The fastest way to move Chrome bookmarks

Export your bookmarks from Chrome as an HTML file, then import that file into your new browser or computer. Chrome stores all your bookmarks in one place, so you can move them all at once without signing into multiple accounts or manually recreating them.

The process takes about five minutes and works whether you're switching to Firefox, Safari, Edge, or moving to a different computer. You'll end up with a backup file you can keep, and your new browser will read it and organize your bookmarks the same way Chrome did.

Key Takeaways

  • Export bookmarks from Chrome by opening the menu, selecting Bookmarks, then Export Bookmarks, and saving the file to your computer.
  • The exported file is an HTML document that any modern browser can read and import, so you're not locked into one format.
  • Import the file into your new browser through its settings menu — the exact location varies by browser, but all of them have an import option.
  • Keep the HTML file after importing so you have a backup copy of your bookmarks that you can restore later if needed.

How to export bookmarks from Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Go to Bookmarks, then hover over Bookmark Manager to see a submenu. Click Bookmark Manager to open the full list of your saved bookmarks.

In the Bookmark Manager window, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right. Select Export bookmarks. Your computer will open a save dialog. Choose where you want to save the file — your Desktop or Documents folder works well — and click Save. Chrome will create an HTML file with a name like "bookmarks_[date].html".

The file is now on your computer and ready to move to another browser. You can email it to yourself, save it to a USB drive, or upload it to cloud storage if you're moving to a different computer.

Importing bookmarks into Firefox

Open Firefox and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks. This opens the Bookmarks Library window.

In the Bookmarks Library, click the menu icon at the top right (three horizontal lines again). Select Import and Backup, then Import Bookmarks from HTML. A file browser will open. Navigate to the HTML file you exported from Chrome and click Open. Firefox will read the file and add all your bookmarks to a folder called "Imported Bookmarks".

Importing bookmarks into Safari

Open Safari and click File in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Import From, then Chrome if you're importing from Chrome on the same Mac. Safari will automatically find your Chrome bookmarks and import them.

If you're using the HTML file instead, click File, then Import Bookmarks. Navigate to your HTML file and click Import. Safari will add the bookmarks to your Bookmarks menu and sidebar.

Importing bookmarks into Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top right. Select Bookmarks, then Import bookmarks and settings. A window will open asking what you want to import from.

If you're importing from Chrome on the same computer, select Chrome from the dropdown menu and click Import. Edge will find your Chrome bookmarks automatically. If you're using an HTML file, select Bookmarks HTML file from the dropdown, then click Import and navigate to your file.

Moving bookmarks to a different computer

Export your bookmarks from Chrome on your current computer and save the HTML file. Copy this file to your new computer using email, cloud storage, a USB drive, or any file transfer method you prefer.

On your new computer, open the browser where you want your bookmarks and use that browser's import function to read the HTML file. The bookmarks will appear in the same folder structure they had in Chrome. You can then delete the HTML file from your new computer if you don't need to keep a backup.

Organizing bookmarks after importing

When you import bookmarks, they usually land in a single folder rather than spreading across your browser's bookmark structure. Open your new browser's bookmark manager and move bookmarks into the folders where you want them. Most browsers let you drag and drop bookmarks between folders, or you can right-click a bookmark and select "Move to folder".

If you had bookmarks organized in Chrome, you may want to recreate that same structure in your new browser so you can find things the same way. This takes longer than the import itself, but it's worth doing if you have hundreds of bookmarks.

Keeping a backup of your bookmarks

The HTML file you exported is a plain text document that any browser can read. Keep a copy somewhere safe — your Documents folder, a USB drive, or cloud storage — so you can restore your bookmarks if something goes wrong or if you switch browsers again later.

You can export your bookmarks from any browser the same way you did from Chrome. If you want to keep your bookmarks in sync across multiple browsers, export from your main browser every few months and import the updated file into your other browsers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my bookmark folders and organization stay the same when I import?

Yes, the folder structure transfers with the bookmarks. If you had bookmarks organized into folders in Chrome, they'll arrive in the same folders in your new browser. You may need to reorganize them slightly depending on how your new browser displays bookmarks, but the grouping stays intact.

Can I import bookmarks from other browsers into Chrome?

Yes. Open Chrome's menu, go to Bookmarks, then select Import Bookmarks and Settings. Choose the browser you're importing from, and Chrome will find and import those bookmarks automatically. You can also use an HTML export file from any browser and import it into Chrome the same way.

What if the import doesn't work or bookmarks don't appear?

Make sure you're using the correct import option for your browser — each one has a slightly different menu location. If the file won't open, try exporting your bookmarks again from the original browser. If bookmarks appear in an unexpected folder, check your browser's bookmark manager to see where they landed and move them manually.

Do I need to sign into Chrome to export bookmarks?

No. You can export bookmarks whether you're signed into your Google account or not. The export function saves whatever bookmarks are stored locally on that computer, regardless of your account status.

Can I export bookmarks from Chrome on my phone?

Chrome on Android and iPhone doesn't have a built-in export function. If you need your phone bookmarks on a computer, sign into your Google account on both devices and turn on sync in Chrome settings — your bookmarks will appear automatically on any device where you're signed in.