You can move your Chrome data to Firefox in a few minutes using Firefox's built-in import tool

Firefox can pull your bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and autofill information directly from Chrome without any third-party tools or manual copying. The process takes about five minutes and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Firefox imports from Chrome even if Chrome isn't your default browser anymore — it just needs to be installed on your computer.

The import happens one time, at the moment you choose it. After that, Chrome and Firefox maintain separate copies of your data. Changes you make in one browser won't show up in the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Firefox's import tool copies bookmarks, passwords, history, and autofill data from Chrome in one step without opening Chrome itself.
  • You need Chrome installed on your computer, but it doesn't have to be running or your default browser.
  • The import is one-time only — after it finishes, the two browsers keep separate copies of everything.
  • Imported passwords are stored in Firefox's password manager and protected by your Firefox profile password if you set one.
  • You can choose exactly what to import and where your bookmarks land in Firefox's folder structure.

How to import Chrome data into Firefox on Windows or Mac

Open Firefox and go to the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then select Privacy & Security in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Import and Backup section and click Import Data from Another Browser.

Firefox will show you a list of browsers it can import from. Select Google Chrome and click Next. A new window appears showing what Firefox found in your Chrome profile — typically bookmarks, history, passwords, and autofill information. Check the boxes next to the data types you want to import, then click Import. Firefox processes the import in the background and shows you a confirmation message when it's done.

If you have multiple Chrome profiles on your computer, Firefox imports from whichever one was most recently used. To import from a different Chrome profile, you'll need to open that profile in Chrome first, then return to Firefox and run the import again.

What happens to your bookmarks after import

Firefox creates a new folder called Imported Bookmarks in your Bookmarks menu and places all imported bookmarks there, organized in the same folder structure they had in Chrome. Your existing Firefox bookmarks stay exactly where they are — the import doesn't overwrite or rearrange them.

You can move imported bookmarks to different folders by right-clicking them and selecting Move, or by dragging them to a new location. To delete the Imported Bookmarks folder after you've sorted everything, right-click it and select Delete. This removes only the folder itself; bookmarks you've moved elsewhere stay put.

How Firefox handles imported passwords

Imported passwords go into Firefox's password manager, which stores them separately from Chrome's system. Firefox can show you a list of all saved passwords by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Passwords and clicking Saved Logins. You can view, edit, or delete any password from there.

If you've set a Primary Password on your Firefox account, Firefox will ask for it before showing you saved passwords. If you haven't set one, anyone with access to your computer can view your passwords through this menu. Setting a Primary Password is optional but recommended if you share your computer or want an extra layer of security.

Importing on Linux

The import process on Linux is the same as Windows and Mac: open Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Import and Backup, and click Import Data from Another Browser. Firefox will detect Chrome if it's installed in the standard location.

If Firefox doesn't find Chrome, make sure Chrome is actually installed on your system. You can check by opening a terminal and typing which google-chrome or which chromium. If Chrome isn't installed, you'll need to install it before Firefox can import from it.

What data Firefox can and cannot import from Chrome

Firefox imports bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, autofill information (addresses and payment methods), and search engine settings. It does not import Chrome extensions, browser settings like your homepage or default search engine, or data from Chrome apps.

If you want to use the same extensions in Firefox, you'll need to install them separately from the Firefox Add-ons store. Some Chrome extensions have Firefox versions available; others don't. You can search for specific extensions on addons.mozilla.org to see what's available.

Troubleshooting import problems

If Firefox doesn't show Chrome as an option, make sure Chrome is installed on your computer. Firefox can only import from browsers that are actually present on your system. Restart Firefox and try again if the import option doesn't appear.

If the import starts but seems to hang, close Firefox completely and reopen it. Sometimes the import process completes in the background even if the window doesn't update. Check your bookmarks and passwords to see if the data arrived. If nothing imported, try the process again from the beginning.

If you're importing a very large amount of data (thousands of bookmarks or passwords), the import may take longer than expected. Let Firefox run without interruption for several minutes before assuming something went wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to close Chrome before importing to Firefox?

No. Chrome can be running or closed, and it doesn't have to be your default browser. Firefox reads Chrome's stored data files directly from your computer, so it works regardless of Chrome's current state.

Will importing delete my data from Chrome?

No. The import creates copies of your Chrome data in Firefox. Your original bookmarks, passwords, and history remain in Chrome unchanged. The two browsers maintain completely separate copies after the import finishes.

Can I import from Chrome again if I add new bookmarks to Chrome later?

You can run the import process multiple times, but Firefox will create duplicate entries for anything that was already imported. If you've added new bookmarks to Chrome after the first import, you'll need to manually move them to Firefox or run the import again and then delete the duplicates.

What if I forgot my Chrome password — will Firefox still import my saved passwords?

Yes. Firefox imports the passwords Chrome has stored, not Chrome's login password. Your Chrome login and your saved passwords are separate things, so forgetting one doesn't affect the other.

Can I import from Chrome on one computer to Firefox on a different computer?

Not directly through the import tool. The import feature only works when both browsers are on the same computer. To move data between computers, you can export your bookmarks from Chrome as an HTML file, then import that file into Firefox on the other computer. Passwords can't be transferred this way — you'd need to save them manually or use a password manager that syncs across devices.