How to Transfer Your Bookmarks and Favorites Between Computers

The fastest way depends on your browser

The method you use to move your bookmarks or favorites changes based on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge all handle this differently. The easiest route is usually to sign into your browser account on the new computer, which automatically syncs your saved sites. If you don't use an account or prefer to move them manually, you can export them as a file from the old computer and import that file into the new one.

Before you start, decide whether you want to keep the bookmarks organized in the same folders they're in now, or if a flat list is fine. This matters because some methods preserve folder structure and others don't. Also check whether you're moving between the same browser (Chrome to Chrome) or switching browsers entirely (Chrome to Firefox), because that changes which steps you take.

Key Takeaways

Signing into your browser account on the new computer is the fastest method and works for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari if you already have an account set up.
Exporting bookmarks as an HTML file from your old computer and importing them on the new one works across different browsers and doesn't require an account.
Chrome and Firefox store bookmarks in specific folders on your hard drive that you can copy directly, but this method is slower than using the export feature.
Safari bookmarks sync through iCloud if you're moving between two Apple computers, but you'll need to export and import if you're switching to Windows or Linux.
After you transfer your bookmarks, check a few folders to make sure they arrived in the right place, because some browsers reorganize them during import.

Sign into your browser account on the new computer

If you use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari and you're already signed into an account on your old computer, this is the simplest method. Open the browser on your new computer, sign in with the same account you use on the old one, and the bookmarks sync automatically within a few minutes.

For Chrome: Click the profile icon in the top right corner, select "Sign in to Chrome", and enter your Google account email and password. Chrome will sync your bookmarks, history, and extensions. This usually completes within five minutes, but can take longer if you have thousands of bookmarks.

For Firefox: Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select "Sign in to Firefox", and enter your Firefox account email and password. If you don't have a Firefox account yet, you can create one for free during this step. Bookmarks sync within a few minutes.

For Edge: Click your profile icon in the top right corner, select "Sign in", and enter your Microsoft account credentials. Edge syncs bookmarks, history, and passwords across devices automatically.

For Safari on Mac: Go to System Settings, click your Apple ID name at the top, select "iCloud", and turn on "Safari". Your bookmarks sync through iCloud. If you're moving to a Windows computer, you'll need to use the export method instead.

Export bookmarks as an HTML file and import them

This method works on any browser and doesn't require an account. You export your bookmarks from the old computer as a single HTML file, then import that file into the new computer. The process takes about five minutes and preserves your folder structure.

On your old computer in Chrome: Click the menu icon (three vertical dots) in the top right, go to "Bookmarks and lists", then "Bookmark manager". Click the menu icon again (three vertical dots) at the top of the Bookmark manager window, select "Export bookmarks", choose where to save the file, and click "Save". The file will be named "bookmarks_[date].html".

On your old computer in Firefox: Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select "Bookmarks", then "Manage bookmarks". In the window that opens, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right, select "Export bookmarks", choose where to save the file, and click "Save".

On your old computer in Edge: Click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the top right, go to "Favorites", then "Manage favorites". Click the menu icon (three dots) next to "Favorites", select "Export favorites", choose where to save the file, and click "Save".

On your old computer in Safari: Click "File" in the menu bar at the top, select "Export Bookmarks", choose where to save the file, and click "Save".

Once you have the HTML file, move it to the new computer using a USB drive, email, cloud storage, or any method you normally use to transfer files. Then import it into your new browser.

On your new computer in Chrome: Open the Bookmark manager (menu icon, then "Bookmarks and lists", then "Bookmark manager"). Click the menu icon at the top right, select "Import bookmarks", find the HTML file you saved, and click "Open". Chrome will add all bookmarks to an "Imported" folder.

On your new computer in Firefox: Open the Bookmark manager (menu icon, then "Bookmarks", then "Manage bookmarks"). Click the menu icon at the top right, select "Import bookmarks from HTML", find the HTML file, and click "Open".

On your new computer in Edge: Click the menu icon, go to "Favorites", then "Manage favorites". Click the menu icon next to "Favorites", select "Import favorites", find the HTML file, and click "Open".

On your new computer in Safari: Click "File" in the menu bar, select "Import From", then "Bookmarks HTML File". Find the HTML file and click "Import".

Copy bookmarks folders directly from your hard drive

This method is faster if you have thousands of bookmarks, but it's more technical and doesn't work across different browsers. You locate the bookmarks folder on your old computer's hard drive, copy it to a USB drive or cloud storage, and paste it into the same location on your new computer.

For Chrome on Windows: Open File Explorer, paste this path into the address bar: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. Look for a file called "Bookmarks" (no file extension). Copy this file to your USB drive or cloud storage, then paste it into the same folder location on your new Windows computer. Close Chrome completely before pasting, then reopen it.

For Chrome on Mac: Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder", paste this path: ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome/Default. Look for the "Bookmarks" file, copy it to your USB drive or cloud storage, then paste it into the same location on your new Mac. Close Chrome completely before pasting.

For Firefox on Windows: Open File Explorer, paste this path: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. You'll see a folder with a random name ending in ".default-release". Open it and look for "places.sqlite". Copy this file to your USB drive, then paste it into the same location on your new computer. Close Firefox completely before pasting.

For Firefox on Mac: Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, paste this path: ~/Library/process Support/Firefox/Profiles. Open the folder ending in ".default-release" and look for "places.sqlite". Copy it to your USB drive, then paste it into the same location on your new Mac. Close Firefox completely before pasting.

This method is riskier than exporting and importing because if something goes wrong, you may lose your bookmarks on the new computer. Use the export method unless you have a specific reason to copy the files directly.

Move bookmarks between different browsers

If you're switching from one browser to another — for example, from Chrome to Firefox — the export-and-import method is your best option. The HTML format that all browsers use for export is the same, so you can export from any browser and import into any other.

Follow the export steps for your old browser listed above, then follow the import steps for your new browser. Your bookmarks will appear in a folder called "Imported" or "Imported Bookmarks" in the new browser. You can then move them into your preferred folder structure by dragging and dropping them in the bookmark manager.

One thing to watch: some browsers reorganize your folders during import. For example, if you had a folder called "Work" with subfolders inside it, the new browser might flatten the structure. Check your bookmarks after importing to see if they're organized the way you want them. If not, you can manually reorganize them in the new browser's bookmark manager.

Troubleshoot bookmarks that didn't transfer

If some of your bookmarks didn't show up on the new computer, the most common reason is that they were stored in a browser extension or toolbar rather than in your main bookmarks. Extensions don't transfer with bookmarks, so you'll need to reinstall them on the new computer and they'll bring their bookmarks with them.

If you used the account sync method and bookmarks are still missing after waiting 10 minutes, sign out of your account on the new computer (menu, then settings, then sign out), wait 30 seconds, and sign back in. This forces a fresh sync.

If you used the export-and-import method and bookmarks imported into an "Imported" folder instead of their original folders, open the bookmark manager on the new computer and drag the bookmarks from the "Imported" folder into the folders where you want them. This is manual but takes only a few minutes.

If the HTML file won't import, make sure the file extension is ".html" and not ".txt". Some computers automatically change the extension when you save the file. Right-click the file, select "Rename", and change the extension to ".html" if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer bookmarks from an old phone to a new computer?

Yes, but the method depends on your phone's browser. On iPhone, sign into your iCloud account on your computer and turn on Safari syncing in System Settings. On Android, sign into your Google account on your computer and Chrome will sync automatically. If you use a different browser on your phone, check that browser's settings for a sync or export option.

What if I don't remember my browser account password?

Use the export-and-import method instead. You don't need an account to export bookmarks as an HTML file. If you do want to recover your account password, visit the browser's account recovery page (google.com/accounts/recovery for Chrome, accounts.firefox.com for Firefox, account.microsoft.com for Edge).

Will my bookmarks sync automatically after I set up my account on the new computer?

Yes. Once you sign into your browser account on the new computer, bookmarks sync within a few minutes. You don't need to do anything else. If you add new bookmarks on the old computer, they'll appear on the new one automatically as long as both are signed into the same account.

Can I transfer bookmarks to a computer that's running a different operating system?

Yes, the export-and-import method works across Windows, Mac, and Linux. Export your bookmarks as an HTML file on your old computer, move the file to the new computer using a USB drive or cloud storage, and import it into your browser. The HTML format is the same on all operating systems.

What happens to my bookmarks if I don't transfer them before I get rid of my old computer?

If you've signed into a browser account, your bookmarks are stored in that account's cloud storage, so you can recover them by signing in on any other computer. If you haven't used an account, the bookmarks stay on the old computer's hard drive and won't be accessible once you get rid of it. Always export and transfer bookmarks before disposing of an old computer.

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.