How to Export Your Bookmarks From Google Chrome

Export your Chrome bookmarks as an HTML file you can open in another browser or save as backup

Google Chrome stores your bookmarks in its own format, but you can export them as a single HTML file that works in Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other browser. The export takes about two minutes and creates a file you can keep on your computer, email to yourself, or restore later if you reinstall Chrome.

Chrome does not have a built-in "export" button in the main menu. Instead, you access the bookmark manager, then use a three-dot menu within it. The steps are the same on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Key Takeaways

Open the bookmark manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Command+Shift+B (Mac), or use the menu path Chrome menu > Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager.
Click the three-dot menu in the top right of the bookmark manager window and select "Export bookmarks" to read an HTML file.
The exported file includes all your bookmarks, folders, and the order you organized them in.
You can import this file into another browser, or restore it to Chrome on a different computer by using the same three-dot menu and selecting "Import bookmarks".

Step-by-step: export bookmarks from Chrome

Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows or Command+Shift+B on Mac. This opens the bookmark manager in a new tab. If you prefer using the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, hover over "Bookmarks", then click "Bookmark Manager".

In the bookmark manager window, look for the three vertical dots in the top right corner — not the Chrome menu, but the one inside the bookmark manager itself. Click it and select "Export bookmarks". Your browser will read a file named bookmarks_[date].html to your Downloads folder. The file name includes the date you exported it.

That file is now a backup. You can move it to a cloud storage folder, email it to yourself, or store it on an external drive. It contains every bookmark, every folder, and the exact order you organized them in.

Where the exported file goes and how to find it

Chrome saves the exported HTML file to your Downloads folder by default. On Windows, this is usually C:\Users\[Your Name]\Downloads. On Mac, it is in the Downloads folder in Finder. You can rename the file to something more descriptive — for example, "Chrome Bookmarks Backup 2025" — and it will still work.

If you want to keep the file somewhere safer than Downloads, move it to a cloud storage folder like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. You can also copy it to an external hard drive or USB stick. The file is small — usually less than 1 MB — so it takes almost no space.

Importing bookmarks from an exported file

If you are setting up Chrome on a new computer, or you want to restore bookmarks you exported earlier, open the bookmark manager the same way: press Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Command+Shift+B (Mac). Click the three-dot menu and this time select "Import bookmarks". A file browser will open. Navigate to your exported HTML file and click "Open".

Chrome will add all the bookmarks from the file to your current bookmarks. If you already have bookmarks with the same names, Chrome will keep both — it does not delete or overwrite existing bookmarks. If you want a clean start instead, you can delete your current bookmarks first, then import.

Exporting bookmarks to use in Firefox, Safari, or Edge

The HTML file Chrome exports works in other browsers. In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select "Bookmarks", then "Manage Bookmarks". Click the menu inside the bookmark manager and choose "Import and Backup" > "Restore" > "Choose File". Select your Chrome HTML file.

In Safari on Mac, go to File > Import From > and look for an option to import from an HTML file (Safari calls this "Import Bookmarks"). In Edge, click the menu (three dots), go to "Favorites" > "Manage Favorites", click the menu, and select "Import bookmarks". All three browsers will read the Chrome HTML file and add those bookmarks to their own bookmark lists.

What happens to bookmarks you add after exporting

The exported file is a snapshot from the moment you created it. If you add new bookmarks to Chrome after exporting, those new bookmarks are not automatically added to the file. You need to export again to capture the new bookmarks.

If you are using Chrome sync — which you can check by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner — your bookmarks are already backed up to your Google account. But exporting to an HTML file is still useful because it gives you a file you can open without signing in, share with another person, or use in a different browser.

Organizing bookmarks before you export

Before you export, consider organizing your bookmarks into folders. Open the bookmark manager (Ctrl+Shift+B or Command+Shift+B), right-click in an empty area, and select "Add folder". Name it something clear like "Work" or "Recipes". Then drag bookmarks into the folders you want.

When you export, all those folders come with the bookmarks. When you import into another browser or computer, the folder structure stays intact. This makes it much easier to find what you need later, and it makes the exported file more useful as a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export just one folder of bookmarks instead of all of them?

Chrome's export function exports all bookmarks at once. If you want to export only one folder, right-click the folder in the bookmark manager and select "Export" if that option appears — it depends on your Chrome version. Otherwise, export everything, then delete the folders you do not need from the HTML file using a text editor, or import everything and delete unwanted bookmarks afterward.

What if I forgot where I saved my exported bookmarks file?

Check your Downloads folder first — that is where Chrome saves it by default. If it is not there, use your computer's search function. On Windows, press Windows key + S and search for "bookmarks_". On Mac, press Command+Space and search the same way. You can also search for ".html" to find all HTML files on your computer.

Will exporting bookmarks delete them from Chrome?

No. Exporting creates a copy. Your bookmarks stay in Chrome exactly as they were. You can export as many times as you want without affecting anything in your browser.

Can I edit the exported HTML file to add or remove bookmarks?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. The HTML file has a specific format that browsers expect. If you edit it incorrectly, the import might fail or bookmarks might not appear. It is safer to add or remove bookmarks in Chrome itself, then export again.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.