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 dialog box appears asking where to store the bookmark and what to call 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" to choose a different folder, then click "Save".
That's the entire process. The bookmark is now stored and you can access it from your bookmarks bar — the row of buttons that appears below your address bar — or from your bookmarks menu.
If you don't see a bookmarks bar on your screen, you can turn it on. Press Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows or Cmd+Shift+B on Mac to toggle it on and off. Once it's visible, any bookmarks you save will appear there automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac) to open the bookmark dialog while viewing any page.
- You can rename the bookmark to anything you want before saving it, and the default name is the page title.
- Choose which folder to store the bookmark in using the dropdown menu — the default is your bookmarks bar.
- Turn on the bookmarks bar with Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+B (Mac) if you don't see it below your address bar.
- Bookmarks you save to the bar appear as clickable buttons; bookmarks in folders are accessible through the menu icon.
Where your bookmarks are stored
By default, new bookmarks go into your Bookmarks bar folder, which displays them as buttons directly below your address bar. If your bookmarks bar is full or you want to organize by topic, you can create new folders or save bookmarks into existing ones.
To see all your bookmarks at once, click the folder icon on the far right of your bookmarks bar, or press Ctrl+Shift+O on Windows or Cmd+Shift+O on Mac. This opens the Bookmarks Manager, where you can see every bookmark you've saved, organized by folder. You can create new folders here, rename bookmarks, delete ones you no longer need, and drag bookmarks between folders to reorganize them.
Chrome also stores a "Other bookmarks" folder automatically. Any bookmark you save without choosing a specific folder ends up here. This folder doesn't appear on your bookmarks bar by default, but you can access it through the Bookmarks Manager or by clicking the folder icon on your bookmarks bar.
Organizing bookmarks into folders
Creating folders helps you find bookmarks faster, especially if you save many pages. Open the Bookmarks Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+O (Mac). On the left side, you'll see your existing folders. Right-click in the empty space below them and select "Add folder". Type a name for your new folder — for example, "Web Development Tools" or "Reference Sites" — and press Enter.
Once the folder exists, you can save bookmarks directly into it. When you press Ctrl+D or Cmd+D to bookmark a page, click the dropdown menu and select your new folder before clicking Save. You can also drag existing bookmarks from one folder to another in the Bookmarks Manager to reorganize them later.
If you bookmark pages frequently, consider creating a folder structure that matches how you work. For example, you might have separate folders for documentation, tutorials, design tools, and testing resources. This way, when you need a specific type of page, you know exactly where to look.
Accessing your bookmarks from different places
Bookmarks saved to your bookmarks bar appear as clickable buttons directly below your address bar. Click any button to open that page when ready. If your bookmarks bar is crowded, right-click a folder button to see all bookmarks inside it without opening the folder itself.
To access bookmarks stored in other folders, click the folder icon on the right side of your bookmarks bar. This opens a dropdown menu showing all your bookmark folders. Hover over a folder name to see the bookmarks inside it, then click the one you want to open.
You can also search for a bookmark by name. Press Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+O (Mac) to open the Bookmarks Manager, then type in the search box at the top. Chrome filters your bookmarks to show only matches, which is faster than scrolling through folders if you remember part of the page name.
Editing or removing bookmarks
To change a bookmark's name or folder, open the Bookmarks Manager with Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+O (Mac). Find the bookmark in the list, right-click it, and select "Edit". A dialog appears where you can change the name and choose a different folder. Click "Save" when you're done.
To delete a bookmark you no longer need, right-click it in the Bookmarks Manager and select "Delete". The bookmark is removed when ready and cannot be recovered, so only delete bookmarks you're certain you won't need again.
You can also edit a bookmark by right-clicking it directly on your bookmarks bar. Select "Edit" from the menu to change its name or folder without opening the full Bookmarks Manager. This is faster if you only need to make a quick change to one bookmark.
Syncing bookmarks across devices
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks automatically sync across every device where you use that account. This means a bookmark you save on your work computer appears on your laptop and phone without any extra steps.
To turn on sync, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome and select "Turn on sync". Follow the prompts to sign in with your Google account. Once sync is active, any bookmark you add, edit, or delete updates on all your devices within a few minutes.
If you don't want to sync bookmarks but use multiple devices, you can export your bookmarks from one computer and import them on another. Open the Bookmarks Manager, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right, select "Export bookmarks", and save the file. On your other device, open the Bookmarks Manager, click the three-dot menu, select "Import bookmarks", and choose the file you saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bookmark a page without using the keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Click the star icon on the right side of your address bar to bookmark the current page. The star fills in solid when the page is bookmarked. Click it again to remove the bookmark. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works the same way.
What's the difference between bookmarking and adding to reading list?
Bookmarks are permanent shortcuts to pages you visit often. Chrome's reading list (accessed through the three-dot menu) is for pages you want to read later but don't need quick access to. Reading list items sync across devices if you're signed in, but they're organized separately from bookmarks.
Can I move my bookmarks bar to a different location?
No, Chrome doesn't allow you to move the bookmarks bar to a different position. It always appears below your address bar when enabled. You can hide it with Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+B (Mac) if you prefer more screen space.
How do I back up my bookmarks in case something goes wrong?
The easiest method is to sign into a Google account and enable sync — your bookmarks are automatically backed up to Google's servers. If you prefer a local backup, open the Bookmarks Manager, click the three-dot menu, select "Export bookmarks", and save the file to your computer in a safe location.
Can I import bookmarks from another browser into Chrome?
Yes. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings", then click "Import bookmarks and settings" on the left side. Choose the browser you're importing from and select which data to import. Chrome will add those bookmarks to your "Imported" folder.