The fastest way to move your bookmarks

Firefox stores your bookmarks in a file called bookmarks.html, which you can export in seconds and import into another browser or Firefox installation. The export happens through Firefox's built-in menu — no extensions or extra software needed. Once you have the file, you can move it to another computer, email it, or import it directly into Chrome, Edge, Safari, or back into Firefox on a different device.

The process takes about two minutes total: one minute to export from Firefox, and one minute to import into your destination. If you are switching browsers entirely, this is the standard way to bring your bookmarks with you without losing any of them.

Key Takeaways

  • Firefox exports bookmarks as a single HTML file through the menu: Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Backup.
  • The exported file works in Chrome, Edge, Safari, and any other browser that accepts HTML bookmark imports.
  • You can email the bookmarks.html file, save it to a USB drive, or upload it to cloud storage to move it between computers.
  • Importing into Firefox restores your exact folder structure; importing into other browsers may flatten some nested folders into a single list.

Export bookmarks from Firefox on Windows or Mac

Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Bookmarks, then hover over Manage Bookmarks to open a submenu. Click Import and Backup, then select Backup. A save dialog will open asking where you want to store the file.

Firefox suggests your Downloads folder by default, which is fine. The file will be named something like bookmarks-2024-01-15.json (the date changes each time you export). You can rename it to something simpler like my-bookmarks.html if you want, though the original name works just fine. Click Save and the export is complete.

Import bookmarks into Firefox on a different device

First, get the bookmarks file to the new computer. You can email it to yourself, copy it to a USB drive, or upload it to Google Drive or Dropbox and download it on the other end. Once the file is on the new computer, open Firefox and go to Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore.

A file browser will open. Navigate to wherever you saved the bookmarks file and select it. Firefox will import all your bookmarks into their original folders. If you already had bookmarks on this Firefox installation, the imported ones will be added alongside them — nothing gets deleted. Your folder structure and bookmark order will be exactly as they were in the original Firefox.

Import Firefox bookmarks into Chrome, Edge, or Safari

The process is similar in other browsers, though the menu locations differ. In Chrome, click the menu button (three dots) in the top right, go to Bookmarks > Import Bookmarks and Settings, select the Firefox bookmarks file, and choose which items to import. Chrome will create a folder called "Imported" to hold them, or you can merge them into your existing bookmark structure.

In Microsoft Edge, click the menu button (three dots), select Settings > Import Browser Data, choose "Bookmarks HTML file" as the source, and select your Firefox file. Edge will import them into a folder called "Imported from Firefox." In Safari on Mac, go to File > Import From > Firefox, select the bookmarks file, and Safari will add them to your Bookmarks menu. Safari on iPhone and iPad does not have a direct import option — you would need to use iCloud sync or manually add them.

What happens to folder structure when you import

Firefox preserves your exact folder hierarchy when you export and import back into Firefox. If you had a folder called "Work" with subfolders for "Projects" and "References," that structure stays intact. When you import into Chrome or Edge, most nested folders are preserved, but some deeply nested structures may be flattened into a single level.

Safari tends to be the most aggressive about simplifying folder structure — it may convert nested folders into a single flat list. If you have a highly organized bookmark system with many levels of folders, test the import on one browser first to see how it handles your structure. You can always reorganize afterward if needed.

Moving bookmarks between Firefox profiles on the same computer

If you have multiple Firefox profiles on the same computer and want to copy bookmarks from one to another, the export-and-import method still works. Export from the first profile using the steps above, then switch to the second profile (click the menu button, select Settings, scroll to Profiles, and select the other profile). Import the bookmarks file using the Restore option.

Alternatively, you can find the bookmarks files directly in Firefox's profile folder. On Windows, this is usually C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. On Mac, it is ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles. Each profile has its own folder containing a file called places.sqlite, which holds all bookmarks. Copying this file between profiles is faster than export-and-import, but export-and-import is safer if you are not comfortable navigating hidden folders.

Syncing bookmarks across devices instead of exporting

If you use the same Firefox account on multiple devices, you do not need to export and import at all. Firefox can sync your bookmarks automatically through Firefox Sync. Sign into your Firefox account on each device (menu > Settings > Sync), and your bookmarks will appear on all of them within a few minutes. This is faster than exporting if you plan to keep using Firefox everywhere.

To set up Sync, click the menu button, select Settings, scroll to Sync, and click "Sign In." If you do not have a Firefox account, you can create one for free with just an email address. Once you are signed in on a second device, your bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs will sync automatically. This method is better than exporting if you want changes on one device to show up on the others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export bookmarks from Firefox without opening the browser?

No, you need to open Firefox and use the menu to export. However, you can find the bookmarks file directly in Firefox's profile folder if the browser will not start. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles and look for places.sqlite. On Mac, go to ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles. This file contains all your bookmarks, but importing it requires technical steps.

What if the bookmarks file is corrupted or won't import?

Try exporting again from Firefox — the new file should be clean. If the original file still will not import, you can try opening it in a text editor to check for errors, but this is rarely necessary. If you have an older backup, try importing that instead. As a last resort, you can manually recreate your most important bookmarks by visiting the sites and bookmarking them again.

Will importing bookmarks overwrite my existing ones?

No. When you import a bookmarks file into Firefox, the new bookmarks are added to your existing ones. Nothing gets deleted or replaced. If you import the same file twice, you will end up with duplicate bookmarks, so you may want to clean those up afterward by deleting the duplicates manually.

Can I export bookmarks from Chrome or Edge and import them into Firefox?

Yes. Chrome and Edge both export bookmarks as HTML files through their settings menus. In Chrome, go to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager > the three-dot menu > Export Bookmarks. In Edge, go to Settings > Favorites > Manage Favorites > the three-dot menu > Export Favorites. Save the file, then import it into Firefox using Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore.

Do I need to be online to export or import bookmarks?

No. Exporting and importing bookmarks happens entirely on your computer and does not require an internet connection. Firefox Sync, however, does require internet to work — it uploads your bookmarks to Mozilla's servers so they can appear on other devices.