The fastest way to move your bookmarks

Export your Chrome bookmarks by opening Chrome, clicking the three-dot menu in the top right, selecting Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. In the manager, click the three-dot menu again and choose Export bookmarks. Chrome saves a single HTML file to your Downloads folder. On the other computer, open Chrome, go back to the Bookmark manager, click the three-dot menu, select Import bookmarks, and choose that HTML file. Your bookmarks appear in a folder called "Imported" within seconds.

This method works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The exported file is plain HTML — any browser can read it, so you can import these bookmarks into Firefox, Edge, or Safari if you need to. The file stays on your computer; nothing uploads to the cloud unless you choose to.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome's built-in export tool creates a single HTML file that holds all your bookmarks and folder structure.
  • The export takes seconds and saves to your Downloads folder with no setup required.
  • You can import the same file into any browser on any computer, not just Chrome.
  • If both computers use the same Google account, you can sync bookmarks automatically instead of exporting.

Using Chrome sync instead of exporting

If you own both computers and want bookmarks to stay in sync going forward, signing into the same Google account on both is simpler than exporting. Open Chrome on the new computer, sign in with your Google account, and Chrome automatically downloads your bookmarks, history, passwords, and settings within a few minutes.

Sync works in the background — any bookmark you add on one computer appears on the other. If you later delete a bookmark on one machine, it disappears from both. This is useful if you use both computers regularly, but it means you cannot keep different bookmark sets on each machine. If you want independent bookmark collections, export and import instead.

Where the exported file goes and how to find it

Chrome saves the exported bookmarks file to your Downloads folder by default. The file is named bookmarks_[date].html — for example, bookmarks_2024-01-15.html. Open your Downloads folder, find the file, and move it somewhere you can find it again, like your Desktop or a USB drive.

If you are moving the file to a USB drive or sending it by email, the HTML file is small — usually under 1 MB even with hundreds of bookmarks — so transfer is fast. Keep the file until you have confirmed the import worked on the other computer.

Importing bookmarks on a Windows computer

Plug in the USB drive or locate the HTML file on the new Windows computer. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. The Bookmark manager opens in a new tab. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of the Bookmark manager and select Import bookmarks. A file browser opens — navigate to your HTML file, select it, and click Open.

Chrome creates a folder called "Imported" in your bookmarks and places all your bookmarks inside it. You can then move individual bookmarks or folders to your main Bookmarks Bar or other folders. To clean up, right-click the "Imported" folder and select Delete once you have organized your bookmarks where you want them.

Importing bookmarks on a Mac

On a Mac, the steps are nearly identical. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to Bookmarks and lists, then Bookmark manager. Click the three-dot menu in the Bookmark manager and select Import bookmarks. A file dialog appears — navigate to your HTML file and click Open. Chrome imports all bookmarks into an "Imported" folder.

If the file dialog does not open, make sure the HTML file is in a location Chrome can access, such as your Downloads folder or Desktop. Avoid importing from external drives that may disconnect during the process.

What happens to your folder structure during import

Chrome preserves the folder structure you had in your original bookmarks. If you had a folder called "Work" with subfolders for "Projects" and "Clients," that exact structure appears inside the "Imported" folder on the new computer. Bookmark order is also preserved, so your bookmarks appear in the same sequence as before.

The only change is that all imported bookmarks land in the "Imported" folder first. You then move them to your preferred location. This prevents your existing bookmarks from getting mixed with imported ones, so you can see exactly what came in and organize it your way.

Exporting bookmarks from other browsers into Chrome

If you are switching from Firefox, Safari, or Edge to Chrome, those browsers also export bookmarks as HTML files. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks, click the menu icon, and choose Export Bookmarks. In Safari, go to File menu and select Export Bookmarks. In Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Favorites, click the three-dot menu there, and select Export favorites.

Once you have the HTML file from another browser, use Chrome's import process described above. Chrome reads HTML bookmark files from any browser, so the source does not matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export bookmarks from Chrome on my phone?

Chrome on Android and iOS does not have a built-in export feature. The easiest route is to sign into your Google account on your phone — your bookmarks sync automatically. On a computer, you can then export those synced bookmarks using the standard export process.

What if I forgot my Google account password and cannot sync?

Export from the computer where you still have Chrome open and signed in. Use the export process to create an HTML file, transfer it to the new computer, and import it there. You do not need your Google account to export or import bookmarks.

Will exporting bookmarks include my saved passwords?

No. The bookmark export file contains only bookmarks and folder structure. Passwords, autofill data, and payment methods are stored separately and do not export. You will need to re-enter passwords on the new computer or use your Google account sync to transfer them.

Can I export bookmarks to a shared folder so multiple people can use them?

The HTML file can be shared, but each person must import it into their own Chrome profile. Changes one person makes do not sync back to the shared file — each import is a one-time copy. For shared bookmarks that stay in sync, use Chrome sync with a shared Google account, though this is not recommended for security reasons.

What if the import does not show all my bookmarks?

Check that the HTML file is complete by opening it in a text editor — it should contain many lines of code, not just a few. If the file looks incomplete, re-export from the original computer. Also confirm you selected the correct file during import. If bookmarks still do not appear, try importing again; occasionally the process requires a second attempt.