The fastest way to move your favorites

The quickest method is to export your favorites from your old computer as a file, then import that file into your browser on the new one. Most browsers store favorites (also called bookmarks) in a single location, and you can back them up in minutes without needing to manually recreate each one.

The exact steps depend on which browser you use — Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all handle this slightly differently. If you use the same browser on both computers, the process takes about five minutes. If you're switching browsers, you'll need an extra step, but it's still straightforward.

You'll need both computers available, or a USB drive or cloud storage to move the file between them. You don't need any special software or technical knowledge beyond finding a folder and clicking "import".

Key Takeaways

  • Export your favorites as an HTML file from your old computer, then import that file into your new browser — this works across all major browsers.
  • Microsoft Edge stores favorites in a folder you can copy directly, or you can use the built-in export feature for a cleaner transfer.
  • Google Chrome and Firefox both have export and import options in their settings menu under bookmarks or history.
  • If you use the same browser on both computers, you can also sign into your account and sync favorites automatically instead of manually importing a file.
  • Transfer the exported file using a USB drive, email, or cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Exporting favorites from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge on your old computer and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings, then choose Profiles from the left sidebar. Click Export profile data, and a window will open asking what you want to export. Check the box next to Favorites (you can also export passwords and other data if you want). Choose where to save the file — your Desktop or Documents folder works well — and click Export.

Edge will create a file with a name like "Edge Profile Data.html" or similar. This is your favorites backup. Move this file to your new computer using a USB drive, email, or cloud storage. On the new computer, open Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Profiles, and select Import profile data. Browse to the file you just moved and click Import. Your favorites will appear in the Favorites bar and Favorites menu within seconds.

Exporting favorites from Google Chrome

Open Google Chrome on your old computer and click the three-dot menu in the top right. Select Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. In the Bookmark manager window, click the three-dot menu at the top right and select Export bookmarks. Chrome will save an HTML file to your Downloads folder. You can rename it to something clear like "My Bookmarks" if you want.

Transfer this file to your new computer. On the new computer, open Chrome, go to Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark manager, click the three-dot menu, and select Import bookmarks. Choose the file you moved and click Open. Your bookmarks will import into a folder called "Imported" — you can move them to your main Bookmarks folder afterward if you prefer.

If you use the same Google account on both computers, you can skip the export step entirely. Sign into your Google account in Chrome on the new computer, and your bookmarks will sync automatically within a few minutes. Check Settings > Sync and Google services to confirm that bookmarks are set to sync.

Exporting favorites from Firefox

Open Firefox on your old computer and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks (or press Ctrl+Shift+B). In the Library window that opens, click the Import and Backup button at the top, then select Export Bookmarks to HTML. Choose where to save the file and click Save.

Move the exported HTML file to your new computer. On the new computer, open Firefox, click the menu button, go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks, click Import and Backup, and select Restore from Backup or Import Bookmarks from HTML. Browse to your exported file and click Open. Firefox will add your bookmarks to a folder called "Imported Bookmarks" — you can reorganize them later if needed.

Using cloud sync instead of manual export

If you use the same browser and the same account on both computers, you can let the browser sync your favorites automatically instead of exporting and importing. This is often faster and means your favorites stay in sync if you add new ones later.

In Microsoft Edge, sign into your Microsoft account on both computers. Go to Settings > Profiles > Sync and toggle on Sync now. Your favorites will sync within a few minutes. In Google Chrome, sign into your Google account on both computers and go to Settings > Sync and Google services — make sure bookmarks are enabled. In Firefox, sign into your Firefox account on both computers and go to Settings > Sync to enable syncing. Your bookmarks will appear on the new computer automatically.

Transferring the file between computers

Once you've exported your favorites as an HTML file, you need to move it from your old computer to your new one. The easiest methods are a USB drive, email, or cloud storage.

USB drive: Plug a USB drive into your old computer, copy the exported HTML file to it, then plug it into your new computer and copy the file to your Desktop or Documents folder. This works offline and is fast for large files.

Email: Attach the HTML file to an email and send it to yourself. Open the email on your new computer and read the attachment. This works if both computers have internet access.

Cloud storage: Upload the file to OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud service on your old computer. Sign into the same account on your new computer and read the file. This is useful if you want to keep a backup copy in the cloud.

What to do if you're switching browsers

If you're moving from one browser to a different one — for example, from Chrome to Edge — the export-and-import process still works. Export your bookmarks as an HTML file from your old browser using the steps above, then import that HTML file into your new browser. All major browsers can read HTML bookmark files, so compatibility isn't an issue.

The only difference is that your folder structure might not transfer perfectly. If your bookmarks were organized into folders in Chrome, they may import into Edge as a single flat list. You can reorganize them in your new browser after import, or you can manually recreate the folder structure before importing if you want to be precise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my passwords transfer with my favorites?

No — favorites and passwords are stored separately. If you want to move passwords too, most browsers have a separate export option for passwords in their settings. However, be cautious with password files; they contain sensitive information. Use a find method like a USB drive rather than email, and delete the file once you've imported it.

What if I don't remember where I saved the exported file?

Check your Downloads folder first — most browsers save exports there by default. If it's not there, use your computer's search function (Windows key + S on Windows, or Spotlight on Mac) and search for the filename or "bookmarks.html". Once you find it, move it to a more obvious location like your Desktop before transferring it to the new computer.

Can I import favorites from one browser into a completely different browser?

Yes. Export your bookmarks as an HTML file from your old browser, then import that HTML file into your new browser. All major browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) can read HTML bookmark files. Your folder structure may need some reorganization after import, but all your bookmarks will transfer.

Do I need to do anything special if my new computer is a Mac and my old one was Windows?

No. The HTML bookmark file format works the same way on both operating systems. Export from your old computer, move the file to your new Mac, and import it into your browser. The process is identical regardless of the operating system.