Create a bookmark folder to group related sites together
Chrome bookmark groups are actually just folders inside your bookmarks menu. To create one, open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows or Command+Shift+B on Mac — this shows your bookmarks bar at the top of the browser. Right-click on any empty space in the bookmarks bar and select "Add folder". Type a name for your group (like "News Sites" or "Work Tools") and press Enter.
Once the folder exists, you can drag bookmarks into it. Click and hold any bookmark, then drag it over the folder name and release. The bookmark moves inside. You can also create bookmarks directly into a folder by clicking the star icon when you visit a website, then choosing your folder from the "Folder" dropdown before saving.
If you do not see the bookmarks bar, go to the three-line menu in the top right corner, hover over "Bookmarks", then click "Show bookmarks bar". The bar will appear below your address bar and stay visible while you browse.
Key Takeaways
- Bookmark folders are created by right-clicking the bookmarks bar and selecting "Add folder", then typing a name.
- You can drag existing bookmarks into folders, or save new bookmarks directly to a specific folder when you create them.
- The bookmarks bar must be visible to see and use your folders — turn it on through the menu if it is hidden.
- Nested folders (folders inside folders) work in the bookmarks menu but not on the bookmarks bar itself.
- Renaming or deleting a folder is done by right-clicking it and choosing the option from the menu.
Drag bookmarks into your new folder
The easiest way to organize existing bookmarks is to drag them. First, make sure the bookmarks bar is visible. Then find a bookmark you want to move — it appears as a clickable link on the bar. Click and hold that bookmark, drag your mouse over the folder you created, and release. The bookmark disappears from the bar and moves inside the folder.
When you hover over a folder on the bookmarks bar, a small dropdown arrow appears. Click that arrow to see all the bookmarks inside without opening the folder permanently. This is useful for quickly accessing grouped bookmarks without cluttering your bar.
Save new bookmarks directly to a folder
When you find a website you want to bookmark, click the star icon in the address bar. A small popup appears with options. Look for the "Folder" dropdown — it usually shows "Bookmarks bar" by default. Click the dropdown and select the folder where you want to save this bookmark. Then click "Done" or "Save".
This method is faster than creating a bookmark and moving it later. Over time, you build up organized groups without extra steps. If you create many bookmarks in one session, you can keep the same folder selected in the dropdown, and each new bookmark goes to that folder automatically.
Create nested folders for deeper organization
If you have many bookmarks in one category, you can create folders inside folders. Right-click an existing folder and select "Edit". This opens a small window where you can create a subfolder. Type a name and press Enter. Now you have a folder inside a folder.
Nested folders work well in the bookmarks menu (accessed through the three-line menu) but can clutter the bookmarks bar if you go too deep. A good rule is to keep the bar itself simple — use one level of folders there — and save nested organization for the full bookmarks menu.
Rename or delete folders you no longer need
To change a folder's name, right-click it on the bookmarks bar and select "Edit". Type the new name and press Enter. To delete a folder, right-click it and select "Delete". Chrome will ask you to confirm — deleting a folder also deletes all bookmarks inside it, so be sure you want to remove them.
If you delete a folder by mistake, press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac immediately to undo. This works only if you undo right away, before taking other actions in Chrome.
Access your bookmark groups from any device
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks sync across all your devices. This means a folder you create on your laptop appears on your phone or tablet automatically. Open Chrome on another device, sign in with the same Google account, and your bookmark groups are there.
To check that syncing is on, go to the three-line menu, click "Settings", then click "Sync and Google services" on the left. Make sure "Sync everything" is selected, or at least "Bookmarks" is checked. If syncing is off, turn it on and wait a few moments for your folders to appear on other devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my bookmark folders on the bookmarks bar and in the menu at the same time?
Yes. Folders on the bookmarks bar are separate from folders in the full bookmarks menu. You can have the same bookmark in both places, or different bookmarks in each location. Right-click a bookmark and select "Edit" to change which folder it belongs to.
What happens to bookmarks if I delete a folder?
All bookmarks inside the deleted folder are removed as well. If you delete by mistake, press Ctrl+Z (or Command+Z on Mac) immediately to undo. If you want to keep the bookmarks but remove the folder, move them to a different folder first, then delete the empty folder.
Can I move a folder to a different location on the bookmarks bar?
Yes. Click and hold a folder, then drag it left or right along the bookmarks bar to reorder it. Release when it is in the position you want. This works for both folders and individual bookmarks.
Do bookmark folders take up storage space?
No. Folders are just organizational containers — they do not count against your Google Drive or account storage. You can create as many as you need without worrying about running out of space.
Can I share a bookmark folder with someone else?
Chrome does not have a built-in share feature for bookmark folders. You can manually send someone a list of links, or export your bookmarks as an HTML file through the three-line menu under "Bookmarks" and "Bookmark manager", then share that file. The other person can import it into their own Chrome.