Update the symbol value and footprint instance data for legacy designs.
+     *
+     * Prior to schematic file format version 20200828 and legacy file format version, only
+     * symbol reference field and unit were saved in the instance data.  The value and footprint
+     * fields must be carried forward from the original symbol to prevent data loss.
+     */
+    void SetLegacySymbolInstanceData();
 
 #if defined(DEBUG)
     void Show( int nestLevel, std::ostream& os ) const override {}