How to Export Chrome Bookmarks in 2026 (Every Method, Step by Step)

If you want to export Chrome bookmarks, here is the short answer: open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to Bookmarks > Bookmark manager, click the three-dot icon inside the manager, and choose Export bookmarks. Chrome saves everything as an HTML file you can store, import elsewhere, or share.

That covers the basic case. But there is more to know, especially if you are switching browsers, backing up years of saved links, or moving bookmarks across devices and operating systems. This guide walks through every method, explains what the export file actually contains, and helps you avoid the mistakes most people make.

Why Exporting Chrome Bookmarks Actually Matters

Most people ignore bookmark backups until something goes wrong: a system reset, a corrupted profile, a new laptop, or switching to Firefox or Edge. At that point, losing hundreds of carefully organized bookmarks is genuinely painful.

Exporting bookmarks takes about 30 seconds. The resulting HTML file is tiny (usually a few kilobytes even with thousands of links), easy to store anywhere, and universally importable into any major browser. There is no good reason not to do it.

Method 1: Export Chrome Bookmarks Using the Bookmark Manager (Desktop)

This is the standard method and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Step 1: Open the Bookmark Manager

Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + Shift + O on Mac. Alternatively, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, hover over Bookmarks, and select Bookmark manager.

Step 2: Open the Export Option

Inside the Bookmark manager, you will see another three-dot icon near the top-right of the page (not the browser’s main menu, the one inside the manager itself). Click it.

Step 3: Export

Select Export bookmarks. Chrome opens a save dialog. Choose where you want to save the file. The default name is something like bookmarks_month_day_year.html. Click Save.

That is it. Your bookmarks are now in a single HTML file.

Method 2: Export Chrome Bookmarks via the Address Bar

If you want to skip the menus entirely:

1. Type chrome://bookmarks in the address bar and press Enter.
2. This opens the Bookmark manager directly.
3. Follow Steps 2 and 3 from Method 1 above.

This shortcut works on all desktop platforms and is slightly faster than navigating through menus.

Method 3: Copy the Bookmarks File Directly (Power User Method)

Chrome stores your bookmarks as a local file called Bookmarks (no extension) inside your profile folder. You can copy this file directly as a backup. This is useful if you want a raw backup without converting to HTML, or if you are troubleshooting a corrupted profile.

Where Is the Chrome Bookmarks File Located?

Operating System	Path
Windows	C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\
Mac	~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/
Linux	~/.config/google-chrome/Default/

The file is named Bookmarks. There is also a Bookmarks.bak file Chrome keeps as an automatic one-step backup. Copy both if you want maximum safety.

Important: Do not try to directly edit this file unless you know JSON. Chrome will overwrite it on launch. Use the HTML export method for portability.

Method 4: Export Chrome Bookmarks on Android or iPhone

Chrome on mobile does not have a native export button. Here are your real options:

Option A: Sync to Desktop, Then Export

1. Sign into Chrome on your phone with your Google account.
2. Make sure Sync is turned on (Settings > Sync > Bookmarks).
3. Open Chrome on your desktop while signed into the same account.
4. All bookmarks will appear. Export from desktop using Method 1.

This is the most reliable mobile export path.

Option B: Use Google Takeout

Google Takeout lets you export your Chrome data, including bookmarks, directly from your Google account.

1. Go to takeout.google.com.
2. Deselect everything, then scroll down and select Chrome.
3. Click Next step, choose your delivery method (download link by email is simplest), and request the export.
4. Google sends you a ZIP file containing a Chrome folder with a Bookmarks.html file inside.

This method works whether you are on mobile or desktop and is especially useful if you no longer have access to the device where Chrome was installed.

What the Exported HTML File Actually Contains

The exported file is a standard Netscape Bookmark Format HTML file. Every browser in existence can read it. Here is what it includes:

• All bookmark folders and their hierarchy
• Bookmark titles and URLs
• The date each bookmark was added (stored as a Unix timestamp in the file)
• Favicons stored as base64-encoded data (which is why the file can look large)

What it does NOT include:

• Browsing history
• Passwords
• Autofill data
• Extensions
• Open tabs

If you need those, you need Chrome Sync or a full profile backup, not just the bookmarks export.

How to Import the Exported Bookmarks File

Import into Chrome (Same or New Install)

1. Open chrome://bookmarks in Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot icon in the Bookmark manager.
3. Select Import bookmarks.
4. Choose your saved HTML file.

All bookmarks will appear under a folder called Imported in your bookmarks bar.

Import into Firefox

1. Open Firefox and press Ctrl + Shift + B to open the Library.
2. Click Import and Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML.
3. Select your Chrome export file.

Import into Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge Settings (three-dot menu > Settings).
2. Go to Import browser data.
3. Choose Import from file, select your HTML file, and click Import.

Import into Safari (Mac)

1. Open Safari and go to File > Import From > Bookmarks HTML File.
2. Select the file and click Import.

Comparison of Export Methods

Method	Works On	Requires Account	Output Format	Best For
Bookmark Manager	Desktop only	No	HTML	Quick backup or transfer
Address bar shortcut	Desktop only	No	HTML	Faster access
Direct file copy	Desktop only	No	JSON (raw)	Developer or power user backup
Sync + desktop export	All devices	Yes (Google)	HTML	Mobile users
Google Takeout	All devices	Yes (Google)	HTML inside ZIP	Remote or bulk export

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

“Export bookmarks” option is missing

This usually means you are inside a managed or policy-controlled Chrome instance (common on work or school devices). Your IT administrator may have disabled the feature. Try Google Takeout as an alternative, or ask your admin.

The exported file is empty or very small

If you were signed into Chrome and your bookmarks were stored in your Google account, but you are now signed out, the local bookmark file may be empty. Sign back in, let sync complete, then export again.

Bookmarks appear in a folder called “Imported” after import

This is normal behavior. You can drag them into your bookmarks bar or other folders after importing. Some browsers do not flatten the import automatically.

Duplicate bookmarks after import

If you import into a Chrome profile that already has bookmarks, Chrome does not deduplicate. You will end up with duplicates. Use a browser extension like Bookmark Deduplicator to clean them up after import.

How to Automate Chrome Bookmark Backups

If you want to stop manually exporting and just have it happen regularly:

On Windows: Use Task Scheduler to copy the Bookmarks file from your Chrome profile to a backup folder on a schedule. Point it to C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Bookmarks and have it copy to an external drive or cloud folder.

On Mac/Linux: A simple cron job can do the same. For example:

0 12 * * * cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Bookmarks ~/Backups/bookmarks_$(date +%Y%m%d)

This runs daily at noon and keeps dated copies.

Using Google Sync: Keeping Chrome Sync enabled means your bookmarks are always backed up to your Google account. It is not the same as a portable export file, but it protects against local data loss.

For more advanced browser data management, Google’s official Chrome Help documentation covers sync settings and profile management in detail.

Exporting Bookmarks from Chrome to Another Browser: Full Walkthrough

Switching browsers is one of the most common reasons people export Chrome bookmarks. Here is the complete flow for moving to Firefox, which is the most common switch:

1. In Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + O to open the Bookmark manager.
2. Click the three-dot icon > Export bookmarks.
3. Save the HTML file to your Desktop (easy to find).
4. Open Firefox.
5. Press Ctrl + Shift + B (or go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks).
6. In the Library window, click Import and Backup > Import Bookmarks from HTML.
7. Select your file.
8. All Chrome bookmarks will now appear in Firefox under a folder called From Chrome or Imported depending on your Firefox version.

Total time: under two minutes. The bookmarks retain their folder structure exactly as organized in Chrome.

Conclusion

Exporting Chrome bookmarks is a two-minute task that protects years of saved links. The built-in Bookmark manager export (Ctrl + Shift + O, then three-dot menu > Export) handles most situations. For mobile, use Google Sync to push bookmarks to a desktop, then export. For remote or account-based exports, Google Takeout is reliable and free.

The resulting HTML file works in every major browser, making it genuinely portable. Keep a copy in cloud storage or an external drive, update it occasionally, and you will never lose your bookmarks to a crash, reset, or device switch again.

If you are migrating between browsers, the import process is just as simple on the other end. Chrome’s export format has been the browser industry standard for over a decade precisely because it just works everywhere.