The basics: what "favorites" means and where to find them

Favorites (also called bookmarks or saved items) are shortcuts to things you use often — websites, apps, files, or photos. Instead of searching or typing the full web address every time, you save a link and return to it with one click. Where you find your favorites depends on what device you're using and what you're saving.

On a computer, your web browser keeps bookmarks in a menu or toolbar. On a phone, you save apps to your home screen or use a "favorites" section within an app. Files and photos get marked as favorites in your storage app or photo gallery. The method is slightly different for each, but the idea is the same: you're telling your device "I use this often, make it easy to find."

Key Takeaways

  • In a web browser on a computer, press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac) to save a website as a bookmark instantly.
  • On an iPhone, tap the share button and select "Add to Favorites" to save a website; on Android, tap the star icon to bookmark a page.
  • In most apps, a heart icon or star marks something as a favorite, and your saved items appear in a dedicated section within that app.
  • Files and photos can be marked as favorites in your storage app or photo gallery so they appear at the top of your list.

Saving websites in your web browser

The fastest way to save a website is to use your keyboard shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+D while you're on the page you want to save. On a Mac, press Command+D. A small box will pop up asking where you want to store the bookmark and what you want to call it. You can leave the name as-is or type something shorter that makes sense to you.

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, you can also use the menu. In Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, click the three horizontal lines (menu button) in the top right corner, then look for "Bookmark this page" or "Add bookmark." In Safari on a Mac, click the Bookmarks menu at the top and select "Add Bookmark." Once you save it, the bookmark appears in your bookmarks bar (the row of buttons under the address bar) or in your bookmarks menu, depending on where you chose to store it.

To organize bookmarks so you can find them later, create folders. In most browsers, when you save a bookmark, the pop-up box lets you choose which folder to put it in. You might create folders like "Shopping," "News," or "Work" so related bookmarks stay together. To see all your bookmarks at once, press Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows) or Command+Shift+B (Mac) to open the bookmarks sidebar.

Saving websites and content on your phone

On an iPhone, open the website you want to save, then tap the share button (the square with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Add to Favorites." The page is now saved. To see your saved websites, tap the bookmarks icon (it looks like an open book) at the bottom of Safari, then tap the "Favorites" tab at the top.

On an Android phone, open the website in Chrome, then tap the three dots in the top right corner. Tap the star icon to bookmark the page. The star will turn solid, showing the page is saved. To view your bookmarks, tap the three dots again and select "Bookmarks," or tap the star icon to see your saved pages.

In other apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Pinterest, look for a bookmark icon (usually a ribbon or flag) or a heart icon next to the content you want to save. Tap it once, and the item is marked as a favorite. Your saved items usually appear in a dedicated section — often called "Saved," "Favorites," or "Likes" — accessible from the app's menu or your profile.

Marking files and photos as favorites

On Windows, open File Explorer and right-click the file or folder you want to save. Select "Pin to Quick Access" or "Add to Favorites." The item now appears at the top of your File Explorer sidebar, making it easy to find without digging through folders.

On a Mac, open Finder, click the file you want to save, then press Command+T. This adds the file to your Favorites sidebar on the left. You can also drag a file directly into the Favorites section of the sidebar if you prefer.

For photos, open your Photos app or gallery app. Find the photo you want to save, then tap the heart icon or star icon (the exact button varies by phone and app). The photo is now marked as a favorite and appears in a "Favorites" or "Liked" album. This is useful for keeping your best photos separate from everything else without deleting the originals.

Finding and managing your saved favorites

Once you've saved something, you need to know where to look for it. In a web browser, your bookmarks live in the bookmarks menu or toolbar — click the menu button and look for "Bookmarks" or "History," or check the top menu bar. On your phone, tap the bookmarks icon in Safari or the three dots in Chrome to see saved websites. In apps, look for a heart icon, star icon, or a menu option labeled "Saved" or "Favorites."

To delete a favorite you no longer need, right-click it (on a computer) or long-press it (on a phone) and select "Delete" or "Remove." If you have too many bookmarks cluttering your browser, you can organize them into folders. In most browsers, you can drag bookmarks into folders or create new folders by right-clicking in the bookmarks area and selecting "New Folder."

Syncing favorites across your devices

If you use the same browser on multiple devices — like Chrome on your phone and computer — your bookmarks can sync automatically. Sign into your Google account in Chrome on both devices, and your bookmarks will appear on all of them. On Safari, sign into your Apple ID on both your iPhone and Mac, and your bookmarks sync through iCloud.

To turn on syncing in Chrome, click the three dots, go to "Settings," then "Sync and Google services," and make sure "Sync is on" is enabled. On Safari, go to System Preferences (Mac) or Settings (iPhone), select your Apple ID, tap "iCloud," and toggle "Safari" on. Once syncing is active, any bookmark you save on one device appears on the others within a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between bookmarks and favorites?

They're the same thing — different browsers and apps use different names. Chrome and Firefox call them bookmarks. Safari and some apps call them favorites. Internet Explorer called them favorites too. The function is identical: you're saving a shortcut to something you use often.

Can I move a bookmark to a different folder after I save it?

Yes. Right-click the bookmark (on a computer) or long-press it (on a phone) and select "Edit" or "Move." Choose the folder where you want it to go. You can also drag bookmarks between folders in most browsers if you have the bookmarks sidebar open.

What happens to my bookmarks if I uninstall my browser?

If you're signed into a cloud account like Google or Apple ID, your bookmarks are saved in the cloud and will return when you reinstall the browser and sign back in. If you're not signed in, your bookmarks are stored only on that device and will be lost. Always sign into your account to protect your bookmarks.

Can I save a bookmark to my home screen on my phone?

Yes. On iPhone, open the website, tap the share button, scroll down, and tap "Add to Home Screen." On Android, tap the three dots, then "Add to Home Screen." A shortcut icon appears on your home screen, and tapping it opens the website directly without opening the browser first.

Why can't I find the star icon to bookmark a page?

The icon location varies by browser and phone. In Chrome on Android, it's the three dots in the top right. In Safari on iPhone, it's the share button at the bottom. If you still can't find it, try the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+D on Windows or Command+D on Mac. That works in almost every browser.