How to Copy Favorites from Chrome: The Ultimate Guide to Moving Your Bookmarks Is your Chrome bookmark bar a carefully curated museum of the internet? Maybe you have folders for recipes, work resources, and those "I’ll read this later" articles you definitely plan to read. Whether you are switching to a new computer, trying out a different browser like Firefox or Edge, or just want a safety backup—knowing how to copy your favorites is an essential digital skill. In this guide, we’ll walk through the three best ways to copy your Chrome favorites, from the automatic "set it and forget it" method to the manual "keep it safe" approach. Method 1: The Google Account Sync (The Easiest Way) If you are moving to a new laptop or just want your bookmarks on your phone, this is the method Google wants you to use. It automatically copies not just your favorites, but your passwords and history too. The Steps:
Open Chrome on your current computer. Click the Profile icon in the top-right corner (the circle with your initial or a generic person silhouette). Click "Turn on sync" and sign in to your Google account. Once signed in, Chrome will ask if you want to "Turn on sync." Confirm by clicking Yes, I'm in .
To access these on a new device: Simply install Chrome on the new device, sign in with that same Google account, and your favorites will appear magically within seconds.
Pros: Automatic, includes passwords/history, great for moving between devices. Cons: Requires a Google account; requires internet connection. how to copy favorites from chrome
Method 2: Export and Import (The Manual Way) What if you don't want to sync everything to Google’s servers? Or perhaps you want to send a specific folder of links to a coworker? The "Export" method creates a single file that acts as a container for all your favorites. Step A: Export your favorites
Open Chrome. Click the three dots (menu) in the top-right corner. Hover over Bookmarks and select Bookmark manager from the side menu (or press Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows / Cmd + Option + B on Mac). In the Bookmark Manager, click the three dots in the top-right corner of that specific window. Select Export bookmarks . Chrome will ask you where to save the file. It saves as an .html file. Save it to your Desktop or a USB drive.
Step B: Import your favorites Now you can take that .html file to any computer or browser. How to Copy Favorites from Chrome: The Ultimate
Open Chrome (or Edge/Firefox) on the new computer. Go back to the Bookmark Manager ( Ctrl + Shift + O ). Click the three dots (top right of manager window). Select Import bookmarks . Select the .html file you created earlier.
Your favorites will appear in a new folder usually named "Imported Bookmarks" or simply "Bookmarks Bar."
Pros: Works without a Google account; works across different browsers (Edge, Firefox, Safari); acts as a permanent backup file. Cons: Manual process; not updated automatically if you add new links later. In this guide, we’ll walk through the three
Method 3: Copying to Another Browser (Edge, Firefox, Safari) If you are leaving Chrome for good, most modern browsers make this incredibly easy. They are designed to steal you away from Chrome! For Microsoft Edge:
Open Edge. Press Ctrl + Shift + O to open favorites. Click Import favorites . Select Google Chrome from the list. Edge will pull the data directly without needing an export file.
