How to Move Your Bookmarks to a New Computer

The fastest way depends on which browser you use

Moving bookmarks from one computer to another takes between five and fifteen minutes, depending on whether you sync them automatically or export and import them manually. The method you choose depends on your browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each handle bookmarks differently, though all of them let you move them without losing a single one.

If both computers are yours and you want bookmarks to stay in sync going forward, setting up automatic sync is the easiest long-term solution. If you just need to move them once, exporting a file and importing it on the new computer works on every browser and takes no setup.

Key Takeaways

Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you export bookmarks as a single file and import that file on another computer in under ten minutes.
Signing into your browser account on the new computer automatically syncs bookmarks if you set up sync in your browser settings first.
Exported bookmark files are plain HTML and can be imported into almost any browser, so you can switch browsers during the move if you want to.
Bookmark folders and organization are preserved during export and import, so you do not lose your folder structure.

Exporting bookmarks from Chrome

Open Chrome on your old computer and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks, then Bookmark Manager. At the top of the Bookmark Manager window, click the three vertical dots again and select Export bookmarks. Chrome will save a file called bookmarks_[date].html to your Downloads folder.

Move this file to your new computer using email, a USB drive, cloud storage, or any method that works for you. The file is small — usually under 1 MB — so email is fine. Keep the file somewhere you can find it, because you will need it in the next step.

Importing bookmarks into Chrome

On your new computer, open Chrome and go to the Bookmark Manager the same way: three dots, Bookmarks, Bookmark Manager. Click the three dots at the top and select Import bookmarks. Navigate to the HTML file you moved from your old computer and select it. Chrome will add all your bookmarks to the new computer in seconds.

Your bookmarks will appear in a folder called Imported [date] at the top of your bookmark list. You can move them to your main Bookmarks Bar or other folders by dragging them, or leave them where they are. If you want bookmarks to sync automatically between computers from now on, sign into your Google account in Chrome settings and turn on sync.

Exporting and importing bookmarks in Firefox
Open Firefox on your old computer and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks, then Manage Bookmarks (or press Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows, Command+Shift+B on Mac). In the Bookmarks window, click Import and Backup at the top and select Backup. Firefox will save a file to your Downloads folder with a name like bookmarks-2024-01-15.json.

Move this file to your new computer. On the new computer, open Firefox and go back to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks. Click Import and Backup and select Restore. Choose the backup file you moved, and Firefox will restore all your bookmarks in seconds. Your folders and organization will be exactly as they were.

Moving bookmarks in Safari

On your old Mac, open Safari and click File in the menu bar. Select Export Bookmarks and choose where to save the file — your Desktop or Downloads folder works well. Safari will save a file called Bookmarks.html.

Move this file to your new Mac using AirDrop, email, or cloud storage. On the new Mac, open Safari, click File, and select Import From. Choose Bookmarks HTML File and navigate to the file you moved. Safari will import all your bookmarks and folders when ready. If you use iCloud, you can also turn on iCloud Sync in Safari settings to keep bookmarks in sync across all your Apple devices.

Exporting and importing bookmarks in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge on your old computer and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks, then Bookmark Manager. Click the three dots at the top of the Bookmark Manager and select Export bookmarks. Edge will save an HTML file to your Downloads folder.

Move the file to your new computer. On the new computer, open Edge and go to the Bookmark Manager the same way. Click the three dots and select Import bookmarks. Select the HTML file you moved, and Edge will import all your bookmarks and folders. If you sign into your Microsoft account in Edge settings and turn on sync, your bookmarks will stay in sync between computers automatically.

Using browser sync to keep bookmarks updated

If you want bookmarks to sync automatically between your old and new computer, you can set that up instead of exporting and importing. In Chrome, click the three dots and go to Settings > Sync and Google services. Turn on Sync everything or select Bookmarks specifically. Sign into the same Google account on your new computer, and your bookmarks will appear automatically.

Firefox, Safari, and Edge work the same way: sign into your account in settings and turn on sync. From that point forward, any bookmark you add on one computer will appear on the other within a few minutes. This is useful if you use both computers regularly, but it requires you to keep the same account signed in on both machines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move bookmarks between different browsers?

Yes. Bookmark export files are HTML, which every browser can read. Export from Chrome as HTML, then import that file into Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Your bookmarks and folders will transfer perfectly. The only limitation is that browser-specific features like Chrome extensions will not move, but the bookmarks themselves will.

What if I have thousands of bookmarks?

Export and import work the same way regardless of how many bookmarks you have. The file will be larger, but the process is identical. Sync also works with large bookmark collections — it just takes a few minutes longer to sync everything the first time.

Will my bookmark folders stay organized after I move them?

Yes. Export files preserve your entire folder structure. When you import on the new computer, all your folders and subfolders will appear exactly as they were. Nothing gets flattened or reorganized.

Do I need to delete the imported bookmarks folder in Chrome?

No, but you can if you want to clean up. The Imported [date] folder does not interfere with anything. You can leave it there, move the bookmarks out of it into your main folders, or delete the folder entirely — it is up to you.

What happens to my bookmarks if I sign out of my browser account?

Bookmarks stay on your computer. Signing out of sync stops new bookmarks from syncing between devices, but it does not delete the bookmarks already there. If you sign back in later, sync will resume.

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.