Where your bookmarks come from and where they go

Chrome can pull bookmarks from almost any browser you've used before — Firefox, Safari, Edge, Internet Explorer, or Opera. The import happens in one place: Chrome's settings menu. Chrome reads the bookmarks stored on your computer from your old browser and copies them into Chrome, organized the same way they were before.

The bookmarks stay in your old browser. Importing doesn't move them or delete them — it creates a copy. If you switch browsers later, your old bookmarks are still there.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome imports bookmarks through Settings > Import Bookmarks and Settings, where you choose which browser to import from.
  • Your old browser must be installed on the same computer for Chrome to find its bookmarks — Chrome reads them from your hard drive, not from the internet.
  • Imported bookmarks appear in a folder called "Imported [Browser Name]" in your Chrome bookmarks menu, and you can move them to other folders afterward.
  • If you've already imported once and want to import again, you'll need to delete the old import folder first or Chrome will skip the duplicate bookmarks.

The step-by-step import process

Step 1: Open Chrome and go to Settings. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "Settings" from the menu.

Step 2: Find the Import Bookmarks section. On the left side of the Settings page, click "Import bookmarks and settings." If you don't see this option, scroll down — it's usually near the bottom of the left menu.

Step 3: Choose which browser to import from. A dropdown menu will show you every browser Chrome found on your computer. Select the one you want to import from. If your old browser isn't listed, it either isn't installed anymore or Chrome can't find it.

Step 4: Choose what to import. You'll see checkboxes for bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and other data. Leave only "Bookmarks" checked unless you want to import other things too. Then click "Import."

Step 5: Wait for the import to finish. This usually takes a few seconds. Chrome will tell you when it's done.

Where to find your imported bookmarks

After import, open your bookmarks menu by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows or Command+Shift+B on Mac. Your imported bookmarks will be in a folder labeled "Imported [Browser Name]" — for example, "Imported from Firefox" or "Imported from Safari."

Your bookmarks are organized inside this folder the same way they were in your old browser. If you had folders within folders, that structure is preserved. You can now move individual bookmarks or entire folders out of the import folder into your main bookmarks or into other folders you create.

What to do if Chrome doesn't find your old browser

Chrome can only import from browsers installed on your computer right now. If you uninstalled your old browser, Chrome won't find it. In that case, you have two options: reinstall the old browser temporarily so Chrome can read its bookmarks, or export your bookmarks from the old browser's backup files if you have them.

If you reinstall the old browser, you don't need to sign in or set it up — Chrome just needs to read the bookmark files from your hard drive. After the import finishes, you can uninstall it again.

If you don't have the old browser anymore and didn't back up the bookmarks, you may be able to recover them from your browser's data folder on your hard drive. On Windows, look in Users > [Your Name] > AppData > Local > [Browser Name]. On Mac, check Users > [Your Name] > Library > Application Support > [Browser Name]. These folders contain the bookmark files, but opening them requires some technical steps.

Organizing bookmarks after import

The "Imported [Browser Name]" folder can get messy if you had many bookmarks. You don't have to keep them all in one place. You can drag bookmarks or folders out of the import folder into your main bookmarks or into new folders you create.

To move a bookmark, right-click it and select "Edit." Change the folder it's saved in, or create a new folder. To move an entire folder, right-click the folder name and select "Edit folder," then change its location.

Once you've moved everything you want to keep, you can delete the empty "Imported [Browser Name]" folder. Right-click it and select "Delete."

Importing from multiple browsers

You can import bookmarks from more than one browser. Just repeat the import process for each browser. Each import creates its own folder — "Imported from Firefox," "Imported from Safari," and so on. You can then organize all of them together in your bookmarks menu.

If you try to import from the same browser twice, Chrome will skip any bookmarks that are already in the import folder from the first time. If you want to re-import and pick up new bookmarks you've added to your old browser since the first import, delete the old import folder first.

Syncing bookmarks across devices

After you import your bookmarks into Chrome, you can sync them to other devices by signing into your Google Account in Chrome. Go to Settings > Sync and turn on "Bookmarks." Your imported bookmarks will then appear on any other computer or phone where you sign into the same Google Account in Chrome.

Syncing doesn't happen instantly — it can take a few minutes. Make sure you're signed into Chrome and connected to the internet on all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will importing bookmarks delete them from my old browser?

No. Importing creates a copy of your bookmarks in Chrome. Your old browser keeps its bookmarks exactly as they were. You can still use the old browser and access all your bookmarks there.

What if I import the same browser twice by accident?

Chrome will skip bookmarks that are already in the import folder from the first time, so you won't get duplicates. If you want to import new bookmarks you've added since the first import, delete the old import folder and import again.

Can I import bookmarks from a browser on a different computer?

No. Chrome imports from browsers installed on the same computer. If you need bookmarks from another computer, export them from that browser as an HTML file, move the file to your current computer, then import the HTML file into Chrome through Settings > Bookmarks > Import Bookmarks.

Why does Chrome say it can't find my browser?

Chrome looks for browsers currently installed on your computer. If your old browser is uninstalled, Chrome won't find it. Reinstall the browser temporarily, let Chrome import, then uninstall it again if you want.

Do imported bookmarks sync to my phone?

Yes, if you turn on sync in Chrome Settings. Sign into your Google Account on your phone in Chrome, go to Settings > Sync, and turn on "Bookmarks." Your imported bookmarks will appear there within a few minutes.