Export your Chrome bookmarks in three steps

You can save all your Chrome bookmarks to a file on your computer in about two minutes. Chrome stores this file as an HTML document, which means you can open it in any browser, import it into another browser, or keep it as a backup. The process is the same whether you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Open Chrome and look at the top right corner of the window. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button). From the dropdown, hover over Bookmarks, then click Bookmark manager. This opens a new tab showing all your saved bookmarks organized by folder.

In the Bookmark manager tab, click the three dots in the top right corner again. Select Export bookmarks. A window will pop up asking where you want to save the file. Choose a location you'll remember — your Desktop or Documents folder works well. The file will be named something like "bookmarks_[date].html". Click Save, and you're done.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome exports bookmarks as an HTML file that any browser can read and import.
  • The export button is in the Bookmark manager, which you reach through the menu (three dots) at the top right of Chrome.
  • You choose where the file saves on your computer, so pick a location you can find again later.
  • Exporting takes less than two minutes and creates a complete backup of every bookmark you have saved.
  • You can export bookmarks as often as you want — there is no limit to how many backup files you can create.

What the exported file actually contains

The HTML file Chrome creates is a plain text document that lists every bookmark, folder, and tag you have. When you open it in a browser, it displays as a clickable page with all your bookmarks organized the way you organized them in Chrome. You can click any link to visit that website, just like you would from Chrome itself.

This file does not include your passwords, autofill information, or any other Chrome settings — only the bookmarks themselves. If you want to back up your entire Chrome profile (including passwords and settings), that requires a different process. For bookmarks alone, the HTML export is what you need.

Importing bookmarks into another browser

Once you have exported your bookmarks file, you can import it into Firefox, Edge, Safari, or any other browser. Each browser has its own import tool, but they all work with the HTML file Chrome created.

In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the top right, then select Bookmarks and Manage Bookmarks. Click the menu icon in the Bookmarks window, choose Import and Backup, then Restore from File. Find your exported bookmarks file and open it. Firefox will add all the bookmarks to a new folder called "Imported Bookmarks."

In Microsoft Edge, click the menu button (three dots) at the top right, go to Favorites, then Manage favorites. Click the three dots in the Favorites window and select Import bookmarks. Choose Bookmarks HTML file, then find and open your exported file. Edge will import everything into your Favorites.

Where to save your bookmarks file so you can find it

When Chrome asks where to save your bookmarks file, the best choice is usually your Desktop or a Documents folder. These are places you see regularly and can find quickly. Avoid saving it deep inside nested folders where you might forget about it.

If you plan to use the file on another computer, consider saving it to a cloud storage service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. This way you can access it from anywhere. Just make sure you know which folder you saved it to — write down the path or take a screenshot so you can find it later.

Some people create a folder called "Backups" on their Desktop and save all their exported bookmarks files there with the date in the filename. This makes it easy to keep multiple versions and know which one is most recent.

Exporting bookmarks from a Chromebook

Chromebooks work slightly differently because they do not have a traditional file system like Windows or Mac. When you export bookmarks on a Chromebook, the file goes to your Downloads folder, which you can access through the Files app.

Follow the same steps: click the three dots menu, go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark manager. Click the three dots in the Bookmark manager and select Export bookmarks. The file will automatically save to your Downloads folder. From there, you can move it to Google Drive or download it to a USB drive if you want to transfer it to another device.

Keeping your bookmarks backed up regularly

Exporting bookmarks is not automatic — Chrome does not create backups on its own. If you add new bookmarks regularly, you may want to export them every few months or whenever you have added a significant number of new ones. This way, if something goes wrong with your Chrome profile, you have a recent copy of your bookmarks.

Set a reminder on your calendar every three or six months to export your bookmarks. It only takes two minutes, and you will have peace of mind knowing your bookmarks are saved outside of Chrome. If you ever need to switch browsers, reinstall Chrome, or recover from a computer problem, your bookmarks file will be there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export just some of my bookmarks instead of all of them?

Chrome's export function saves everything at once. If you only want to back up certain bookmarks, you can manually copy individual links or use a bookmark manager extension that offers more selective export options. However, the built-in export is all-or-nothing.

What if I cannot find the three dots menu in Chrome?

The menu button is always in the top right corner of the Chrome window, next to the address bar. It looks like three vertical dots stacked on top of each other. If you are using an older version of Chrome, it might look like three horizontal lines instead. Click whichever icon is in that corner.

Will exporting my bookmarks delete them from Chrome?

No. Exporting creates a copy of your bookmarks in a file on your computer. Your bookmarks stay in Chrome exactly as they were. You can export as many times as you want without affecting anything in your browser.

Can I edit the exported bookmarks file before importing it somewhere else?

Yes, but it requires some technical knowledge. The HTML file is plain text, so you can open it in a text editor and remove or modify bookmarks manually. However, if you make a mistake with the HTML formatting, the file may not import correctly. It is safer to import the file as-is and then delete unwanted bookmarks in the new browser.

What happens if I lose my exported bookmarks file?

Your bookmarks are still safe in Chrome. You can export them again anytime. The file on your computer is just a backup — losing it does not affect the bookmarks stored in your browser. If you want to prevent this, save copies to multiple locations like a USB drive or cloud storage.