Moving Your Chrome Bookmarks to a Different Computer

The fastest way to move bookmarks between computers

The simplest method is to sign into your Google Account on the new computer. When you open Chrome and log in with the same Google Account you used on your old computer, Chrome automatically syncs your bookmarks, history, passwords, and settings to the new machine. This happens in the background within a few minutes — you do not need to do anything else.

If you do not want to use Google Account sync, or if you are moving bookmarks to a different browser entirely, you can export your bookmarks as an HTML file from Chrome on your old computer, then import that file into Chrome (or another browser) on the new one. This method gives you full control over what moves and when.

Key Takeaways

Signing into your Google Account on the new computer syncs bookmarks automatically without any manual steps.
You can export bookmarks as an HTML file from Chrome's bookmark manager, then import that file on any other computer or browser.
Exported bookmark files are plain text and can be backed up, shared, or imported into Firefox, Edge, Safari, or other browsers.
If you have multiple Google Accounts, make sure you are signed into the same account on both computers for sync to work.

Using Google Account sync to move bookmarks automatically

Open Chrome on your new computer and click the profile icon in the top right corner. Select Sign in to Chrome and enter the email address and password for the Google Account you used on your old computer. Chrome will ask for permission to sync your data — accept it, and your bookmarks will begin transferring within a few minutes.

Check that sync is turned on by going to Settings (the three-line menu in the top right), then Sync and Google services. You should see a message saying "Sync is on" with your account email displayed. If sync is off, click Turn on sync and select which data types to sync — bookmarks should be checked by default.

This method works across Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. Your bookmarks will also sync to any other device where you sign into the same Google Account, so they stay current across all your computers.

Exporting bookmarks as an HTML file

On your old computer, open Chrome and click the three-line menu in the top right corner. Go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark manager. In the bookmark manager window, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right and select Export bookmarks. Chrome will save your bookmarks as an HTML file to your Downloads folder — the file will be named something like "bookmarks_[date].html".

This HTML file is a standard format that nearly every browser can read. You can email it to yourself, save it to a USB drive, upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, or copy it to an external hard drive. The file is small (usually under 1 MB) and contains all your bookmarks, folders, and the order they are organized in.

Importing bookmarks into Chrome on the new computer

On your new computer, open Chrome and go to Bookmarks in the three-line menu, then Bookmark manager. Click the three-dot menu icon and select Import bookmarks. A file browser will open — navigate to the HTML file you exported from your old computer and select it. Chrome will import all the bookmarks and recreate your folder structure exactly as it was.

If you already have bookmarks on the new computer and want to keep them, the import will add the old bookmarks without deleting the new ones. Bookmarks with the same name and URL will not be duplicated — Chrome recognizes them as the same bookmark and keeps only one copy.

Moving bookmarks to Firefox, Edge, or Safari

The HTML export method works with other browsers too. After exporting your bookmarks from Chrome as described above, open your new browser on the new computer. In Firefox, go to Bookmarks in the menu bar, then Manage Bookmarks, click the menu icon, and select Import and Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML. In Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Favorites, then Manage favorites, click the menu icon, and select Import bookmarks. In Safari on Mac, go to File > Import From and select the HTML file.

Each browser will place imported bookmarks in a folder called "Imported" or "Bookmarks" so you can organize them afterward. The folder structure from Chrome is preserved, so your bookmarks will be organized the same way they were in Chrome.

What to do if sync is not working

If you signed into your Google Account but bookmarks are not appearing on the new computer after several minutes, first check that you are signed into the same account on both computers. Go to Settings > Sync and Google services and look at the email address shown. If it is different from the account you used on your old computer, sign out and sign in with the correct account.

If the account is correct, try turning sync off and back on. Go to Settings > Sync and Google services, click Turn off, wait 10 seconds, then click Turn on sync again. You can also try signing out of Chrome entirely (click your profile icon, then Sign out) and signing back in. If bookmarks still do not appear after 15 minutes, use the HTML export and import method instead — it is more reliable when sync is having trouble.

Backing up bookmarks before you move them

Before transferring bookmarks to a new computer, export them as an HTML file and save a copy somewhere safe. This gives you a backup in case something goes wrong during the transfer, or if you want to restore old bookmarks later. You can store the file in cloud storage, email it to yourself, or keep it on a USB drive.

If you use Chrome on multiple devices, consider turning on sync and keeping it on. This way, any new bookmarks you add on one computer automatically appear on all your other devices. You can also export bookmarks periodically as a backup — there is no harm in having multiple copies of the same HTML file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my bookmarks sync if I use different Google Accounts on each computer?

No. Sync only works when you sign into the same Google Account on both computers. If you use different accounts, bookmarks will not sync between them. You will need to export bookmarks as an HTML file and import them manually instead.

Can I move bookmarks to a computer that already has Chrome installed?

Yes. If you sign into your Google Account on a computer that already has Chrome, your old bookmarks will merge with any bookmarks already on that computer. Duplicates are automatically removed, so you will not end up with two copies of the same bookmark.

What happens to bookmarks if I sign out of Chrome?

Your bookmarks stay on the computer — signing out of Chrome does not delete them. However, if sync is on and you sign out, new bookmarks you create will no longer sync to your other devices. Signing back in will resume syncing.

Can I import bookmarks from other browsers into Chrome?

Yes. When you first open Chrome, it offers to import bookmarks from Firefox, Edge, Safari, or Internet Explorer. You can also go to Settings > Import settings to import bookmarks from another browser at any time.

Is the HTML bookmark file secure?

The HTML file is plain text and contains only bookmark URLs and names — it does not contain passwords or sensitive data. However, treat it like any other file: do not share it publicly, and keep backups in a safe location.

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.