How to Export Bookmarks from Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox gives you full control over your bookmarks data — including the ability to export it as a portable file you can import into another browser, back up to cloud storage, or archive locally. The process is straightforward, but a few variables affect which method works best for your situation.

What "Exporting Bookmarks" Actually Means in Firefox

Firefox stores your bookmarks in an internal database called places.sqlite, which lives in your Firefox profile folder. When you "export" bookmarks, you're converting that data into a format other browsers and tools can read.

Firefox supports two export formats:

The HTML format is the universal standard — Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera, and most other browsers can import it directly. The JSON format is Firefox-specific and preserves more internal data (like folder structure and visit counts), but it's designed for restoring within Firefox rather than moving to a different browser.

How to Export Firefox Bookmarks to an HTML File

This is the method to use if you're switching browsers or want a file you can import almost anywhere.

1. Open Firefox and click the menu button (☰) in the top-right corner
2. Select Bookmarks
3. Click Manage Bookmarks — this opens the Library window
4. In the Library window, click Import and Backup in the toolbar
5. Select Export Bookmarks to HTML
6. Choose a save location and click Save

Firefox will generate a single .html file containing all your bookmarks, organized by folder. The file is human-readable — you can even open it in a browser to browse your bookmarks as clickable links.

How to Export a JSON Backup 📁

If you want a full backup you can restore into Firefox later, the JSON route gives you a more complete snapshot.

1. Open Manage Bookmarks (same path as above: Menu → Bookmarks → Manage Bookmarks)
2. Click Import and Backup
3. Select Backup
4. Name the file and choose a destination

Firefox also creates automatic daily JSON backups and stores the last 15 by default. These live in the bookmarkbackups folder inside your Firefox profile directory. You can access your profile folder by typing about:profiles in the address bar and clicking Open Folder next to the Root Directory for your active profile.

Factors That Affect Your Export Experience

Firefox Version

The steps above apply to current desktop releases of Firefox. Older versions used slightly different menu structures — for example, pre-Quantum Firefox (versions below 57) had a more traditional menu layout. The core functionality has remained consistent, but the exact navigation path may differ if you're running an outdated version.

Operating System

The export process is the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux, but where you save the file and how you navigate to the profile folder differs by OS:

• Windows: Profile folders are typically under C:Users[YourName]AppDataRoamingMozillaFirefoxProfiles
• macOS: Under ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/
• Linux: Under ~/.mozilla/firefox/

Firefox Sync vs. Local Export

If you use Firefox Sync, your bookmarks are already backed up to Mozilla's servers and synced across devices. But that's not the same as having a portable export file. Sync keeps your data within the Firefox ecosystem — it won't help you if you're migrating to Chrome or want an offline backup independent of your Mozilla account.

A local export gives you a file you own and control, regardless of what happens to your account or browser.

Mobile Firefox

🔖 The mobile versions of Firefox (Android and iOS) have a more limited interface. As of recent releases, exporting bookmarks directly from the Firefox mobile app to an HTML file is not supported through the standard UI. On Android, some users access bookmarks data through workarounds involving the profile folder, but this typically requires more technical comfort. If your bookmarks are synced with a desktop Firefox via Firefox Sync, exporting from the desktop is the practical path.

What Happens to Folder Structure During Export

Firefox preserves your folder hierarchy in the HTML export. If you've organized bookmarks into nested folders (e.g., Work → Research → Articles), that structure carries over into the file and is respected by most browsers during import. However, some browsers flatten certain folder levels or handle the Bookmarks Toolbar and Other Bookmarks root folders differently — so the result after importing into another browser may not be a perfect mirror of your Firefox layout.

The JSON backup preserves structure more reliably for Firefox-internal restores, but again, that format isn't readable by other browsers.

Which Method Matches Your Situation

The right export approach depends on where your bookmarks are going and why you're moving them:

• Switching to a different browser entirely → HTML export
• Reinstalling Firefox or restoring after a profile issue → JSON backup or automatic backup from the bookmarkbackups folder
• Syncing across devices within Firefox → Firefox Sync handles this without manual export
• Archiving for long-term storage → HTML is more durable and human-readable over time; JSON requires Firefox to be useful

The method that makes sense depends on your specific destination, how technically comfortable you are navigating profile folders, and whether you need the export to be portable across browsers or just within Firefox itself.