Export your Edge favorites as an HTML file you can open in any browser

Microsoft Edge stores your favorites in its own format, but you can save them as an HTML file that works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser. This takes about two minutes and requires no special software — just the menu inside Edge itself.

The exported file is a single document you can email to yourself, store on a USB drive, or upload to cloud storage. If your computer fails or you switch browsers, you have a backup that opens anywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Edge, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, then choose Import and Export to find the export option.
  • The export creates a single HTML file with all your favorites and folders — you choose where to save it on your computer.
  • That HTML file opens in any web browser, so you are not locked into Edge if you change browsers later.
  • You can export as often as you want; each new export overwrites the old file or creates a new one with a different name.

Step-by-step: exporting from Edge

Start with Edge open. Click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the window — this is the Settings menu. A dropdown appears with several options.

Look for Settings in that menu and click it. A new window or tab opens showing Edge settings. On the left side, you will see a list of categories. Scroll down until you find Import and Export and click it.

On the right side of the screen, you will see a button that says Export favorites. Click that button. A dialog box appears asking you where to save the file and what to name it. The default name is usually something like "bookmarks.html" — you can change it to anything you want, like "My Favorites Backup" or "Edge Bookmarks 2024".

Choose a location you will remember — your Desktop, Documents folder, or a cloud storage folder like OneDrive all work well. Then click Save. Edge creates the file and tells you it is done. That is the entire process.

Where the file goes and what it contains

The exported file is an HTML document, the same format web pages use. You can open it by double-clicking it, and your default browser will display it as a clickable list of all your favorites and folders. The file contains nothing but links and folder names — no passwords, no browsing history, no personal data beyond what you named your bookmarks.

The file size is usually small, often less than 1 MB even for thousands of bookmarks. You can email it, back it up to cloud storage, or keep multiple copies without worrying about storage space.

Importing those favorites into another browser

If you switch to Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, you can bring your favorites with you. Each browser has its own import process, but they all look for an HTML file in the format Edge creates.

In Chrome: open Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, go to Bookmarks, then select Import bookmarks and settings. Choose the HTML file you exported from Edge. Chrome reads it and adds all your bookmarks to its own system.

In Firefox: click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks. Click the star icon with a dropdown arrow, select Import and Backup, then Restore. Choose your HTML file. Firefox imports everything.

In Safari on Mac: go to File menu, select Import From, then choose Bookmarks HTML File. Find your exported file and open it. Safari adds the bookmarks to its library.

Keeping backups current

Your exported HTML file is a snapshot from the moment you created it. If you add new favorites to Edge after exporting, those new ones are not in the backup file. You can export again whenever you want — each time you run the export, you can overwrite the old file or save it with a new name like "Edge Bookmarks January 2024".

Many people export once a month or whenever they have added a significant batch of new bookmarks. There is no limit to how many times you can export, and the process takes the same two minutes every time.

What happens if you delete the exported file

Deleting the HTML file does not affect your favorites in Edge itself. Your bookmarks stay in Edge exactly as they are. The exported file is only a copy — a backup for your own use. If you delete it by accident, you can straightforward export again and create a new copy.

The only time the exported file matters is if you need to restore your bookmarks to a new computer, switch browsers, or recover from a situation where Edge itself is damaged or uninstalled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export just one folder of favorites instead of everything?

The built-in export feature exports all your favorites at once. If you need only one folder, you can open the HTML file in a text editor and manually delete the sections you do not need, but that requires some comfort with reading code. A simpler approach: import the full HTML file into another browser, then delete the folders you do not want.

Will the exported file include passwords or autofill data?

No. The HTML export contains only the links themselves and the folder structure. Passwords, saved form data, and browsing history stay in Edge and are not included in the export. If you need to back up passwords, Edge has a separate password export feature in Settings under Passwords.

What if the exported file gets corrupted or will not open?

Try opening it in a different browser or a text editor like Notepad. If it opens in a text editor but not a browser, the file may have been damaged. Export again and save it with a different name. If the problem repeats, restart your computer and try exporting once more.

Can I edit the HTML file to add or remove favorites before importing it elsewhere?

Technically yes, but it requires editing HTML code directly. Most people find it easier to import the file into the new browser as-is, then add or remove favorites there. If you are comfortable with code, you can open the HTML file in Notepad and delete the lines containing bookmarks you do not want.