How to Copy Your Bookmarks in Google Chrome

The fastest way to copy bookmarks in Chrome

The quickest method is to export your bookmarks as an HTML file, then import that file into another browser or Chrome profile. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Bookmarks, then Bookmark Manager. In the Bookmark Manager, click the three-dot menu again and select Export bookmarks. Chrome saves a single HTML file to your Downloads folder with all your bookmarks inside it.

If you want to move bookmarks to another browser — Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another Chrome installation — that HTML file is what you need. You can email it to yourself, save it to a cloud drive, or transfer it however works for your setup. The file is small, usually under 1 MB even for thousands of bookmarks.

If you just want to copy a single bookmark or a few bookmarks to share with someone else, right-click the bookmark and select Copy link. That copies the URL to your clipboard so you can paste it anywhere.

Key Takeaways

Export bookmarks by opening Bookmark Manager (three-dot menu > Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager), clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting Export bookmarks.
Chrome saves your bookmarks as a single HTML file that you can move between devices, browsers, or Chrome profiles.
To copy a single bookmark's link, right-click it and select Copy link, then paste the URL wherever you need it.
Importing bookmarks into Chrome uses the same Bookmark Manager menu: click the three-dot menu and select Import bookmarks.

Exporting bookmarks to move them elsewhere

When you export bookmarks, Chrome creates an HTML file that any browser can read. This is the standard format for bookmark transfer, so it works whether you're moving to Firefox, Safari, Edge, or a different computer running Chrome.

The exported file preserves your folder structure. If you organized bookmarks into folders like "Work," "Shopping," and "Reference," those folders stay intact in the HTML file. When you import that file into another browser, the folders come with it.

The HTML file itself is just text — you can open it in a text editor if you want to see what's inside, though it's not meant to be edited that way. Keep the file somewhere you can find it later, like your Downloads folder or a cloud drive folder.

Importing bookmarks from an HTML file

To bring bookmarks into Chrome from an HTML file, open the Bookmark Manager the same way: three-dot menu > Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager. Click the three-dot menu and select Import bookmarks. Chrome opens a file browser where you can select the HTML file you want to import.

When you import, Chrome adds the bookmarks to your current profile. If the HTML file contains folders, Chrome recreates them. Bookmarks that already exist in your profile won't be duplicated — Chrome skips ones it recognizes as the same.

If you want to keep your old bookmarks separate from the imported ones, you can create a new Chrome profile first, then import into that profile. Each Chrome profile has its own set of bookmarks, so this keeps them organized by purpose — one profile for work, one for personal use, for example.

Syncing bookmarks across devices instead of exporting

If you use the same Google account on multiple devices, Chrome can sync your bookmarks automatically without exporting. Sign into Chrome with your Google account on each device, and your bookmarks appear on all of them within a few minutes.

To turn on sync, click your profile picture in the top right of Chrome, then Sync and Google services. Make sure Sync is on and that Bookmarks is checked in the list of items to sync. After that, any bookmark you add on one device shows up on the others.

Sync is useful if you want your bookmarks everywhere automatically, but it requires you to use the same Google account. If you want to share bookmarks with someone else or move them to a different account, exporting is the better choice.

Copying bookmarks to a specific folder

If you want to copy a bookmark to a different folder within Chrome, right-click the bookmark in the Bookmark Manager and select Edit. A small window opens where you can change the folder it's saved in. Click the folder dropdown and choose where you want it to go, then click Save.

You can also drag and drop bookmarks between folders in the Bookmark Manager. Click and hold a bookmark, then drag it over the folder where you want it. This is faster if you're moving several bookmarks at once.

If you want to copy a bookmark to a new folder you haven't created yet, edit the bookmark and click New folder at the bottom of the folder dropdown. Type the folder name and Chrome creates it, then saves the bookmark there.

Backing up bookmarks to the cloud

After you export your bookmarks as an HTML file, save that file to a cloud storage service like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud Drive. This way you have a backup if something happens to your computer, and you can download the file from any device.

Create a folder in your cloud storage specifically for backups — something like "Chrome Backups" — and save the HTML file there with a date in the filename, like "bookmarks-2025-01-15.html". If you export bookmarks regularly, you'll have multiple versions to fall back on if you need an older set.

You can also set a reminder to export bookmarks once a month or once a quarter, depending on how often you add new bookmarks. This keeps your backup current without requiring you to remember to do it manually every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy bookmarks from one Chrome profile to another on the same computer?

Yes. Export bookmarks from the first profile (three-dot menu > Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager > three-dot menu > Export bookmarks), then switch to the second profile and import that same HTML file (Bookmark Manager > three-dot menu > Import bookmarks). The bookmarks from the first profile will appear in the second.

What happens to my bookmarks if I uninstall Chrome?

If you're signed into a Google account, your bookmarks are saved in your Google account and will reappear when you reinstall Chrome and sign in again. If you're not signed in, your bookmarks are stored only on your computer and will be deleted when you uninstall. Exporting bookmarks before uninstalling protects them either way.

Can I export only certain folders, not all my bookmarks?

The export function saves all bookmarks at once. If you want to copy just one folder, open the Bookmark Manager, right-click the folder, and select Copy. You can then paste it into another browser or profile by right-clicking in that browser's Bookmark Manager and selecting Paste.

Will importing bookmarks create duplicates if I already have some of them?

Chrome recognizes bookmarks by their URL and won't create exact duplicates. If the HTML file contains a bookmark with the same URL as one you already have, Chrome keeps only one copy. Bookmarks with the same title but different URLs are treated as separate and will both be imported.

Can I edit the HTML file before importing it?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended unless you know HTML. The file uses a specific format that Chrome expects, and editing it incorrectly can cause import errors. It's safer to import the file as-is, then organize or delete bookmarks in Chrome afterward.

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