Export bookmarks from Firefox in three steps
Firefox stores your bookmarks in its own format, but you can save them as a file on your computer that works with almost any browser. The process takes about two minutes and requires no special software — just Firefox itself and a place to save the file.
Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks. This opens the Bookmarks Library window where all your saved pages live.
In the Bookmarks Library, click the Import and Backup button at the top right — it looks like a star with an arrow. Choose Backup from the dropdown menu. Firefox will save your bookmarks as a single file with a name like "bookmarks-2024-01-15.json" and ask you where to put it. Pick a folder you can find later, like your Desktop or Documents folder, then click Save.
Key Takeaways
- Firefox exports bookmarks as a .json file that you can open in any browser later, even if you switch away from Firefox.
- The export button is in the Bookmarks Library under the Import and Backup menu at the top right.
- Save the exported file somewhere you can find it again, like your Desktop or a dedicated backup folder.
- You can export your bookmarks as often as you want — each backup creates a new file with today's date in the name.
- The exported file is just a regular computer file; you can email it, move it to another device, or store it in cloud storage.
Why you might export bookmarks
Exporting bookmarks creates a snapshot of what you have saved right now. If Firefox crashes or you accidentally delete a bookmark, you can restore it from the backup. If you switch to a different browser like Chrome or Safari, you can import this file into the new browser and keep all your bookmarks without re-saving them one by one.
Some people export bookmarks regularly — say, once a month — to keep multiple backups at different points in time. Others export once and never touch it again. The file takes up almost no space on your computer, so there is no harm in keeping several old backups around.
Where to save your exported bookmarks file
The most reliable place is a folder on your computer that you use for important files — Desktop, Documents, or a folder you created specifically for backups. Avoid saving it in temporary folders or places you clean out regularly, because you might accidentally delete it.
If you use cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, you can save the exported file there instead. This way, if your computer fails, the file still exists on the cloud service. Just make sure you know which folder you put it in, because cloud storage can have many nested folders and it is straightforward to lose track.
Write down or remember the file name and location, or take a screenshot of the folder so you can find it months later when you actually need it. A backup that you cannot locate is useless.
Importing bookmarks from your backup into Firefox
If you ever need to restore bookmarks from a backup, open Firefox and go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks again. Click Import and Backup, then choose Restore. Firefox will ask you to pick a backup file. Navigate to wherever you saved your exported bookmarks and select the .json file.
Firefox will add all the bookmarks from that file back into your browser. If you already have bookmarks with the same names, Firefox will create duplicates rather than overwriting them, so you may end up with two copies of some bookmarks. You can delete the duplicates manually afterward if that bothers you.
Importing bookmarks into a different browser
If you switch to Chrome, Safari, Edge, or another browser, you can import the Firefox bookmarks file into it. The exact steps differ by browser, but the general idea is the same: open the browser's settings, find the import or bookmarks section, and select your Firefox backup file.
Chrome and Edge both have an import option in their settings menu under "Bookmarks" or "Import settings". Safari on Mac can import bookmarks through File > Import Bookmarks. On Safari for iPhone or iPad, you cannot import directly, but you can use iCloud to sync bookmarks across Apple devices instead.
If the new browser does not recognize the .json file format, you may need to export from Firefox as an HTML file instead. Go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import and Backup, but this time look for an option to export as HTML. Not all browsers need this, but some older ones do.
What happens if you do not export your bookmarks
Your bookmarks stay in Firefox as long as Firefox is installed and working. If your computer crashes, Firefox updates go wrong, or you uninstall the browser by accident, your bookmarks could disappear. They are not backed up anywhere else unless you export them.
If you switch to a different browser without exporting first, you lose access to your Firefox bookmarks in the new browser. You would have to re-save every page you want to keep, which defeats the purpose of having bookmarks in the first place.
Exporting bookmarks on different devices
If you use Firefox on a laptop, phone, or tablet, each device stores its own copy of your bookmarks. Exporting on one device does not automatically export from the others. If you want backups from multiple devices, you need to export from each one separately.
Firefox can sync bookmarks across devices if you sign in with a Firefox account, but syncing is different from exporting. Syncing keeps your bookmarks updated on all devices in real time, while exporting creates a one-time snapshot file. You can do both — sync for convenience and export for backup security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export bookmarks from Firefox on my phone?
Firefox on Android and iPhone does not have a built-in export button like the desktop version. Your best option is to sign in with a Firefox account on your phone, which syncs bookmarks to your account. Then export from Firefox on your computer, which will include any bookmarks you saved on your phone.
What if I cannot find the Import and Backup button?
Make sure you are in the Bookmarks Library, not just the Bookmarks menu. Open Firefox, click the menu button (three lines), select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks. The Import and Backup button should be at the top right of the window that opens. If you still do not see it, your Firefox version may be very old and needs an update.
Can I edit the exported bookmarks file before importing it somewhere else?
The .json format is readable as plain text, but editing it by hand is risky — one misplaced character can break the entire file. If you want to remove certain bookmarks before importing, import the file into Firefox first, delete the ones you do not want, then export again.
How often should I export my bookmarks?
There is no set rule. If you add bookmarks frequently and would be upset to lose them, export once a month or whenever you have added a batch of new ones. If you barely use bookmarks, exporting once a year is fine. The file is small, so keeping multiple backups from different dates does not hurt.
Will exporting bookmarks include passwords or other Firefox data?
No. Exporting bookmarks saves only your bookmarks — the names and web addresses you have saved. It does not include passwords, browsing history, or other Firefox settings. If you want to back up those things too, Firefox has separate backup options in its settings menu.