How to Export Your Chrome Favorites to Another Computer

Export your Chrome bookmarks as a file, then import that file on the other computer

Chrome stores your bookmarks in a single file that you can read to your computer, move to another device, and load into Chrome there. The process takes about two minutes on each end. You do not need to sign into a Google account or use cloud sync — you can move bookmarks with just a USB drive or email attachment.

The file Chrome creates is small (usually under 1 MB) and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It preserves your folder structure, so if you organized bookmarks into categories, those categories come across intact.

Key Takeaways

Chrome's bookmark export creates a single HTML file that you read to your computer and can move by email, USB drive, or cloud storage.
The export process is in Chrome's Settings menu under Bookmarks, and takes the same path on Windows and Mac.
On the receiving computer, you import the file through the same Bookmarks menu, and Chrome adds the bookmarks to your existing ones rather than replacing them.
If you use the same Google account on both computers, Chrome can sync bookmarks automatically instead — check your sync settings before exporting.

How to export bookmarks from Chrome on the source computer

Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Go to Bookmarks, then select Bookmark manager. This opens a new tab showing all your saved bookmarks and folders.

In the Bookmark manager tab, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of that panel. Select Export bookmarks. Chrome will ask you where to save the file — choose your Desktop or Documents folder so you can find it easily. The file will be named bookmarks_[date].html. Click Save.

The file is now on your computer. You can email it to yourself, copy it to a USB drive, upload it to Google Drive or Dropbox, or use any other method to move it to the other computer.

How to import bookmarks into Chrome on the receiving computer

On the second computer, open Chrome and click the three-line menu. Go to Bookmarks, then select Bookmark manager. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the Bookmark manager panel.

Select Import bookmarks. Chrome will open a file browser. Navigate to the bookmarks HTML file you moved over and click Open. Chrome will add all the bookmarks from that file to your existing bookmarks — it does not replace what you already have.

The import happens when ready. Your bookmarks will appear in the Bookmark manager, and you can see them in the bookmark bar or the Bookmarks menu right away.

What happens to your folder structure during export and import

Chrome preserves the folder organization you created. If you had a folder called "News Sites" with ten bookmarks inside it, that folder and all ten bookmarks will appear in the same structure on the other computer.

The imported bookmarks land in your main bookmark list by default. If you want to organize them differently on the new computer, you can move them into new folders or delete duplicates using the Bookmark manager. Right-click any bookmark or folder to see options for editing, moving, or deleting.

Using Google account sync instead of manual export

If you use the same Google account on both computers, Chrome can sync your bookmarks automatically without exporting. Sign into Chrome with your Google account on both devices, and bookmarks will appear on both within a few minutes.

To check if sync is on, click the three-line menu, go to Settings, then click Sync and Google services on the left. Make sure Sync is on and that Bookmarks is checked. If both are enabled, your bookmarks are already syncing between computers.

Manual export is useful if you do not want to sign into a Google account, if you want to share bookmarks with someone else's account, or if you want to keep a backup copy of your bookmarks on a USB drive.

Troubleshooting import problems

If the imported bookmarks do not appear, check that you selected the correct HTML file. The file name should start with "bookmarks_" and end with ".html". If you accidentally exported from a different browser, Chrome may not recognize the format.

If you see duplicate bookmarks after import, it means you imported the same file twice. You can delete the duplicates by right-clicking them in the Bookmark manager and selecting Delete. There is no undo for deletions, so make sure you are deleting the right one.

If the bookmark bar does not show your imported bookmarks, they may be in a folder. Open the Bookmark manager and look for a folder called "Imported" or check your main bookmark folders. You can drag bookmarks from the Bookmark manager to the bookmark bar if you want them visible there.

Moving bookmarks between different browsers

If you are switching from Chrome to Firefox, Edge, or Safari, those browsers can import Chrome's bookmark HTML file directly. Open the other browser's bookmark or settings menu and look for an import option. Most browsers accept Chrome's HTML format.

If you are moving from Firefox or Safari to Chrome, export bookmarks from that browser as an HTML file first, then import that file into Chrome using the same process described above. The exact export steps differ by browser, but the import process in Chrome stays the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export bookmarks from Chrome on my phone?

Chrome on Android and iPhone does not have a built-in export feature. The easiest way to move phone bookmarks to a computer is to sign into the same Google account on both devices and let sync handle it. If you need to export from a phone, you would need to use a third-party app or manually recreate the bookmarks on the computer.

What if I want to keep my old bookmarks and add the new ones?

Import does exactly this — it adds the bookmarks from the file to your existing bookmarks rather than replacing them. If you end up with duplicates, you can delete them one at a time in the Bookmark manager by right-clicking and selecting Delete.

Is the bookmarks HTML file safe to email or upload to cloud storage?

Yes. The file contains only the names and URLs of your bookmarks, not passwords or personal data. You can email it, upload it to Google Drive, or store it on a USB drive without security concerns. Anyone with the file can see your bookmarks, so do not share it if you want to keep your browsing habits private.

Do I need to be signed into a Google account to export or import bookmarks?

No. Export and import work whether you are signed in or not. You only need a Google account if you want to use Chrome's automatic sync feature instead of manual export.

What if the other computer already has Chrome bookmarks I want to keep?

Import adds to existing bookmarks instead of replacing them. Both sets of bookmarks will be there after import. If you have duplicates, you can delete them manually in the Bookmark manager, or you can organize them into separate folders to keep them distinct.

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