Export bookmarks from your current browser

The fastest way to move bookmarks is to export them as a file, then import that file into your browser on the new computer. Every major browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — stores an export option in its settings menu, and the process takes about two minutes.

The exported file is just a text document with a list of your bookmarks and their web addresses. It does not contain passwords, autofill data, or any other personal information — only the bookmark names and URLs. You can email this file to yourself, put it on a USB drive, or upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

The exact steps depend on which browser you are using now, but the principle is the same: open Settings or Preferences, find the Bookmarks section, and look for an option that says Export or Save Bookmarks. We cover the specific steps for each browser in the sections below.

Key Takeaways

  • Every browser can export bookmarks as a single file that you can move to another computer and import into the same browser or a different one.
  • The exported file contains only bookmark names and web addresses, not passwords or other account information.
  • You can transfer the file by email, USB drive, cloud storage, or by signing into your account on the new computer.
  • Importing bookmarks on the new computer takes the same steps as exporting, but in reverse — you choose Import instead of Export.
  • If you use the same browser on both computers and sign into your account, bookmarks sync automatically without any manual export or import.

Export bookmarks from Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Scroll down and click Bookmarks, then click Bookmark Manager. At the top of the Bookmark Manager window, click the three vertical dots again and select Export Bookmarks. Choose where you want to save the file — your Desktop or Documents folder is easiest — and click Save.

Chrome saves the file as an HTML document with a name like "bookmarks_[date].html". This file is small, usually less than 1 megabyte, so you can email it to yourself or upload it to cloud storage right away. Keep the file somewhere you can find it on your new computer.

Export bookmarks from Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Click Bookmarks, then click Manage Bookmarks. In the Manage Bookmarks window, click the three horizontal lines again and select Export Bookmarks. Choose a location to save the file and click Save.

Firefox also saves the file as an HTML document. The process is nearly identical to Chrome, and the file size is similarly small. Once the file is saved, you can move it to your new computer using email, USB drive, or cloud storage.

Export bookmarks from Safari

Open Safari and click File in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Export Bookmarks. A window will open asking where you want to save the file. Choose your Desktop or Documents folder and click Save.

Safari exports bookmarks as an HTML file just like Chrome and Firefox. The file name will be "Bookmarks.html" unless you change it. After the export is complete, you can transfer the file to your new computer.

Export bookmarks from Edge

Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Click Bookmarks, then click Bookmark Manager. In the Bookmark Manager, click the three horizontal dots again and select Export Bookmarks. Choose where to save the file and click Save.

Edge saves bookmarks in the same HTML format as the other browsers. The exported file is small and portable, so you can move it to your new computer however is most convenient for you.

Import bookmarks on your new computer

Once you have the bookmark file on your new computer, open the browser you want to import them into. The import process is similar to export: open the browser's menu, find the Bookmarks section, and look for an option that says Import or Import Bookmarks.

In Chrome, click the three vertical dots, go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark Manager, then click the three vertical dots again and select Import Bookmarks. A window will open asking you to choose a file. Navigate to the bookmark file you transferred and click Open. Chrome will add all the bookmarks to your browser within a few seconds.

In Firefox, click the three horizontal lines, go to Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks, then click the three horizontal lines again and select Import Bookmarks from HTML. Choose your bookmark file and click Open. In Safari, click File and then Import From, then select the bookmark file. In Edge, click the three horizontal dots, go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark Manager, then click the three horizontal dots and select Import Bookmarks.

After you import, your bookmarks will appear in the same folders and organization they had on your old computer. If you had bookmarks in a folder called "Work" or "Recipes", that folder structure comes over intact.

Use account sync instead of manual export

If you use the same browser on both computers and you have an account with that browser, you can skip the export and import steps entirely. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all offer automatic bookmark syncing when you sign into your account on a new device.

To set up sync in Chrome, click your profile picture in the top right corner and sign into your Google account. Chrome will ask if you want to sync your bookmarks, passwords, and other data. Select Bookmarks and click Sync. Your bookmarks will appear on the new computer within a few minutes, and they will stay in sync across all your devices from that point forward.

Firefox and Edge work the same way: sign into your account in the browser settings, choose what you want to sync, and your bookmarks appear automatically. This method is more convenient than manual export if you plan to use the same browser on multiple computers, because your bookmarks will always be up to date on every device.

Move bookmarks between different browsers

If you are switching from one browser to another — for example, from Chrome to Firefox — the export and import method still works. Export your bookmarks from Chrome as an HTML file, then import that file into Firefox on the new computer. Firefox will read the Chrome bookmark file and add all the bookmarks to your Firefox library.

The same is true for any combination of browsers. You can export from Safari and import into Edge, or export from Firefox and import into Chrome. The HTML format is a standard that all browsers understand, so moving bookmarks between different browsers is just as straightforward as moving them within the same browser.

One thing to note: if you switch browsers, you lose the automatic sync feature. Your bookmarks will be on the new computer, but they will not automatically update on your old computer or on your phone. If you want bookmarks to stay in sync across devices after switching browsers, you will need to set up account sync in the new browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot to export my bookmarks before getting a new computer?

If you still have access to your old computer, you can export the bookmarks now and transfer the file to your new computer. If your old computer is gone, check whether you were signed into a browser account. If you were using Chrome with a Google account, Firefox with a Mozilla account, or Edge with a Microsoft account, your bookmarks may still be stored in your account online. Sign into that account on your new computer and your bookmarks should appear automatically.

Can I import bookmarks into a browser I have never used before?

Yes. You can import a bookmark file into any browser, even if you have never used that browser before. Open the browser, go to the import option in the Bookmarks menu, choose your bookmark file, and the bookmarks will be added to the browser. You do not need an account to import bookmarks.

Will importing bookmarks delete the bookmarks I already have?

No. Importing adds bookmarks to your browser; it does not replace what you already have. If you import bookmarks from your old computer into a new browser that already has some bookmarks, you will end up with both sets. If you have duplicate bookmarks with the same name and URL, the browser will usually add them both rather than merging them.

Can I export bookmarks from my phone?

Most phones do not have a built-in export option for bookmarks. On iPhone, you can sign into your iCloud account in Safari settings, and your bookmarks will sync to any other device signed into the same iCloud account. On Android, sign into your Google account in Chrome settings to sync bookmarks across devices. If you need bookmarks on your phone that are not synced through an account, you will need to add them manually or use a bookmark manager app.

Is the bookmark file safe to email or upload to cloud storage?

Yes. The bookmark file contains only the names of websites and their web addresses — the same information that appears in your browser's address bar. It does not contain passwords, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information. You can safely email the file to yourself or upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox, or any other cloud storage service.