Export your Chrome bookmarks as a backup file
Chrome stores your bookmarks in a single file that you can read to your computer at any time. This file works as a backup — if something happens to your browser or you switch computers, you can restore all your bookmarks from it. The file is small (usually under 1 MB) and plain text, so it opens in any text editor if you ever need to look inside.
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Go to Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. At the top of the Bookmark manager window, click the three vertical dots again. Select Export bookmarks. Chrome will ask you where to save the file — choose a folder you'll remember, like your Desktop or Documents folder. The file will be named bookmarks_[date].html.
That's the entire process. You now have a copy of every bookmark you've saved, organized exactly as you had it in Chrome. Keep this file somewhere safe if you plan to use it later — a cloud storage folder like Google Drive or OneDrive works well, or an external hard drive if you prefer.
Key Takeaways
- Export bookmarks through Chrome's Bookmark manager (three dots menu → Bookmarks and lists → Bookmark manager → three dots → Export bookmarks).
- The exported file is a single .html file that contains all your bookmarks and their folder structure.
- Import bookmarks the same way: Bookmark manager → three dots → Import bookmarks, then select the .html file.
- You can import the same backup file into multiple Chrome profiles or computers without losing the original.
- Importing adds bookmarks to what you already have rather than replacing them, so duplicates may appear if you import the same file twice.
Import bookmarks from a backup file
If you have a bookmarks file from another computer or an older backup, you can bring those bookmarks into Chrome. Open the Bookmark manager the same way: three vertical dots → Bookmarks and lists → Bookmark manager. Click the three vertical dots at the top, then select Import bookmarks. A file browser will open — navigate to the .html file you want to import and click it.
Chrome will add all the bookmarks from that file to your current bookmarks. If the file contains folders, Chrome recreates those folders in your bookmark structure. The import happens when ready, and you'll see a confirmation message at the top of the Bookmark manager window.
What happens when you import bookmarks into an existing collection
When you import a file, Chrome adds those bookmarks to what you already have — it does not replace your current bookmarks. If you import the same file twice by accident, you'll end up with duplicate bookmarks. You can delete the duplicates manually by opening the Bookmark manager, finding the duplicate, right-clicking it, and selecting Delete.
If the imported file contains a folder with the same name as one you already have, Chrome creates a new folder instead of merging them. For example, if you have a folder called "News Sites" and you import a file that also has a "News Sites" folder, you'll end up with two separate "News Sites" folders. You can move bookmarks between them manually if you want to consolidate them.
Moving bookmarks between computers
The most straightforward way to move all your bookmarks to a new computer is to export them on the old one, then import them on the new one. Export the bookmarks file, save it to a USB drive or cloud storage, and then import it into Chrome on the new computer. This works whether you're switching from Windows to Mac, Mac to Windows, or staying on the same operating system.
If both computers are signed into the same Google account, Chrome can sync your bookmarks automatically without any manual export or import. Go to Chrome settings (three dots → Settings), click Sync and Google services on the left, and make sure Sync everything is turned on or that Bookmarks is checked under the custom sync options. Once sync is active, any bookmark you save on one computer appears on the other within a few minutes.
Organizing bookmarks before you export them
Before you export bookmarks as a backup, spend a few minutes cleaning up your collection. Open the Bookmark manager and delete any bookmarks you no longer use — this makes the backup file smaller and easier to manage if you ever need to restore it. You can also rename folders to make them clearer or reorganize bookmarks into different folders.
If you have bookmarks scattered across your toolbar and various folders, consider moving them all into organized folders before exporting. The folder structure you create in Chrome will be preserved exactly when you export and import the file, so taking time to organize now saves you work later.
Exporting bookmarks from other browsers into Chrome
If you're switching to Chrome from Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another browser, you can bring your bookmarks with you. In Chrome, go to the three dots menu and select Settings. Click Import settings on the left side. Chrome will detect other browsers on your computer and let you choose which one to import from. Select the browser and check the Bookmarks box, then click Import.
Chrome will create a new folder called "Imported from [Browser Name]" and place all the imported bookmarks inside it. You can then move individual bookmarks or folders out of that folder into your main bookmark structure, or delete the folder entirely if you don't want to keep them.
If the import tool doesn't detect your browser, you can export bookmarks from that browser manually (each browser has its own export process), save the file, and then import it into Chrome using the Import bookmarks option in the Bookmark manager.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you export bookmarks but the file doesn't appear where you expected, check your Downloads folder — some browsers save exported files there by default. You can also search your computer for files with names starting with "bookmarks_" to locate it.
If you try to import a file and Chrome doesn't recognize it, make sure the file is in .html format. Files exported from Chrome are always .html files, but if you've edited or renamed the file, it may have lost the correct format. You can check by right-clicking the file and looking at the file type — it should say "HTML Document" or similar.
If imported bookmarks appear in the wrong place or in unexpected folders, check whether Chrome created a new folder during the import. Look for folders named "Imported from [source]" or folders with duplicate names. You can move bookmarks between folders by dragging them in the Bookmark manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export bookmarks from Chrome on my phone?
Chrome on Android and iOS does not have a built-in export feature. The easiest way to back up phone bookmarks is to sign into your Google account in Chrome mobile — your bookmarks will sync automatically to your Google account and appear on any other device where you sign in. You can then export them from Chrome on a computer.
What format is the exported bookmarks file in?
Chrome exports bookmarks as an .html file, which is a standard web page format. You can open it in any text editor or web browser to view the contents, though it's designed to be imported back into Chrome rather than read directly. The file is human-readable but not designed for editing by hand.
If I import bookmarks, will they replace my existing bookmarks?
No. Importing adds bookmarks to what you already have rather than replacing them. If you import the same file twice, you'll see duplicate bookmarks. You'll need to delete the duplicates manually through the Bookmark manager.
Do I need to be signed into Google to export or import bookmarks?
No. Export and import work whether you're signed in or not. However, if you want bookmarks to sync automatically across devices, you do need to sign into your Google account in Chrome.
Can I edit the bookmarks file before importing it?
Technically yes, since it's an .html file, but it's not recommended unless you know how to edit HTML. If you make a mistake with the formatting, Chrome may not be able to import the file. It's safer to import the file as-is and then organize or delete bookmarks within Chrome.