How do you export Chrome bookmarks to a file?
To export your Google Chrome bookmarks on Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook, open Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows/Linux (Cmd + Option + B on Mac) to open the Bookmark Manager, click the three-dot Organize icon (⋮) in the top-right corner of the blue/header bar, and select Export bookmarks. Chrome will immediately save a single, lightweight file named bookmarks_MM_DD_YY.html to your computer. Because this Netscape Bookmark HTML format is supported by every major desktop browser, you can use that exact file to restore your links on a new computer or import them into Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Apple Safari.
Before exporting or merging years of saved links onto a brand-new laptop, consider spending five minutes tidying your folders using our 7-folder browser bookmark organization system.
Quick comparison: 3 ways to move Chrome bookmarks to another computer
Depending on whether you want a permanent offline backup or real-time two-way syncing, you can transfer your bookmarks using three different methods documented in Google Chrome Help:
| Transfer Method | Best Use Case | Transfers Passwords & Extensions Too? | Works Across Different Browsers (Firefox / Safari / Edge)? | Risk of Accidental Deletion Across Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Export to HTML File (chrome://bookmarks) | Moving to a new computer, switching browsers, or saving an offline backup | No—exports bookmarks and folder structure only (may contain sensitive URLs; protect the file) | Yes—universal .html file imports into Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari | Zero—it is a static point-in-time snapshot that cannot be wiped by cloud sync |
| 2. Google Account Chrome Sync | Keeping two computers and a phone mirrored in real time | Yes (optional sync for passwords, history, extensions, and open tabs) | No—only syncs inside Google Chrome signed into the same Google Account | High—deleting a bookmark folder on one synced laptop deletes it on all other synced devices |
| 3. Direct Browser-to-Browser Import | Switching from Chrome to Firefox, Edge, or Safari on the same computer | Optional (lets you check/uncheck saved passwords, history, and autofill) | Yes (only when both browsers are installed on the same machine) | Zero—copies data one-way into the new browser |
Step-by-step: export Chrome bookmarks to an HTML file (Windows, Mac & Chromebook)
Follow these five steps on your old computer (or before resetting your browser):
Open the Chrome Bookmark Manager: Launch Google Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows, Linux, or Chromebook, or Cmd + Option + B on a Mac. Alternatively, type chrome://bookmarks into the address bar and press Enter, or click More (⋮) > Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark manager.
Click the top-right Organize menu (⋮): Look for the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top-right corner of the Bookmark Manager page itself (just below Chrome's main browser toolbar, next to the "Search bookmarks" bar).
Select "Export bookmarks": Click Export bookmarks from the dropdown menu.
Save the .html file: Choose where to save the file (for example, your Desktop, a USB flash drive, or a cloud folder) and keep or customize the default date-stamped filename (bookmarks_10_27_26.html), then click Save.
Verify the file (10-second check): Double-click your saved bookmarks_10_27_26.html file. It will open right inside a browser tab as a clickable webpage listing every folder and link—letting you inspect representative folders and links.
How to import your exported bookmarks HTML file on your new computer
Once you have copied bookmarks_10_27_26.html to your new computer via USB drive, AirDrop, email, or cloud storage, import it into your browser of choice:
Into Google Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Option + B on Mac) > click the top-right Organize (⋮) icon > click Import bookmarks > select your .html file.
Into Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Shift + O on Mac) to open the Firefox Library > click Import and Backup at the top > select Import Bookmarks from HTML… > choose your .html file.
Into Microsoft Edge: Press Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Option + B on Mac) > click the Three dots (...) in the top-right corner > select Import favorites > choose Favorites or bookmarks HTML file from the dropdown > click Choose file.
Into Apple Safari (Mac): In the top macOS menu bar, click File > Import From > Bookmarks HTML File… and select your .html file. Safari places the imported links inside a new dated folder at the bottom of your Bookmarks sidebar.
How to avoid duplicate folders when importing bookmarks
A common annoyance when importing an HTML file into a browser that already has bookmarks on the Bookmarks Bar is ending up with nested folders named Imported or Bookmarks Bar (2).
To keep your toolbar clean:
Open the full Bookmark Manager (Ctrl + Shift + O) right after importing: Expand the newly created Imported folder in the left sidebar.
Drag only the folders you want onto the main Bookmarks Bar: Select the sub-folders inside Imported, drag them up to Bookmarks bar in the left tree, and then delete the empty Imported wrapper folder.
Never confuse bookmark exports with password exports: An exported Chrome bookmarks .html file contains webpage URLs, titles and folder names, which can include private addresses or sensitive query strings—it never includes your saved passwords. If you are moving your saved passwords to a new computer, avoid leaving unencrypted password .csv files on USB drives; instead, migrate to a cross-platform vault using our comparison of Bitwarden vs KeePassXC or the best password managers for families.
Can you export Chrome bookmarks directly on Android or iPhone?
The mobile Chrome app on Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad) does not include an "Export bookmarks to HTML" button inside the mobile menu. If your bookmarks are currently on your phone and you want an HTML backup file:
On your phone, open Chrome > Settings and turn on Sync with your Google Account so your mobile bookmarks sync to the cloud.
Sign into Chrome on any desktop or laptop computer using that same Google Account, wait for synchronization to finish for the Mobile bookmarks folder to appear inside chrome://bookmarks, and click Organize (⋮) > Export bookmarks.
If you do not want to use Google Account sync, you can also open your recently viewed mobile tabs on desktop or share selected links via AirDrop / QR code using our local QR Code Generator.