How to Transfer Bookmarks to a New Computer? (In 3 Steps for 2024)

You can transfer files from your old computer to the new one by simply copying and pasting. However, transferring bookmarks to a new computer can be a bit tricky.

Simply copying and pasting the browser icon on your new computer does not copy your bookmarks. 

Bookmarks from your browser need to be exported to an external drive. Afterward, you can transfer them to the browser on your new computer to access them easily.

How to Transfer Bookmarks to a New Computer?

Two minor courses of action are required to transfer bookmarks to a new computer via a browser. You need to export and import.

When you export your bookmarks, they remain as HTML files. Afterward, transfer it to the new computer. Then, import the bookmark from the HTML file into your browser on the new computer.

Step 1: Exporting Bookmarks

The method of exporting bookmarks changes depending on the browser you use.

However, the intention behind the process is to extract the HTML file containing the bookmarks. So, let’s go through the ways to do this on different types of browsers.

For Google Chrome

Let us assume we’re using the Google Chrome browser as our target. You can export your bookmarks by following the steps mentioned below. 

1. Click on the three dots at the top right corner of your browser.
2. Select Bookmarks and choose Bookmark Manager.

(Alternately, you can directly access the Bookmark Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+O for PC. For Mac, press Option+Command+B )

1. The Bookmark Manager opens. 
2. Again, click on the “⋮” icon on the top right corner of the Bookmarks Manager page. (Not the one on the top-right part of the browser)
3. Then, choose Export bookmarks.
4. A Save as window to save your HTML file opens. Choose a destination for your bookmarks and click save.

For Mozilla Firefox

The process to export or transfer Firefox bookmarks to a new computer is a bit different than Chrome. Despite the idea being the same, the steps are different. They are mentioned below:

1. Click on the three lines at the top right corner of the browser.
2. Select the Library>Bookmarks option.
3. Click “Show all Bookmarks” from the Bookmarks mini-tab at the bottom. (Or click CTRL+Shift+O shortcut to avoid these three steps)
4. The Bookmarks window opens. From the top bar, choose Import and Backup option.
5. Afterward, click Export Bookmarks to HTML option from the drop-down menu.
6. Select the destination file and save.

For Safari

Exporting bookmarks from Safari is quite straightforward. You can do this in just a few clicks.

1. Click File on the top of the menu bar on Safari
2. Click on Export Bookmarks from the drop-down menu.
3. Set the preferred destination folder in the “Where” section and save.

For Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge saves bookmarks as favorites. You can access it by clicking the Favourites icon. It is located to the right of the search box and has an icon with a half star mixed with three lines.

1. Click on the Favourites icon.
2. Click on the three dots on the drop-down menu. 
3. Click Export Favourites
4. Choose a destination folder for your bookmarks and click Save.

Step 2: Transferring Bookmark via USB/email

As mentioned earlier, the bookmark you export is saved as an HTML document. You can copy an HTML file to your external drive like any other file.

Afterward, paste the file from your USB drive into your new computer. Choose a destination for the file as you prefer. 

Alternatively, you can send the exported HTML file via email. This would eliminate the need for an external drive.

You can also import these HTML files into other browsers or Google profiles to use them there. However, this only transfers your bookmarks to the same computer.

So, follow the above-mentioned method to transfer the bookmark to a different computer.

Step 3: Importing Bookmarks

Now, you need to follow these importing methods to transfer bookmarks to a new computer.

Importing the bookmarks from the HTML file is quite easy. Similar to the export process, the importing process changes depending on the browser. 

For Google Chrome

Google Chrome allows you to import HTML files with bookmarks without any complications. For this, you need to follow the simple steps mentioned below:

1. Open the Bookmark manager. (Through Ctrl+Shift+O (PC) and Command+Option+B  (Mac), as mentioned earlier) 
2. Click the “⋮” icon located on the top right corner of the page.
3. Select Import bookmarks
4. Open the destination folder when you save your HTML file.
5. Choose the file and click Open.

For Mozilla Firefox

Again, you can import bookmarks in Firefox using steps similar to the export process. You need to open the Bookmark window to do this. 

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+B or follow steps 1 to 4 from the export section of Mozilla Firefox mentioned earlier.
2. From the top bar, choose the Import and Backup option.
3. Afterward, click the Import Bookmarks from HTML option in the drop-down menu.
4. Choose the HTML doc from the destination folder and press Open.

For Safari

Importing your bookmarks onto your Safari browser does not require much time. It is similar to the export method.

1. Click File on the top of the menu bar on Safari
2. Click on “Import from” from the drop-down menu. Then, choose Bookmarks HTML File.
3. Then, find and select your HTML file from the destination folder.
4. Press Import

For Microsoft Edge

1. Click the Favourites icon on the top of the menu bar 
2. Click on the three dots from the drop-down menu.
3. Click on “Import favorites.” 
4. Then, find and select your HTML file from the destination folder.
5. Press Import

Afterward, your bookmarks will be available on your new computer. They will appear in the bookmark bar at the top of your browser. This way, all the bookmarks you have will get transferred.

How Do I Transfer Bookmarks Without Exporting an HTML File?

The Google account that you use to create a user profile for your browser has many features. A useful one is the Sync feature.

If you sync your bookmarks from the old computer, It will automatically be available on the new one. You can do this through the method mentioned below:

1. Click on the three dots at the top right corner and click Settings.
2. Click on the Sync and Google Services option.
3. Click on “Manage what you sync”.
4. You can either click on Sync everything or sync bookmarks individually from the Sync data section.

FAQs

How Do You Transfer Bookmarks to a Different Browser?

The process: Export>Transfer>Import helps you transfer bookmarks from one computer to another. But you can transfer those bookmarks to another browser on the same computer as well. 

Transferring bookmarks into another browser takes less time and effort. For this, export the HTML file. Then, open your target browser. There, import the HTML file and enjoy. 

Final Comments

If you like this blog on how to transfer bookmarks to a new computer and want more, you can read our blogs on Snapchat solar systems, how to turn off AirPlay, and many more.