The fastest way to clear all bookmarks

Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows or Command + Shift + B on Mac to show the bookmark bar if it is hidden. Click the folder icon on the far right of the bookmark bar — this opens the Bookmark Manager. Press Ctrl + A (or Command + A on Mac) to select every bookmark in the list, then press Delete. Chrome will ask you to confirm; click "Remove" and all bookmarks are gone.

If the bookmark bar is not visible, you can reach the same place through the menu: click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, hover over "Bookmarks", then click "Bookmark Manager". The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Command + Shift + O (Mac) opens the Bookmark Manager directly without needing the menu.

This method deletes every bookmark at once, including any organized in folders. Chrome does not move deleted bookmarks to a trash folder — once you confirm the deletion, they are permanently removed. If you think you might want them back later, export your bookmarks before deleting them.

Key Takeaways

  • The Bookmark Manager is the only place to delete all bookmarks at once; you cannot do this from the main Chrome menu.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Command + Shift + O (Mac) to open the Bookmark Manager directly.
  • Select all bookmarks with Ctrl + A or Command + A, then press Delete and confirm the removal.
  • Deleted bookmarks cannot be recovered, so export them first if you might need them later.
  • Deleting bookmarks does not affect your browsing history, saved passwords, or any other Chrome data.

How to export bookmarks before deleting them

If you want to keep a backup or move your bookmarks to another browser, export them first. Open the Bookmark Manager (Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows, Command + Shift + O on Mac), click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the Bookmark Manager window, and select "Export bookmarks". Chrome will save a file called "bookmarks_[date].html" to your Downloads folder.

This HTML file contains all your bookmarks in a format that most browsers can read. You can open it later to see what you deleted, or import it into Firefox, Edge, Safari, or another browser if you switch. Keep the file somewhere you can find it — your Downloads folder, a cloud storage service, or an external drive all work well.

Deleting bookmarks one folder at a time

If you want to keep some bookmarks and delete only certain folders, the Bookmark Manager lets you do this. Open the Bookmark Manager, find the folder you want to remove in the left sidebar, right-click it, and select "Delete". Only that folder and its contents are removed; bookmarks in other folders stay in place.

You can also click a folder name to see all the bookmarks inside it, then select individual bookmarks by clicking them while holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac). Once you have selected the ones you want gone, press Delete. This approach takes longer than deleting everything at once, but it gives you control over what stays and what goes.

Clearing bookmarks on all your devices

If you use Chrome on multiple devices and have signed into the same Google account on each one, your bookmarks sync across all of them. Deleting bookmarks on one device removes them from every device where you are signed in. This happens automatically within a few minutes, so you do not need to delete them separately on your phone, tablet, or other computers.

If you do not want bookmarks to sync, you can turn off sync for bookmarks alone. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Settings", click "Sync and Google services" on the left, and toggle off "Bookmarks". This stops new bookmarks from syncing but does not delete the ones already on your other devices — you would still need to delete those manually.

What happens when you delete a bookmark

Deleting a bookmark removes it from the bookmark bar, the Bookmark Manager, and any folders where it was stored. It does not delete the website itself, change your browsing history, or affect your saved passwords. The next time you visit that website, Chrome will not automatically suggest it as a bookmark.

Chrome keeps a record of every website you visit in your browsing history, separate from your bookmarks. Deleting a bookmark does not erase the site from your history. If you want to remove a website from your history as well, open your History (Ctrl + H on Windows, Command + Y on Mac), find the site, and click the X next to it.

Recovering deleted bookmarks

Chrome does not have an undo button for deleted bookmarks, and they do not go to a trash folder. Once you confirm the deletion in the Bookmark Manager, they are permanently gone. The only way to get them back is to restore from a backup file you exported before deleting them.

If you exported your bookmarks before deleting them, you can import them back. Open the Bookmark Manager, click the three vertical dots, select "Import bookmarks", and choose the HTML file you saved. Chrome will add all the bookmarks from that file back into your account. If you did not export them, there is no way to recover them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting bookmarks delete my browsing history?

No. Bookmarks and browsing history are separate. Deleting all your bookmarks does not affect your history, saved passwords, autofill data, or any other Chrome information. If you want to clear your history as well, open Chrome, press Ctrl + H (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac), click "Clear browsing data" on the left, and choose what you want to remove.

Can I undo a bookmark deletion?

No, Chrome does not have an undo feature for deleted bookmarks. Once you confirm the deletion, they are gone permanently. If you think you might want them back, export your bookmarks to an HTML file before deleting them, then import that file later if you change your mind.

If I delete bookmarks on my phone, will they disappear on my computer?

Yes, if you are signed into the same Google account on both devices. Chrome syncs bookmarks across all devices automatically, so deleting them on one device removes them from all the others within a few minutes. You can turn off bookmark sync in Settings if you want to keep different bookmarks on different devices.

What is the difference between deleting a bookmark and clearing browsing data?

Deleting a bookmark removes it from your saved links but keeps the website in your browsing history. Clearing browsing data removes your history, cookies, cached files, and other data Chrome has stored about your browsing. You can clear browsing data without touching bookmarks by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac).

Can I delete bookmarks from a specific folder without deleting the folder itself?

Yes. Open the Bookmark Manager, click the folder name to see all bookmarks inside it, select the ones you want to remove by clicking them while holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac), then press Delete. The folder stays in place but becomes empty. You can delete the empty folder afterward if you want.