The fastest way to move your bookmarks out of Chrome

You can export your Chrome bookmarks as an HTML file in about two minutes, then import that file into Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another browser. Chrome stores your bookmarks in a single file that most browsers can read, so the transfer is straightforward — no special tools or accounts required beyond what you already have.

The process works the same whether you're moving to a different browser on the same computer, switching to a new device, or backing up your bookmarks as a safety copy. You'll use Chrome's built-in export feature, save the file somewhere you can find it, then open that file in your new browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Export your bookmarks from Chrome by opening the menu, selecting Bookmarks, then clicking "Export bookmarks" — this creates a single HTML file.
  • The exported file contains all your bookmarks, folders, and the order you organized them in, but not your browsing history or passwords.
  • Most browsers (Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera) can import Chrome's HTML bookmark file directly through their own import or settings menu.
  • If you use Chrome's sync feature with a Google account, your bookmarks already exist on Google's servers and will appear automatically when you sign in on another device.
  • Save your exported bookmark file in a location you'll remember, like your Desktop or Documents folder, especially if you plan to import it later.

Export bookmarks from Chrome on Windows or Mac

Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Hover over "Bookmarks" to open a submenu, 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-dot menu icon in the top right corner of that page. Select "Export bookmarks" from the dropdown. Chrome will open a "Save As" dialog asking where you want to store the file. Choose a location you'll remember — your Desktop or Documents folder works well — and click "Save." Chrome creates an HTML file (usually named "bookmarks.html") that contains every bookmark you've saved.

What the exported file contains and what it doesn't

The HTML file includes all your bookmarks, the folder structure you created, and the order you organized them in. When you import this file into another browser, your folders and organization come along with it.

The file does not include your browsing history, saved passwords, autofill information, or extensions. Those are stored separately in Chrome and don't transfer through the bookmark export. If you need to move passwords, you'll use Chrome's password export feature instead, which is a different process.

Import bookmarks into Firefox

Open Firefox and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select "Bookmarks," then click "Manage Bookmarks" to open the Bookmarks Library. In the Library window, click the gear icon and select "Import and Backup," then choose "Import Bookmarks from HTML."

A file browser will open — navigate to the bookmarks.html file you exported from Chrome and click "Open." Firefox imports all your bookmarks into a folder called "Imported" or directly into your existing bookmark structure, depending on your Firefox version. Your folder organization transfers along with the bookmarks themselves.

Import bookmarks into Safari, Edge, or Opera

Safari (Mac only): Open Safari and click "File" in the menu bar, then select "Import From." Choose "Chrome" if you're importing directly from Chrome, or select "Bookmarks HTML File" if you're importing the exported file. Navigate to your bookmarks.html file and click "Import."

Microsoft Edge: Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings," then go to "Profiles" in the left sidebar. Click "Import browser data" and choose "Bookmarks and settings." Select "Chrome" from the dropdown, check the "Favorites/Bookmarks" box, and click "Import." If you're importing from an HTML file instead, go to Settings > Import and backup > Import from file and select your bookmarks.html.

Opera: Click the Opera menu icon in the top left, select "Bookmarks," then click "Import bookmarks and settings." Choose "From HTML file," navigate to your bookmarks.html, and click "Open." Your bookmarks appear in Opera's bookmark menu in the same folder structure you had in Chrome.

Using Chrome sync to move bookmarks between devices automatically

If you sign into Chrome with a Google account on multiple devices, your bookmarks sync automatically — you don't need to export or import anything. When you save a bookmark on one device, it appears on all your other devices within a few minutes.

To set up sync, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome and make sure you're signed in. Open Chrome settings, click "Sync and Google services" in the left sidebar, and confirm that "Sync everything" is turned on (or at least that "Bookmarks" is checked). On any other device where you sign into the same Google account, your bookmarks will appear automatically without any additional steps.

Troubleshooting: bookmarks didn't import or appear in the wrong place

If your bookmarks imported but ended up in an unexpected folder, check your new browser's bookmark structure. Firefox often places imported bookmarks in a folder called "Imported," while Safari and Edge may place them in your main bookmarks menu. You can move them to a different folder by dragging and dropping, or by right-clicking and selecting "Move."

If the import didn't work at all, make sure you selected the correct bookmarks.html file and that it's not corrupted. Try exporting from Chrome again and repeating the import process. If you're moving between very old and very new browser versions, some special characters in bookmark titles might not transfer perfectly, but the bookmarks themselves will still appear and remain usable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer bookmarks from Chrome to my phone?

Yes, if you use Chrome on your phone and sign into the same Google account, your bookmarks sync automatically. On iPhone or Android, open Chrome, tap your profile picture, and sign in. Your bookmarks appear in the Bookmarks section of the app. If you want to move them to a different mobile browser like Safari or Firefox, export the HTML file from your computer and email it to yourself, then open it on your phone to import.

Will my bookmark folders stay organized after I import them?

Yes. The HTML export file preserves your folder structure exactly as it was in Chrome. When you import into another browser, your folders and the bookmarks inside them transfer together. You may need to move the imported folder to a different location in your new browser's bookmark menu, but the internal organization stays the same.

What if I only want to transfer some bookmarks, not all of them?

The export feature exports everything at once. If you only need a few bookmarks, you can manually copy them by right-clicking each one in Chrome, selecting "Copy link," and pasting it into your new browser's bookmark menu. For larger selections, export everything and then delete the bookmarks you don't want from your new browser after importing.

Do my passwords transfer when I export bookmarks?

No. Bookmarks and passwords are stored separately, and the bookmark export file only contains bookmarks. To move your saved passwords, use Chrome's password export feature in Settings > Passwords and passkeys, which creates a separate CSV file you can import into your new browser.

Can I import bookmarks from another browser into Chrome?

Yes. Open Chrome settings, click "Import bookmarks and settings" in the left sidebar, select your old browser from the dropdown, check "Bookmarks," and click "Import." Chrome can import from Firefox, Safari, Edge, and several other browsers. You can also import an HTML bookmark file by selecting "Bookmarks HTML File" from the dropdown.