The fastest way to save a page
To bookmark a page in Chrome, press Ctrl+D on Windows or Cmd+D on Mac while viewing the page you want to save. A small popup appears asking where to store the bookmark and what to name it. The default name is the page title, but you can change it to anything shorter or more memorable. Click the dropdown menu that says "Bookmarks bar" or "Other bookmarks" to choose a folder, then click "Save".
The bookmark is now stored in Chrome and you can access it anytime. If you chose "Bookmarks bar", the link appears as a clickable button at the top of your browser window, below the address bar. If you chose "Other bookmarks", the link is hidden in a folder you can open from the menu.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac) to open the bookmark dialog while on any page.
- You can rename the bookmark to something shorter than the page title before saving.
- Bookmarks bar bookmarks appear as visible buttons; "Other bookmarks" keeps them in a hidden folder.
- Organize bookmarks into folders by creating new folders in the bookmark manager.
- Your bookmarks sync across all devices where you sign into the same Google account.
Where bookmarks appear after you save them
When you bookmark a page, Chrome stores it in one of two places. The Bookmarks bar is the row of buttons that sits just below your address bar—these bookmarks are always visible and take up space. The Other bookmarks folder is a hidden menu you open by clicking the three-dot icon in the top right corner, then selecting "Bookmarks" and "Bookmark manager".
Most people keep their most-used sites on the Bookmarks bar and store everything else in Other bookmarks. If your Bookmarks bar gets crowded, you can move bookmarks between locations by right-clicking them and selecting "Edit" or by dragging them in the bookmark manager.
Creating folders to organize bookmarks
If you have more than a handful of bookmarks, folders help you find them faster. Open the bookmark manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows or Cmd+Shift+B on Mac. On the left side, you'll see "Bookmarks bar" and "Other bookmarks". Right-click on either one and select "Add folder", then type a name like "Work", "Shopping", or "News".
Once you've created a folder, you can drag bookmarks into it or right-click a bookmark and choose "Move to" to send it to a specific folder. You can also create folders inside folders—for example, a "Work" folder containing subfolders for "Projects" and "Clients".
Editing or removing a bookmark
To change a bookmark's name or location, right-click it and select "Edit". A dialog opens where you can type a new name and choose a different folder. If you want to delete a bookmark, right-click it and select "Remove" or "Delete".
You can also make these changes in the bookmark manager. Press Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+B (Mac) to open it, then right-click any bookmark to see your options. The bookmark manager shows all your bookmarks in one place and makes it straightforward to reorganize large collections.
Syncing bookmarks across devices
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks automatically sync to every device where you use that account. This means a bookmark you save on your laptop appears on your phone or tablet within minutes. To turn on sync, click the profile icon in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Sync is on", and make sure "Bookmarks" is checked.
If sync is off or you're not signed in, bookmarks stay only on that device. You can also manually export bookmarks as an HTML file by opening the bookmark manager, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Export bookmarks"—this creates a file you can import into another browser or save as a backup.
Bookmarking from your phone or tablet
On Chrome for Android, tap the three-dot menu at the top right while viewing a page, then tap "Bookmark". On Chrome for iPhone or iPad, tap the share icon (the square with an arrow), scroll down, and tap "Bookmark". A dialog appears where you can rename the bookmark and choose which folder to save it to.
Phone bookmarks sync to your computer and vice versa if you're signed into the same Google account. This means you can bookmark a recipe on your phone while cooking and find it on your computer later without any extra steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bookmark a bookmark to make it easier to find?
No, but you can organize bookmarks into folders and rename them to make them easier to spot. If you have a bookmark you use constantly, move it to the Bookmarks bar so it's always visible, or give it a short, memorable name that appears first alphabetically.
What happens to my bookmarks if I uninstall Chrome?
If you're signed into a Google account, your bookmarks are stored in the cloud and will reappear when you reinstall Chrome and sign back in. If you're not signed in, bookmarks are stored only on your computer and will be deleted when you uninstall the browser.
Can I import bookmarks from another browser into Chrome?
Yes. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Bookmarks", then "Import bookmarks and settings". Choose the browser you're importing from and click "Import". Chrome will add those bookmarks to your "Other bookmarks" folder.
Why don't my bookmarks appear on the Bookmarks bar?
The Bookmarks bar may be hidden. Click the three-dot menu, go to "Bookmarks", and check if "Show bookmarks bar" has a checkmark next to it. If not, click it to turn the bar on. Bookmarks you saved to "Other bookmarks" won't appear on the bar unless you move them there.