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Backing Up Your Bookmarks

Backing Up Your Bookmarks

A screenshot of a web browser with the DuckDuckGo search engine.

Whether you show the bookmarks bar (as shown above) or you use the bookmarks menu, these quick shortcuts to various websites make using the Internet easier. Below, we'll look at how to back up your bookmarks on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Google Chrome Sync

While it is possible to simply export and import your bookmarks, the easiest way is using Google Sync. If you are syncing on the computer you're using now, you can sign in on a new or different computer and sync to that one too. You can even be signed in on multiple computers at the same time.

How Do I Know If I Am Syncing?

You may have already done so. In Google Chrome, click the circular icon next to the three vertical dots. A pop-up window should appear, and in the popup, if it says Sync is on, you are good to go.

A screenshot of a profile page.

If it says paused, sign in again to turn on sync.

If it's not on, here are the steps to sync:

Sign in and sync in Chrome

Just click on the link that says "Sign in and turn on sync".

Firefox Sync

Similar to Chrome, you can back up your profile (which includes bookmarks and passwords) but the easiest way (also like Chrome) is to use its Sync Feature. You can set up a Free Mozilla account using an email address of your choice. On a Mac, go to the Firefox menu and click on Settings.

Settings logo

Then go down to Sync. This is what a successful sync looks like (because it says Syncing: On):

A screenshot of a Firefox Sync settings page.

It's pretty straightforward, but if you need step-by-step instructions, they are here: How do I set up Sync on my computer?

Safari Export (then import)

In Safari, there's an export (and import) option under the File menu. On your existing computer export the bookmarks to an html file. You can save this to Google Drive, or even email it to yourself.

On the new computer, you will just need to import the bookmarks.

If you need step-by-step instructions, they are here: How To Export Bookmarks In Safari

However, if you use iCloud, there's a sync-like feature called Profiles. Profiles automatically sync between all of your devices that

  • are using Safari 17 or later,
  • are signed in with the same Apple ID, and
  • have Safari turned on in the iCloud section of Apple ID settings.

Here's how to make a Profile: Use profiles in Safari on Mac